Dealing with a bully Australorp

[critterlover]

One of my black australorps insists on picking on my buff orpingtons. My orpingtons are the sweetest most affectionate girls. Jazzy, my trouble maker does not go after any of the other birds. The BO do not challenge her at all and they are happy and mind their own business, but for no reason she will often go over to each one (there are three total) and nip at their butt area. One of the BO has a broken feather from her. All the other girls get along great including two other BA.

I removed Jazzy yesterday and put her in a cage in our garage to let her cool off and because I read on here that if you remove just one chicken that is causing problems and then put them back in a few days, they will now be the odd one out and it can solve the problem.

All the other girls did great for 24 hours. Jazzy was extremely depressed being away from them and I took mercy on her and tried her again today. At first she was thrilled to be in the run with everyone else, but not ten minutes passed and she was nipping at the BO. She actually tries to be sneeky about it. It is not like a vicious attack. No matter what the BO are doing, eating, laying around, Jazzy will just go over and nip them to where they cry out. I want to stop this behavior before one of my BO really gets hurt.

Needless to say she was put back in the cage for a little while longer. So will this strategy work and how long should I keep her separate from the other pullet (they are almost seven weeks) before I try reintroduction?

 

[Judy]

I'd keep her out at least 3 days. She should be a real stranger by then.

 

[fordmommy]

I had kinda the same problem with my BA. She was the mean one to the newbies. My girl would grab them by their necks and put them on the ground.

She got her own cage attached to the main coop for two days. She could bawk all she wanted, but couldn't chase anyone down and hurt them. On the second evening I re-introduced them and she was not as mean. Some pecking, but no chasing and grabbing of the necks. After 2-3 more days, they're all friends.

P.S. My chickens were hatched in March. So a little old, though.

 

[rhondapiper]

Of my mixed flock, my black australorps are the worst.

They pick on the other birds a lot. But, they're just big bullies with nothing to back it up because as soon as anyone retaliates and pecks them back, they act like nothing is wrong.

My favorite is when they pick on my independent little runt gold laced wyandotte, because she doesn't take any guff from anyone, stretches to her full height, puts her wings out, and pecks them soundly on the top of the head.

 

[cmom]

I kept my bully hen in jail for a week. When I put her back with the rest of the flock she was a sneak bully. I caught her several times and had a hose handy and gave her a good squirt every time I caught her. She settled down. Either she was tired of being squirted or decided it just wasn't worth it.

 

[retsbreh]

Have you guys ever had a bully rooster? He attacks or breeds this one hen whenever he see's her. Her back is bloody and the last time he attacked her she just kept laying there like she was stunned. He is good with the other hens but her. I have her separated now so that she can heal. I wonder if the same concept would work for the rooster?

 

[Brindlebtch]

You can also put clip-on peepers on the bully hen. That solved the problem with my bully. Left 'em on for a month and she was a new girl!

 

[critterlover]

The funny thing is my two other BA are ok when Jazzy is not around. They get along great with my BO and barred rocks. Also, my girls hate the crows we have around here. If they even hear a crow, they run for the coop BUT my BA are the first to go running!!

They are the biggest cowards of the bunch. Since my BO are so sweet (they LOVE attention and will jump on my lap and just lay their and be pet for an hour), they never defend themselves. They just cry out and move out of the way.

Jazzy is in a large cage and has everything she needs, but I feel so guilty having her alone. When my husband came home the first night and walked through the garage he said to me "that is one depressed looking chicken out there".

I visit her often, but of course that is not like being with your friends.

I'm going to give her until Monday to think about her attitude and see how things go then. That would be about 4 full days alone.

What are 'clip on peepers'?