How much is too much?

[dcarter0818]

About a week and a half ago we added our 12 week pullets to our current flock. Everything went pretty smooth except for my one hen. She just chases them around and pecks, pecks, pecks. She'll even grab a hold of one and won't let her go. Over the last couple of days I've noticed that it's gotten so bad that my babies won't come out of the coop for food and water at all. I'm seriously concerned. It's been HOT where we live all weekend. I finally decided today that I was going to separate the hen into our smaller coop. Is this the right choice? Or should I have left it? Since spring she seems to be so mean! She even started chasing my toddler around pecking her.

 

[sourland]

You've done exactly what I would have done. I'd keep her separated for at least a week before reintroducing her.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Chasing your toddler? I'd consider removing her from the flock...permanently.

 

[FrostRanger]

I'm generally more willing to give mean hens a chance to shape up, but if there are kids, especially toddlers involved, she needs to removed like yesterday.

In general though, when integrating chicks, what's acceptable is a chick gets in an adult's space, adult pecks, chick runs off and that's the end of it. If the adult continues chasing for more than a brief moment after the chick flees then you need to step in particularly if they keep relentlessly pecking, at that point she's just trying to kill them

 

[BigBlueHen53]

She'll make lovely dumplings or soup. Usually it's a rooster with these kinds of behavioral issues, but the result is the same. Your obligation is to protect your child. Chicken pecks HURT (I know!) and especially, tender children's skin. Your child could be traumatized for life. Don't allow it.

Don't rehome her "free to good home." She'd just be somebody else's problem. There are threads here that describe how to dispatch a chicken fairly easily. Or pm me and I'll help you.

 

[LaFleche]

Chasing a toddler would have her in my freezer the same evening.

You and every one else will enjoy the restored peace once she is gone.