Handling mean hens

[heather134]

Three weeks ago we started integrating four pullets (born in mid-Jan) into the flock of six older hens. The older ones were inherited, they're estimated between four and seven years old. Not positive of breeds - I think three are golden comet, one looks like barred rock, one is an easter egger and no idea about the last one but she's the oldest and the biggest bully.
That's the issue - two of the pullets (one golden laced Wyandotte and three Welsummer) are still being bullied quite a bit. One is being kept off of the roosts some nights. Considering that only two hens are currently laying eggs and two others haven't been laying for ten months, I'm considering just getting rid of several older ones.
Or is there something else I can do to get them to chill out and accept the new pullets? I have two water stations, I feed scraps to the old ones and the new ones don't even try to grab it. They were free ranging daily until the last few days because we just mulched LOL. They have plenty of space. Just at the end of my wits with the mean girls.

 

[Byrd gal]

I have a brat too. She is an iron fist ruler always quick to peck. When she gets too bad I give her a flip of the finger on the top of her head. It seems to help chill her out or I will pick her up and let the others get a head start on eating. Boy does she have plenty to say about that. But she shares when I let her down so I guess she gets the idea who knows? I could use a few tips too on bad attitude birds

 

[heather134]

I've tried a rap on the head as well - more than once! - but I haven't done it for the past week because it wasn't working at all and I felt that was messing with their pecking order. Until the last few days I was picking up the one that wasn't able to roost and placing her back in the pecking order, but it seems that's probably not doing any good either. I thought they'd get used to her but no luck.
Ugh those brats though! More than once I've threatened to lock her out at night and see if the raccoons take care of her.

 

[jus10inla]

2 strikes of bein a mean ass and not a layer.. broomstick method no 3rd strike. Instant supper. Not passing along my problems to someone else

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of your set up? How many roosts do you have (can the pullets roost separately so they don't get bullied?) Integration takes time and space... and a bit of clutter to keep the peace: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

If eggs are your priority then you can always turn the non layers into dinner, but that's up to you.

 

[heather134]

Sorry my reply took a while! Couldn't get a pic in the daylight until today.
So there's a really low roost just off the floor at the bottom, then a slightly two tiered second level, and then the top corner. It's identical on the other side except no roosting boxes. The littlest hen is sometimes kept to the very low rung, and even then some hens peck at her for some time and try to knock her off.
Hasn't improved with the really old girl. All weekend she blocked the pullets from leaving the coop (set up a moveable pen so they could roam), then later she prevented them from coming back in. I'm ready to get rid of her and probably 2-3 others. I can't bring myself to off her myself. Is Craigslist the best option?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Usually having multiple roosts helps, but it's unfortunate that your smallest bird is getting bullied off even when she's staying on the lowest bar like she should.

You can try Craigslist or if you're ok with them becoming dinner, maybe a raptor rescue would take them as a dinner donation? Doubt anyone's gonna want to eat an old hen. Best your old girls can hope for is a home that's just wanting them as pets, but more likely they'll end up dog food or something like that.