Coop chaos - rehoming bully hen?

[Gwhite3678]

Backstory:
I have a mixed flock of 11 2-3 year old hens. I began introducing 6 pullets in a separated area in the coop about 3 weeks ago for the “see no touch” method of introduction.
I started to try to let them out with supervision about 1 week ago which I thought initially was going well but there is 1 hen in particular that whenever she sees the littles out goes after them.

None of the other hens seem to be bothered by the littles, the mostly stay in the coop while the hens are in the run and move away when they go to in the coop to lay eggs.

The one hen will chase them try to corner them and makes all the other hens run around in the midst of the chaos. She has pulled out feathers and caused and eye injury but no blood, the eye injury has been the most serious incident so far. I’m testing with eye ointment.

My coop is 8x12. Run 10x20, they free range from about 2pm till they go in at sundown.
Three feeding stations, two water stations.
Plenty of roosts and things to go up in/on in the run. I created a hide area in the coop leaning some plywood up against a wall.

My sister in law has offered to take the hen and add to her flock of 3

Is it too soon to do that? I feel really bad rehoming her, she was born here and lays well is friendly with me and actually low on pecking order with no prior issues.

This is my first time integrating new members without a broody and I’m stressed and so are all the chickens!

 

[Gwhite3678]

Here are some photos which may be helpful

 

[Vicker]

You might try isolating Miss Bully from the others for a while. Maybe put her in the see-no-touch area. After a week or so, you can try reintegrating her and see how it goes.

 

[lagrange chicks]

You could try putting her in a cage in the run which may break her bullying.

 

[Gwhite3678]

I actually did try this but only for 2 days. I had her in the see no touch area and as soon as I let her out she went to chase down the babies again. She actually chased one out of the run and chased her into the road which was obviously not good. I’ve had the babies locked up since that incident and the eye injury unless I can be up there.
She seems to go out of her to way to seek them out and chase them..

 

[Gwhite3678]

@aart i noticed you commented on my strange egg find thread, thank you! Would you mind sharing your thoughts on this dilemma as well?

 

[aart]

actually low on pecking order with no prior issues.

It's almost always the lowest ranked hen in the older group that goes after new birds. Either to keep/protect her place in the order or to finally have someone lower that she can beat the crap put of.

I actually did try this but only for 2 days. I had her in the see no touch area and as soon as I let her out she went to chase down the babies again. She actually chased one out of the run and chased her into the road which was obviously not good. I’ve had the babies locked up since that incident and the eye injury unless I can be up there.
She seems to go out of her to way to seek them out and chase them..

Did everyone get along when she was confined?
If so, I'd consider getting rid of her.

 

[Gwhite3678]

It's almost always the lowest ranked hen in the older group that goes after new birds. Either to keep/protect her place in the order or to finally have someone lower that she can beat the crap put of.


Did everyone get along when she was confined?
If so, I'd consider getting rid of her.

Yes it was so much better, sad to say, while she was separated.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's almost always the lowest ranked hen in the older group that goes after new birds.

x2. I can almost predict which hen will be the troublemaker each time I add new chicks. It's been a different one each time.

Until you mentioned the eye injury I didn't think it was too bad, but obviously that's not ok. Since you mentioned she's a good layer and you like her otherwise, I'd try to give her every opportunity to shape up, but it's good that you have a backup plan with sister in law.

You do have a good amount of clutter but (hard to tell) some of it may be too close to the walls? Make sure that every clutter item has at least 2 ways out (entrance and exit) so chicks can't get cornered behind an item.