I have a long tale to tell, but I'll try to keep it to the salient points:
Had three chickens who grew up together, had zero problems with pecking/fighting/etc.
Two of the chickens were taken in the night, still have no idea what it was but have had no more problems with mystery animal.
Meanwhile, had two new chicks raising in the garage, happy as larks.
Decided I needed two layers to replace the deceased hens.
Got two new hens from a friend, a RIR, sweetest thing ever, and a Buff Orpington who had been picked on by her flock's roosters.
I integrated them slowly, but my leftover hen antagonizes Buffy to no end!!!
I placed Buffy with the two EEs in the garage and let her feathers come back, thinking that's what set the leftover hen off.
They were together for weeks, Buffy and the two EEs.
Finally came time to integrate everyone so we did it slowly again. Putting a temporary coop next to the original coop (which is a large-ish chicken tractor), gave lots of food, water, treats, etc.
In the dead of night I put them all together and wouldn't you know, the next morning the leftover is at it again, terrorizing Buffy. Her ire is mostly reserved for Buffy but she'll put the EEs in their place too. Yesterday Buffy's comb began to bleed and now I don't know what to do. I put Vick's on her, per a discussion on this board, but either it just doesn't work or I didn't put enough on. I put up a hanging cd to distract Leftover, but she couldn't care less. I put up one of those treat baskets with a treat cake in it but again, she couldn't care. So, now Leftover roams around the tractor as Queen of the castle with Buffy and the EEs trembling with fear with their heads in corners and huddle up together and won't come down to eat or drink (I put food and water up top where they are, I think they'll eat and drink when Leftover is downstairs).
So, I come to you, dear Backyard Chicken-ers, for advice and assurance. Is this normal? I hate to be outside gardening or whatever and hear the frightened clucks and flappings of the terrorized hens. If you tell me to be patient (this is only the second full day they've all been together), that's what I'll do. If you tell me that Buffy just sets Leftover off and there's no fixing it, I'll try to find her a nice home. If you tell me to send Leftover somewhere else, I would do that too. Sigh. Things were so uncomplicated before "the occurance".
P.S. I gave the RIR back to my friend as she was old and wouldn't lay anymore. My kids thought it would be better to let her go back to her free range home rather than keep her in the coop. Leftover had no problems whatsoever with Red and I can't figure out why not!
Had three chickens who grew up together, had zero problems with pecking/fighting/etc.
Two of the chickens were taken in the night, still have no idea what it was but have had no more problems with mystery animal.
Meanwhile, had two new chicks raising in the garage, happy as larks.
Decided I needed two layers to replace the deceased hens.
Got two new hens from a friend, a RIR, sweetest thing ever, and a Buff Orpington who had been picked on by her flock's roosters.
I integrated them slowly, but my leftover hen antagonizes Buffy to no end!!!
I placed Buffy with the two EEs in the garage and let her feathers come back, thinking that's what set the leftover hen off.
They were together for weeks, Buffy and the two EEs.
Finally came time to integrate everyone so we did it slowly again. Putting a temporary coop next to the original coop (which is a large-ish chicken tractor), gave lots of food, water, treats, etc.
In the dead of night I put them all together and wouldn't you know, the next morning the leftover is at it again, terrorizing Buffy. Her ire is mostly reserved for Buffy but she'll put the EEs in their place too. Yesterday Buffy's comb began to bleed and now I don't know what to do. I put Vick's on her, per a discussion on this board, but either it just doesn't work or I didn't put enough on. I put up a hanging cd to distract Leftover, but she couldn't care less. I put up one of those treat baskets with a treat cake in it but again, she couldn't care. So, now Leftover roams around the tractor as Queen of the castle with Buffy and the EEs trembling with fear with their heads in corners and huddle up together and won't come down to eat or drink (I put food and water up top where they are, I think they'll eat and drink when Leftover is downstairs).
So, I come to you, dear Backyard Chicken-ers, for advice and assurance. Is this normal? I hate to be outside gardening or whatever and hear the frightened clucks and flappings of the terrorized hens. If you tell me to be patient (this is only the second full day they've all been together), that's what I'll do. If you tell me that Buffy just sets Leftover off and there's no fixing it, I'll try to find her a nice home. If you tell me to send Leftover somewhere else, I would do that too. Sigh. Things were so uncomplicated before "the occurance".
P.S. I gave the RIR back to my friend as she was old and wouldn't lay anymore. My kids thought it would be better to let her go back to her free range home rather than keep her in the coop. Leftover had no problems whatsoever with Red and I can't figure out why not!
