Chickens fighting all of a sudden??

[rkapfen]

Could be the silkie can't get up on the roost.

Well she’s been roosting on the one right in front of the nesting boxes with her sister but now she won’t sleep with her sister and the big girls won’t let her roost with them so she’s decided the nesting box is best for her lol

 

[EggWalrus]

Well she’s been roosting on the one right in front of the nesting boxes with her sister but now she won’t sleep with her sister and the big girls won’t let her roost with them so she’s decided the nesting box is best for her lol

Sounds like someone has a mess to clean up each morning.

 

[featherhead007]

At least you notice !! Poultry. Are not stock.... They are beloved pets to me! And they love it that I'm their rooster! 8 eggs / 9 hens today! Amours no?

 

[so lucky]

We had this issue briefly. Here's how we solved it. Take the bully out and put her on the floor in a wire dog crate but keep the crate in the coop so she is still part of the flock, she just can't bully anyone. Keep her there 3 nights, then watch to see how she does. If she bullies again, repeat 3 more nights. We did not have to repeat a third time. She had an attitude adjustment. No more problems!

Using this method, do you keep the bully in the crate day and night, or just at night?
If the bullying is during the day, do you suppose just keeping the bully crated during the day (with food and water) would be sufficient?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Using this method, do you keep the bully in the crate day and night, or just at night?
If the bullying is during the day, do you suppose just keeping the bully crated during the day (with food and water) would be sufficient?

The bullying was taking place at night. She was keeping all the younger hens from using about two-thirds of the roost, with the result that about 14 pullets were roosting on top of each other in a corner. They have a vast amount of daytime space. So we put her in the Time Out cage at night (I hate calling it Chicken Jail, lol). She got released in the morning along with everyone else. But I also added another roost which probably also helped. For a couple of nights after that we had to go unstack the young ones and set them on the new roost until they figured out it was there. Chickens ain't rocket scientists.

If bullying is happening during the day, I would suspect the space is overpopulated. It can help to add hiding spaces for the victims to escape. If you can set up two pallets in an A-frame configuration to make an in-and-out so nobody can get trapped, that makes a good hidey-hole. Also things like kids' tables that they can jump on top of or run under, those are very good. I personally would not cage her during the day, it's too hot. Others might.

 

[so lucky]

The bullying was taking place at night. She was keeping all the younger hens from using about two-thirds of the roost, with the result that about 14 pullets were roosting on top of each other in a corner. They have a vast amount of daytime space. So we put her in the Time Out cage at night (I hate calling it Chicken Jail, lol). She got released in the morning along with everyone else. But I also added another roost which probably also helped. For a couple of nights after that we had to go unstack the young ones and set them on the new roost until they figured out it was there. Chickens ain't rocket scientists.

If bullying is happening during the day, I would suspect the space is overpopulated. It can help to add hiding spaces for the victims to escape. If you can set up two pallets in an A-frame configuration to make an in-and-out so nobody can get trapped, that makes a good hidey-hole. Also things like kids' tables that they can jump on top of or run under, those are very good. I personally would not cage her during the day, it's too hot. Others might.

Actually, the bullying is taking place while free ranging. The bully will chase her across the yard and jump on her like a roo would, and peck the feathers out of her neck. Of course, the victim acts like a victim, running here and there, sneaking back to the feed bowl, lingering behind. I may try crating the bully during free range time, but having the crate outside in the shade.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Actually, the bullying is taking place while free ranging. The bully will chase her across the yard and jump on her like a roo would, and peck the feathers out of her neck. Of course, the victim acts like a victim, running here and there, sneaking back to the feed bowl, lingering behind. I may try crating the bully during free range time, but having the crate outside in the shade.

I hope this helps! What a naughty hen. Keep us posted. Oh, are they the same breed? I went back and read the whole thread but did not see if you mentioned either of their breeds. Thanks.

 

[EggWalrus]

Actually, the bullying is taking place while free ranging. The bully will chase her across the yard and jump on her like a roo would, and peck the feathers out of her neck. Of course, the victim acts like a victim, running here and there, sneaking back to the feed bowl, lingering behind. I may try crating the bully during free range time, but having the crate outside in the shade.

Sounds like a rooster. Are you sure it's not a roo in drag?

 

[so lucky]

Sounds like a rooster. Are you sure it's not a roo in drag?

Hehe, pretty sure. She is laying pretty speckled eggs.

 

[so lucky]

I think I hijacked this thread. Sorry! Me and my problems are all that count, you know.