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Help, hens won't leave this one hen alone. what am I to do.

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by buff, Jan 7, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 7, 2011 #1
    buff

    buff Songster

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    Apr 29, 2010
    Shippenville, PA
    I have this buff orp that went broody on me again, I thank, for she sits in the nesting boxes all day long. Which I don't have a problem with that, but I got these 2 leghorn hens that just will not leave her alone. They just attack her to the point that her comb is bleeding. Today when they attacked her I grabbed a hold of them but once I put them down in a little while they went back again and attacked her. What can I do to stop these 2 hens from attacking her again any suggestions? I even hung an old towel that I cut over the boxes to give privacy, but that doesn't seem to stop these hens. One of them even went in the box with her to attack her. I thought maybe cause they wanted to go in that box but she will come out and go to another box and they still keep attacking her. I even took the buff out today put on the ground she went right back in to a nesting box, but it wasn't the one I took her out of. So, I am not sure of what to do. I don't care if she stays in the nesting box but I have a problem with the other 2 hens that keep attacking her for I don't want canniblism to start. Any suggestions, on what to do to stop my 2 leghorns to leave my buff alone?
     
  2. Jan 7, 2011 #2
    ChickensAreSweet

    ChickensAreSweet Heavenly Grains for Hens

    15,104
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    Jun 8, 2010
    Pacific NW- where the Douglas Firs grow
    You are going to have to separate the hen that is bleeding from the others- they will just go after blood like crazy. I personally won't tolerate mean aggressive hens in my flock.

    There is Rooster Booster pick-no-more lotion you can put on the hen (it has the consistency of molasses and stains) -

    or you can try pinless peepers (plastic things that sit on the hen's face so she cannot see well straight in front of her).

    If you have more in the flock, removing the leghorns will lower them temporarily in the pecking order, I have read on BYC.

    You can search in the search bar for anti-pick, pinless peepers, etc. until you get more responses if you wish.

    Also, in case you weren't aware (leghorns have a reputation for not being very calm):
    https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=15046&p=1
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2011
  3. Jan 7, 2011 #3
    sunflowerenvy

    sunflowerenvy Songster

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    Apr 4, 2010
    south/west tn
    u put the leghorns in jail 4 days lol that what i would do
     
  4. Jan 7, 2011 #4
    squeakyballs

    squeakyballs Songster

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    Feb 7, 2009
    Tucson, AZ
    Put chicken wire in front of the nest box and staple-gun it on. Put some food and water in there for her, too. That'll make the meanies leave her alone.

    Then, eat the meanies.
     
  5. Jan 7, 2011 #5
    Luvroos

    Luvroos Songster

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    Sep 12, 2010
    Fredericksburg
    Sounds as if those leghorns might never give up regardless of how long they are seperated. I have a barredrock hen that is picked on every night by an rir. I seperated them for the longest time and upon placing them together again, it still did not work out so I added more roosts in their coop! I free range them during the day so they can at least get away from each other. Their pecking order will never change since they recognize and remember her face.

    The buff is staying in the nest box because she thinks and feels safer in them, it's not due to her being broody unless she is sitting on eggs. A hen will always come back to her eggs after a short time away.

    I'd try removing the leghorns and see how she does! If she comes out and about then you might consider getting rid of them or her, they will never stop tormenting her and it can get brutal!
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2011

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