Hen won't stop pecking and chasing the pullets

[CamsCluckinChicks]

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HA HA HA!!

I've shot my Polish roo with the hose before. I only felt guilty the 1st time. Don't ever allow yourself to be kicked full on by a Polish roo in the forearm or hand!! "Kungfoo Fighter" was running through my head. Now I know literally knocking him off his post at times is a good thing.

I can only dream of being able to allow my chickens to truly free range. We have 6 German Shorthaired Pointer's - yup, BIRD dogs. This I can & do control. The neighbor's dogs that come around regularly - not so much. My ducks are safe because they can't fly, but wow...I had no idea how well some chickens can fly!! My Layer's yard is approximately 20'W x 26'L...I've seen my Brown Leghorn's fly from their top open window (summer only) clear to the 'wall' of their run - about 8' high - and land on a yard roost!! The younger birds do it too, but seem to lose the ability to quite make it once they gain their weight. So far I've discovered the Leghorn's, Polish, smaller Easter Egger's, Sumatra's & all the younger crowd (Silkie's being an exception) are quite adept at flying. I even read where Polish are known for roosting in tree's. Dreaming of the land I need for true free ranging...

 

[lilacdigging]

I'm having the same problem with 3 new Australorp pullets cowering in the coop or behind the bushes while the two dominant reds manage to terrify them. I tried holding down the RIR last week in front of the others, but it may have only served to bolster the Attitude of the other RIR....SO I will definitely do the upside down march today.

The worst part, is the austrolorps are supposed to be friendly and calm, but these are also afraid of humans. DOES ANYONE THINK THERE IS HOPE FOR THE PULLETS TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO ACCEPT PEOPLE? I'M WILLING TO SIT WITH THEM AND TRY TO HOLD THEM ETC, BUT CAN'T IMAGINE IT WILL HELP, IVE NEVER SEEN SUCH SKITTISH BIRDS. AND THE FARMERS I GOT THEM FROM SEEM SO CALM.. Well there are a few questions here..Thanks!

 

[myfivegirls]

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I did notice that when I just held down the RIR, it didn't help anything, like you said, but rather, she'd get all fluffed up and try to peck (and did several times). Separating from the other chickens helped the one RIR, Lily, and she is fine now with the younger ones. But, the other one had been picked on in her previous home (bare spots on her wings), and I think she was just "taking it out" on the other ones.

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Yes, there is hope, especially if they haven't started laying yet. Most of my pullets were very skittish of me and often ran away from me. Even though I raised them from hand, spent time with them every day, etc. But, they didn't start letting me pet them willingly until they started "squatting" and laying eggs. Now, they're coming when I come near their yard and most of them will let me pet them. The key that I found is that when they start squatting ("freezing" their body, putting their wings "out" to the side and sometimes even a little stomp), start petting them on their back. Then, I'll run my other hand under their neck toward their chest, lift them up, hold them in my arms and talk nicely to them. The other thing that I've been doing is establishing a routine of giving them "treats", in my case, scratch and BOSS, every morning. So, they come to expect food and treats from me on a regular basis.
Now, the Wyandottes that I have are just starting to lay, I think only 2 out of 4 are, and only those two will let me pet them on the back. The other two still run away from me, even though all the other "girls" let me pet them. The RIR hen, on the other hand, I did not raise myself, but someone gave me her this spring, and she still is afraid of me.

Hope this helps.

 

[cicknmama]

This may seem extreme and maybe a little cruel, but it solved the big persistent problem I had with one of our buff orpington hens bullying the other hens--she would nastily pick on one for a while, and then change to another, always having a target for her meanness.  When I'd had my fill of her behavior after "jail time," chasing her away from other picked-on hens, and so on, I finally caught her, carefully turned her upside down in my arms, and carried her around the flock upside down.  She would try to right herself, but finally just gave up.  The other hens, including the ones she had bullied, would come up to inspect her, even give her a little peck for a change.  After several laps around the chicken yard with her in my hands and the flock trailing us, I set her down.  She headed off to the side of the chicken yard and to my knowledge, did not bully again.  I would often see her on the edge of the flock, waiting to get the treats, no longer driving off everyone from what she wanted.  Extreme, but we had peace in the chicken yard at last.  Not recommending this solution, just sharing our experience.  ~G

I know this is an old post but I was at my wits end with one of my hens. She was bullying my two pullets, wouldn't let them eat, drink or nest. I tried this suggestion and it worked!!! She was put in her place by three other hens and now everyone is getting along. Thanks for your post!