Help- My Girls Are Aggressive!

[austintxchick]

Thanks for the encouragement, I guess we'll just tough it out a bit longer.

 

[tcstoehr]

I would think adding a single bird would be very difficult. I would always try at least two so they can support each other. I introduced 3 new girls to the existing 2 birds, and they did take a beating but the new 3 formed their own group together and are happy campers, even though they have to occupy the bottom of the pecking order. Both groups maintain their own distinct pecking orders. I did however put them in the coop separated with a wire barrier for a week before letting them all mingle together. I wonder if I had introduced just one bird instead of three, would that one bird now be forced to live isolated from the others?
They are behaving normally, but I still think they're bitches. They take every opportunity to brutalize those smaller or weaker than themselves and to take any food away from them that they can. And they are very cliquish. My 3 new birds could never get far enough away where the larger 2 wouldn't spot them and run over to harass them. It is better now but it's a hard process to watch.

 

[JMarch]

yeah- space is tight for those gals, and they're defending. Provide more space if possible. Also if the new chick is a good bit smaller than the others, she's likely to get bullied until she catches up in size.

I had a bantam rooster bullying another rooster once. I caught the one being picked on and held him with one hand and ruffled his neck feathers and shoved him at the bullying rooster. When the bully bantam attacked, I knocked the $#!+ out of him with my other hand. He thought it was the timid roo who "did it". He quit bullying.

But first, fix the space issue and let her catch up in size.

 

[austintxchick]

I guess my next step is to allow the 2 older ones to free range in my yard for awhile. I've been hesitant to do this because I'm afraid they'll fly into the neighbor's yards and get eaten by their dogs.

Now, when I put my hands in their run and do my cleaning ritual they start posturing like they're going to attack me and lunge at me. I'm not having as much fun with this chicken raising as I thought I would.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Is there any kind of fence between your yards? You could always try clipping their wings if you don't want them to fly.

Are they lunging to peck at you or maybe they're just trying to run for freedom? Don't give up yet I hit lots of bumps in the road, but in the end it's a very rewarding experience. Do you ever try to give them snacks? It helps them become more comfortable around you and don't be afraid to establish that you are the alpha one.

 

[roseyred]

I raised 3 chicks and they are now about 13 weeks old.  I had to trade one of the chicks in because he turned out to be a roo and I can't have roos in my neighborhood.  SO, the new girl is a bit younger and a bit smaller.  I have been trying to introduce them slowly over the past week and every time I let her in there with my two mean girls, they immediately go after her and peck her viciously and endlessly.  I then take her back out. I'm afraid they will kill her!  I've tried having her in there with barriers between them but still, when I remove the barrier, immediate attack.  

How can I get them introduced without them pecking her to death?

When it comes to bullies you always wanna seperate the bullies. Put both girls in seperate smaller cages in the run for about a week and let the younger sweet one have run of the run..lol when you finally let the other two out they will be down on the pecking order.

When my two girls we're mean I had two new babies that we're getting pecked but only by the two hens. The Roos and 5 other hens didnt even bother them so I put the mean ones in there own smaller pen where they could see everyone else but not contact them. After a week the babies were still fine with the flock and weren't getting picked I let the meanies back in and the pecking order had completely changed! They didn't pick on the babies an the roo even gave the meanies some pecks. So it all worked out and there a happy little flock

 

[austintxchick]

One is definitely lunging to peck at me. She used to be my sweet baby and loved to cuddle. When I bring treats out to them every day like spinach and kale, she's always comes running and she takes the food out of my hand when offered. But lately when I don't have food, she postures and lunges at me. At first I thought she was thinking I had food in my hand but it's a different sort of behavior. The other one is more skiddish. We've raised them from chicks so I assumed they'd always be fairly tame with us. They are now 14 weeks. old. Do they have a teenage rebel stage? I don't know if this all started when we upset the balance by removing the cockerel we thought was a girl.

I do have a 6ft privacy fence.

 

[austintxchick]

When it comes to bullies you always wanna seperate the bullies. Put both girls in seperate smaller cages in the run for about a week and let the younger sweet one have run of the run..lol when you finally let the other two out they will be down on the pecking order.

When my two girls we're mean I had two new babies that we're getting pecked but only by the two hens. The Roos and 5 other hens didnt even bother them so I put the mean ones in there own smaller pen where they could see everyone else but not contact them. After a week the babies were still fine with the flock and weren't getting picked I let the meanies back in and the pecking order had completely changed! They didn't pick on the babies an the roo even gave the meanies some pecks. So it all worked out and there a happy little flock

Now there's an idea I hadn't thought of! I may try that. They deserve to be locked up for a bit. LOL

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I wouldn't worry too much about them going over the fence. Just check the bottom. We had a tiny opening that they found in no time haha All was good, just don't want them to be a nuisance to the neighbor.

I believe they go through a rebel stage. Mine all turned on me for a while around that age. After a few weeks they all settled and for the most part are all very friendly with me. None lung at me just are a little timid. Although when I chicken juggle sometimes at night (trying to get my scared girls higher) my leghorns peck at me and the chicken I"m holding. I consider them my white tornadoes but usually they are decent.

Wait until they mature a little more and I bet things will settle down

 

[roseyred]

Now there's an idea I hadn't thought of!  I may try that.  They deserve to be locked up for a bit. LOL

Yeah I swear by it. Punish the bullies kinda thing. As for them lunging at you it might be a roo...unless ofcourse it's laying eggs. I always try to handle my hens at least once a day just to cuddle and say hi lol. Not all of them like it. One of my young ones will peck as soon as I touch her but then stop. I think it's cause the roo try's to hump her all the time and she's a little touchy cause of it