Fiesty Hen

[Chick CJ]

I have an OEGB whom I just love. She is very good with people, however, when it comes to how she treats the other birds, she is out of control with her meanness. I bought her as a broody hen with some fertilized eggs. I started out with 8 eggs and ended up with 5 chicks, all bantams. Of those 5, three remain and they are 19 weeks old. One died from a disorder at a fairly young age and one died primarily as a result of Fiona's meanness. It was caught in some netting and started screaming and before I could get to her Fiona had pecked her head open badly and I had to finish the job. On one occasion I had to seperate one of the chicks because Fiona pecked it until it was bleeding on the back of it's head just for standing next to her and I nursed it back to health. I added four more regular size girls (5 months old) to my flock a couple of weeks ago and as the pecking order was reestablished, no surprise here, she came out on top. Today I caught her once again pecking my EE (she is at the bottom of the pecking order). She was holding her down on the ground and had her by the neck almost like she was trying to take a chunk out of her. It's like she doesn't know when to quit. I currently have her locked up in the coop while the others are out ranging. I am thinking I should just get rid of her. I have not witnessed any of this really bad type of behaviour in any of the other chickens. Any ideas?
CJ

 

[CMV]

Separate the bully from the flock for a few days. When she returns to the flock she will be low man in the pecking order. Sounds like she may return to top position in little time, but it may take a while and give your other birds a rest from her antics. Good luck.

 

[BigBadCryBaby]

I'm going to bump this one, as I too am looking for an answer. I've got a GLW hen that is going after the other 25 birds. Roos, hens, it doesn't matter. I pulled her out of the flock for about a week, and tried re-introducing her today. Within 30 minutes she was right back at it. The whole dynamic of the flock changes with her in there. Yes, there's some pecking by other birds, but this one is just obsessive. I've got a ton of room in the hen house, no overcrowding at all, with plenty of protein and diversions.

I seperated her again, and I'm at a loss right now. Maybe some of those chicken blinders, I don't know.

BUMP!