Cochin experts...How do you deal with a mean hen?

[crazy4eggsJulie]

We have a cochin, cuckoo marans, and silkie hen that are 3 months old. We also have a bunch of 5 week old chicks that are various breeds. So far, they have been in the same coop, but separated off in a little brooder area. Our cochin, who is otherwise very gentle and tame, has always gone over and tried to peck the babies through the wire. I've been trying to get her used to them, but NO LUCK. She CHARGES them and ripped a hunk of fuzz/feathers out of a bantam cochin male today. All the other older girls and our two roosters leave them alone or just peck if they come near them. Today, I let all the babies loose into the run and she went nuts attacking them. So, I put her in our large metal wire dog kennel in a "time out." She worked forever trying to get out-even jumped up and down and banged her head on the top of the kennel. She kept running around in a panic with "crazy eyes" trying to get to them. The standard chicks are a decent size...the bantam chicks are still pretty small to hold their own. They are getting way too big for the brooder area. I really need everyone to transition together. Is there a way to make this hen accept these babies? When they aren't around, she'll let me hold her on my lap and eat out of my hand. I know about pecking orders but we want a "friendly flock" and I'd rather get rid of her than have her bullying everyone else. The cuckoo marans hen gets super nervous and makes a low pitch clucking noise the entire time they are out but is really good with them. If the cochin doesn't adjust her attitude suepr fast, the cuckoo will be our new head hen! She'll probably become a bully then, huh? LOL!

I HATE bullies!

 

[TammyTX]

I'm amazed your Cochin is alpha. My Cochins are not even second string.

I don't know how to deal with chicken insecurities. I guess counseling wouldn't help!

...has anyone used water torture, in the form of a squirt gun, with any success?

 

[Msbear]

I don't ever add chicks to my grown bird pens.. you're asking for problems.

If the chicks can get away from the hen, they will calm down, develop a pecking order and be fine... But if they are cooped up,you will most likely have to wait til the youngsters are older and aren't so fragile... then introduce them. She will probably peck at them for a day or two, then everyone will settle in. She will eat first, then they will. She will drink first, then they will, etc.

She is not "mean" She is just declaring her dominance. It can be rather vicious.

eta: just read again and realized there isn't much age between them... but, I guess, when they're young, a couple weeks makes a big difference... just keep them separated for a bit longer til they are more equal... maybe introduce them outside the coop and run where they are on neutral turf.

 

[crazy4eggsJulie]

Quote:
I know! Everything I read about them before I bought her said that they were mild, gentle and friendly---which she is until a chick wanders by...

We got her, 2 silkies, and 2 d' uccles at the same time and raised them together. We also got a cuckoo marans but she was a few weeks older than them at the time and much bigger. We assumed she would dominate because of her size and age. However-for some strange reason the Cochin, "Big Mama" became head hen! Today when I crated her in the kennel, I noticed that the 2 d'uccle roos were much more aggressive than normal. I guess they felt free to act up a bit knowing they wouldn't have to deal with her!

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

the way I used to add the new chicks was to do it at night and you have to take each chick and rub its body on the cochin hen
so that they smell like her
and then in the morning besure and get out there first light with a nice treat that the hen likes

generally this works

but if it doesn't immediately take the hen and give her away

then she will be the underling on the pecking order

it is because you have made a pet out of her and she doesn't want to share you with any one else

any questions email me

 

[crazy4eggsJulie]

Funny you said that-she is absolutely jealous of those babies! When I got down on her level the other night- she let me put her in my lap and just wanted me to hold her instead of feeding the babies bread. (She wanted to be fed the bread, too!) She's so funny, she SQUEEZES into their brooder area and has to eat THEIR FOOD and drink THEIR WATER as if it is different from hers!

Things are going better now-though it is interesting that each day a new "older hen" has to prove she's boss. I guess everybody takes a turn at the bullying. Some of my little ones are so brave! I am shocked at how they race to steal some of the leftovers (which the hens don't allow at all!) only to be chased off over and over again! Too funny!

 

[Dustin Biery]

The key when introducing birds of a younger age when there is a bullying issue is to make sure there is a "safe" place that ONLY they can get. They need to have a place to run if she gets extremely hostile.

 

[crazy4eggsJulie]

Thanks! I'll try to take care of that today!

 

[Msbear]

Quote:
I like Glenda. She always lays it right out there

Sometimes we need to remember that these are chickens and that thier antics may seem bazaar to us ...like "mean" when actually it is a normal chicken doing normal chicken things. Just make sure the youngsters have a place to hide til they're comfortable around eachother.