Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Not worried. Upset.

SPOILER - Feel free not to watch this video. It is deeply upsetting.

Why does Maggie drag her out of the nest box - it isn't even the box Maggie likes to use?
Why does Diana lay into her once she is pinned on the floor?
Why is there such a prolonged and brutal attack?
Why, once she escapes doesn't she run out - there are lots of exits and lots of space?
What did poor little Minnie ever do to offend?

I know there is nothing I can do about this but it is really distressing to me.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Not worried. Upset.

SPOILER - Feel free not to watch this video. It is deeply upsetting.

Why does Maggie drag her out of the nest box - it isn't even the box Maggie likes to use?
Why does Diana lay into her once she is pinned on the floor?
Why is there such a prolonged and brutal attack?
Why, once she escapes doesn't she run out - there are lots of exits and lots of space?
What did poor little Minnie ever do to offend?

I know there is nothing I can do about this but it is really distressing to me.

I'm glad Minnie changed her mind and went up to the top nest box where it is harder to be dragged out.

What is it with all these Bully Hens lately?
Sunspots? A change in the magnetic field?

 

[Marie2020]

Heck... BYC won’t even know that I’m gone, until I get back home. So happy flying

Wrong, I'm waiting too see you get home safely

 

[Marie2020]

Not worried. Upset.

SPOILER - Feel free not to watch this video. It is deeply upsetting.

Why does Maggie drag her out of the nest box - it isn't even the box Maggie likes to use?
Why does Diana lay into her once she is pinned on the floor?
Why is there such a prolonged and brutal attack?
Why, once she escapes doesn't she run out - there are lots of exits and lots of space?
What did poor little Minnie ever do to offend?

I know there is nothing I can do about this but it is really distressing to me.

You won't agree with me, but I would exclude her until she calms down or she will continue to bully. I had similar but not as bad, she was contained on her own at night. There's no more hassle in my flock.

Sorry I meant Maggie, minnie needs peace. I never put the victim I seclusion I like to build up their confidence.

 

[BY Bob]

Not worried. Upset.

SPOILER - Feel free not to watch this video. It is deeply upsetting.

Why does Maggie drag her out of the nest box - it isn't even the box Maggie likes to use?
Why does Diana lay into her once she is pinned on the floor?
Why is there such a prolonged and brutal attack?
Why, once she escapes doesn't she run out - there are lots of exits and lots of space?
What did poor little Minnie ever do to offend?

I know there is nothing I can do about this but it is really distressing to me.

This is where the cameras show you behavior that you wish you didn't see.

It feels like dominance to me. Maggie decided that this was the easiest time to ambush her and exert dominance over her.

I believe I have video of Aurora pulling Sydney off of the roost and then laying in to her while she submits on the coop floor. It seems unprovoked.

It must have something to do with this being a reminder of their place in things. I imagine that Minnie is pretty fast. Sydney is. I think they could both easily avoid the dominate hen in the open. That may be why the dominate hen chooses settings where they cannot initially run, the nest box and the roost in these instances.

I can only imagine how stunned and shocked Minnie is. Maybe that is why she can't escape. She just can't think clearly.

Here is the link to Aurora's video. Sydney remains in the submissive position for a long time. It is not quite the same but it is similar.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm glad Minnie changed her mind and went up to the top nest box where it is harder to be dragged out.

What is it with all these Bully Hens lately?
Sunspots? A change in the magnetic field?

Makes you wonder.

 

[micstrachan]

I think you are right on the zucchini. I believe it was @micstrachan Who dropped that knowledge on us.

Yep, it was me. But I also learned it’s more a function of shell formation than calcium absorption. It has to do with manganese, though there are other food sources of manganese besides zucchini. I happened to have it growing in the garden and the chickens loved it.

 

[RoyalChick]

I'm glad Minnie changed her mind and went up to the top nest box where it is harder to be dragged out.

What is it with all these Bully Hens lately?
Sunspots? A change in the magnetic field?

Maybe it is the heat. It really is awful.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh dear. Someone laid an egg with no shell. A whole egg, but just in a membrane not any hard shell at all.
That is a calcium issue I assume.
They are on layer feed and have oyster shell and crumbled egg shells available whenever they want so I wonder if someone isn't absorbing the calcium properly.
I gave a crushed up human calcium with vitamin D pill in scrambled egg and will give another one at bedtime (I think night is when they form the shell so when they need most calcium).
Any other ideas? I heard different kinds of calcium are easier to absorb but I am not sure what the best kind is. I am hoping the vitamin D is OK as well.
Any advice welcome!

Sorry, RC. Yes, calcium citrate with D3 for a few days might help. The zucchini we already talked about won’t hurt, either. An avian vet did tell me soft shells are usually caused by an infection, so be on the lookout for more soft eggs. Hopefully it’s just s one-off from a startle or something.

 

[micstrachan]

Not worried. Upset.

SPOILER - Feel free not to watch this video. It is deeply upsetting.

Why does Maggie drag her out of the nest box - it isn't even the box Maggie likes to use?
Why does Diana lay into her once she is pinned on the floor?
Why is there such a prolonged and brutal attack?
Why, once she escapes doesn't she run out - there are lots of exits and lots of space?
What did poor little Minnie ever do to offend?

I know there is nothing I can do about this but it is really distressing to me.

Poor Minnie. My Millie has been attacking the pullets like that, and it seems to be hormone related, as she went broody. Hang in there!