Hen Drama

[Sassysouth]

I have 4 hens that are 1.5 years old. It seems 3 are picking on 1. And I think there is a particular ring leader. I removed the one that was being picked on because she was trying to hide, the coop reeked of poop and she had a scabbed comb.

I have been told the ring leader is taking on the role of a rooster and if I get rid of her, another one will step up. What is your opinion?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It seems smaller flocks have more aggression. I keep reading posts about it.

There's always a bottom bird, there's always a top bird. Having fewer birds means any aggressive goes towards just a few individuals where my almost 100 bird flocks I see not much of anything but a few pecks and squawks.

Some people like to remove birds and shuffle them around, sometimes it works, but you still will have a bottom bird.

How big is your set up. Do they get ranging time? Are they kept busy? Do you have hiding spots for your bottom hen? Multiple roosts and feeders?

A rooster will generally keep the peace in the flock and a bottom hen will exchange mating for protection from a rooster. I do think hens get frustrated without a rooster and sometimes one will play the part, but generally aggression towards hens isn't something a rooster usually does.

 

[aart]

How big is your set up. Do they get ranging time? Are they kept busy? Do you have hiding spots for your bottom hen? Multiple roosts and feeders?

Very good questions that need answers. Pics would help too.

the coop reeked of poop

Along with the questions from OHLD....how's your ventilation and what is your cleaning regime?

 

[Sassysouth]

Ventilation is great. The poop, smelled more like a diarrhea, upset stomach smell and it usually has no smell. I clean daily, I guess I should have elaborated on that situation. We have 2 resident foxes in the backyard and a pair of hawks. I try to let the hens out daily, but that has not happened daily this summer.
I will post a pic of the set up.
Feeder has 2 sides/holes and waterer has 3 sides/nipples

 

[aart]

Looks like pretty good space and ventilation.
Might be one bird is sick, might crate her overnight to check her input and output.
Not uncommon for a flock to attack a sick bird.
Might be they are starting to molt, that can make them cranky.

 

[Sassysouth]

I pulled the picked on bird out, put her in a dog crate and brought her with me to my grandmothers for an overnight trip. The trip was planned and I didn't want to leave her in a situation that was worsening. She is having the best time. Large fenced in yard, no hawks or foxes. When I get home later today, I will access the situation and probably pull the bully out. I have a small pen I can put her on a temporary basis, then see how the other 2 act to the picked on one. ??????

 

[Sutremaine]

It does look a bit unexciting in the run. Maybe you could put in some furniture to break up the box shape and give the bullied hen somewhere to get out of sight?

Here's what we've got:


Ramp, shelf, little walkway. The coop is off the right-hand side of the picture, and has a top flat enough to walk on.

The panel of net curtain was put in expressly to block the view from one end of the run to the other. It's like having walls in your house instead of mesh... or something like that.

 

[Sassysouth]

I completely agree! Thanks for the ideas and picture.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Consider putting in a second feeder (with at least two access points) and another waterer.

Right now, based on your description, it sounds like only 2 birds can eat at one time and only 3 birds can drink at one time.

It never fails, if one wants to drink, they all want to drink. Same with feed.

Maybe an extension of your run and only allow two birds out at one time (in the extension) - the one being picked on and one other bird.

Just ideas that might help the situation. As others have said, there's always a top bird and a bottom bird. In larger flocks, it's a lot harder to see the pecking order and it seems to be less in house fighting. A rooster also seems to reduce in house fighting.

 

[Sassysouth]

Thank you for all your suggestions. I do wish the run was larger, and it is in my plan to widen the space (not in my husbands plan though).