Help! We have a bully hen

[Huckleberry]

We have 2 barred rock hens. They are 4 months old. One of them is a bullly and likes picking on her sister, our family and even our very patient golden retriever. Does anyone have any insight or suggestions on how to correct her behavoir?????

 

[Angie8eggs]

For me I did this with one of mine, and now she is one of my favorites, when I am changing their water she jumps up on my back or shoulders, and follows me everywhere, anyways back to the subject I would tap her back with my finger nail, not hard, like a poke or something and I would say, Hey in a stern voice, (my husband always made fun of me ) then I would pick her up sometimes and walk her around with me and talk to her, and give her her own special little treats, it took about a week, but she calmed down. I think I made my rooster a little jealous tho!

 

[Huckleberry]

Thanks so Much! That sound easy. I am going to give it a try. Thanks Again

 

[Angie8eggs]

No problem! Hope it works for you! Keep me posted!

 

[Chickiemom25]

With only 2 hens that's going to be tough. I have always put the bully in chicken jail ( a large dog crate). They always are nicer when let out again with the others. However if it is just the usual pecking order being established.... not much you can do. My little Orp regular goes after my BRs who are twice her size if there is a good treat being offered. She is just reminding them she is the queen and everyone else has to wait.

 

[Huckleberry]

Update: everyone is getting along we'll now. Call me crazy, but I think it may have be hormones since she started laying shortly after her poor behavior and has returned to a nice girl now.

 

[hennotrooster]

We have 2 barred rock hens. They are 4 months old. One of them is a bullly and likes picking on her sister, our family and even our very patient golden retriever. Does anyone have any insight or suggestions on how to correct her behavoir?????

My evil hen has her own yard now. I tried putting her out of site and out of ear shot for 4 days. When reintroduced to the flock it was as if she never left. She is now in the yard but in her very own area she does not have to share food water nests or me. She seems to be gentler the last 2 days I was amazed that I actually got to pick her up without much fuss yesterday, something she has always disliked even at 2 days old she would peck at me and raise a stink. Sometimes the attitude changes and sometimes it is who they are. With her out of the main yard her sister is nicer to the younger hens but when she has gone in OMGosh, together they go into attack mode. So she will be in her own yard the remainder of her days.

 

[growyourbrew]

I agree. "Prison" helps change the pecking order. If the other hen is pecked bady, a chicken saddle may help

 

[layalittleeggfo]

when we introduced the new hens to our existing hens we had some mayor bullying we seperated them during in the nights and when they were together during the day we used a anti pec spray

i dont know how other feel about this but it worked for us and it worked very quickly 2 days in total

and we have not had any problems since and they have been together 3months now

 

[larsalan]

I agree. "Prison" helps change the pecking order. If the other hen is pecked bady, a chicken saddle may help

ditto, I have one that thinks she is the tops. If she gets way out of hand then she goes for timeout in a cage. Right were everyone else is free roaming around. She can stay in solitary for 23hrs a day for a few days. If that's what it takes for her to cool out then so be it. She can watch the rest of the flock work out their order and she can learn her place
Should even work with just 2 or 3 birds around. So long as they know you're the bossiest.