Hen won’t let others up the ramp...

[Rachela]

I have a hen that was added a month ago and has taken lead of the pecking order. She wasn’t letting the other hens up the ramp at night to roost so I was having to go out there and move her out of the way so they could go in. (They have an automatic door and didn’t have any issues before she came along)

The last three days, late afternoon, I’ve taken her out of the coop/run and put her in a dog crate away from the flock to see how they did getting to bed. Every night the flock got themselves to bed before the automatic door shut. (I did put her back in with the flock in the mornings).

Tonight I decided to see how she’d do and once again she stood on the ramp as pecked as they tried to enter, which dissuaded them from going inside.

I’m at a loss for ideas to get her to knock it off . Any help appreciated.

 

[sourland]

I wonder if putting Pin Less Peepers on her for a short while would change her behavior?

 

[Baldwin]

Are those like blinders for chickens?

 

[Rachela]

I wonder if putting Pin Less Peepers on her for a short while would change her behavior?

I’ve seen people post before. It may be an option so she can’t see them easily for pecking.

 

[sourland]

Another possibility that would require monitoring is to hobble her so that her mobility is impaired. Flock members might then turn the tables on her knocking her down a peg or two. I would only do this with strict monitoring so that she would not get injured physically. Only an attitude adjustment.

 

[sourland]

Are those like blinders for chickens?

Yes they are. Generally used to stop feather plucking/pecking. They can be removed once flock mates have regrown their feathers, and frequently the bad habit is broken.