Hen behavior and integration question

[Stacyoung13]

It doesn't seem to stop eating and drinking and moving, or roosting, or foraging. It just stops them from pecking other birds. They get used to it rather quickly. Try holding one hand about an inch or 2 in front of your eyes. You can still see a lot.
Anyway, for this hen pictured, who had bloodied other chickens 3 times, it was the peepers, or the crock pot.

How bad did she fight it when you put it on her? You said it didn’t take long for her to get used to it. I’m not saying it’s bad or wrong or anything, it’s definitely different. But if you want to keep your hen, you gotta do what you gotta do. She is a beautiful bird.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

It doesn't seem to stop eating and drinking and moving, or roosting, or foraging. It just stops them from pecking other birds. They get used to it rather quickly. Try holding one hand about an inch or 2 in front of your eyes. You can still see a lot.
Anyway, for this hen pictured, who had bloodied other chickens 3 times, it was the peepers, or the crock pot.

Where did you find the blinders? I am having a similar issue with one of my hens.

 

[SueT]

How bad did she fight it when you put it on her? You said it didn’t take long for her to get used to it. I’m not saying it’s bad or wrong or anything, it’s definitely different. But if you want to keep your hen, you gotta do what you gotta do. She is a beautiful bird.

I suggest 2 people to put it on. One holds the bird, the other puts on the peepers. These things are very stiff and it's good to soften first in very hot water, and also to practice flexing them first, so you can do this quickly. There are videos on youtube. At first the hen acts disoriented, tries to scratch them off, and you think, this isn't going to work, this is awful and cruel. But let her be, and she will figure out how to see around them within an hour or less. As I said, I couldn't let her bloody other chickens again. She's fine now without them, a bully no more. She is still the leader, but she is tolerant and fair to the others. However I have read reports here that say when they take off the peepers, the chicken goes right back to being vicious.
Some breeds are more likely to be bullies than others. Rhode Island Reds often get a bad rap, I had one that was really mean, and I didn't know about peepers at the time. I didn't even know that different breeds have different temperaments. I've learned a lot from BYC.

Where did you find the blinders? I am having a similar issue with one of my hens.

I got some cheap on Ebay, I think I got 6 for $5, shipping included. You don't need to buy a tool to put them on. With practice, you can do it by hand. Good luck!

 

[MysticUniKitty]

I feel for you! So stressful! How old is Mustard? I had a 1 year old Salmon Faverolles (Tezza) do that when I introduced 2 pullets. The other 2 adults were only mildly interested in the littles, but Tezza just flew at them, I was afraid she'd kill them!

I ended up temporarily rehoming her to a flock down the road. I think it was probably 6 to 9 months later I brought her back and now Tezza is the submissive hen. She is now 3 years old and the littles are now 2, and the older flock members have died off and now I'm faced with introducing littles again. I'm hoping you'll tell me Mustard is fairly young because I have a theory that younger hens are more volatile than older ones. Sorry to blab on and on, but I do hope you figure something out!

I think from what you said though that it's either see and no touch until the others grow enough to stand up to Mustard or Mustard loses interest in war, whichever comes first. That or rehome the troublemaker at least temporarily, it worked for me. Good luck! I'm anxious to see how this plays out!

she just turned a yr old, or at least that was what i was told when i got her.

I'm going to try and redo the inside of my coop to see if that helps.

 

[MysticUniKitty]

Yes, as suggested by another, separate the bully, and see how the chicks get along with the other hens. What breed(s) are the hens?

the hens are a buff Orp and a Seckled Sussex, the Sussex pecks a bit but she's not ripping out feathers, I knew there would be some aggression but wow...the Orp is a jerk.

 

[MysticUniKitty]

You need to give it some more time. That sort of behavior should stop as chicks learn to run and dodge. You are still in the integration process.

It generally takes me a few months before I feel comfortable leaving the young ones out 24/7. So keep up supervised mingling. Separate out when there's troubles, and make sure chicks can always escape through or under stuff.

thank you! yeah i'm going to redo the inside of my coop so i can have a better "integration area" right now the chick one the hens kept getting in and the teen on was so big it's getting in the way. So to lumber store i go!

 

[MysticUniKitty]

Thanks everyone for the help! I'll keep posted on "attitude" in about a week!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

thank you! yeah i'm going to redo the inside of my coop so i can have a better "integration area" right now the chick one the hens kept getting in and the teen on was so big it's getting in the way. So to lumber store i go!

It can be as simple as a pallet on blocks so chicks can slip under, or boards close enough together so chicks can squeeze through but hens cannot. Smaller doorways or even cattle panels can work where chicks can zoom through.

 

[Stacyoung13]

It can be as simple as a pallet on blocks so chicks can slip under, or boards close enough together so chicks can squeeze through but hens cannot. Smaller doorways or even cattle panels can work where chicks can zoom through.

I have a fence in the corner of the run, babies can go through but not the adults. I keep their food in there too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have a fence in the corner of the run, babies can go through but not the adults. I keep their food in there too.
View attachment 1760487

That's perfect.