how to stop this behavior?

[Susan Dye]

I have heard that hanging a head of cabbage or lettuce makes for a good distraction for something to peck.

 

[Abriana]

What the hen needs is a distraction-a shiny CD (or multiple), a head of lettuce or cabbage, half a watermelon, a zucchini or cucumber sliced in half, a pumpkin cut open, roosts at different levels for her to explore, a big pile of grub filled dirt, a pile of fresh mown hay or grass for her to pick thru, a couple big branches that she can weave thru, or feed scattered around. I have to say that chickens will enjoy any of this regardless of whether or not they need it to keep them busy. You can also put Blue Kote or some other nasty tasting substance on his feet. Make sure it’s ok to ingest and put on him first!

 

[Coffgirl]

I guess she’s just into feet? That’s weird. Maybe she’s trying to pick bits off their feet lol I’ve no idea is she being MEAN about it or curious about it and not meaning harm

being mean or not but she actually drew blood from those chicks' feet.

I have heard that hanging a head of cabbage or lettuce makes for a good distraction for something to peck.

What the hen needs is a distraction-a shiny CD (or multiple), a head of lettuce or cabbage, half a watermelon, a zucchini or cucumber sliced in half, a pumpkin cut open, roosts at different levels for her to explore, a big pile of grub filled dirt, a pile of fresh mown hay or grass for her to pick thru, a couple big branches that she can weave thru, or feed scattered around. I have to say that chickens will enjoy any of this regardless of whether or not they need it to keep them busy. You can also put Blue Kote or some other nasty tasting substance on his feet. Make sure it’s ok to ingest and put on him first!

hmmm, hanging cabbage.
I will try that when the chicks are calmed.

Thanks again.. T_T

 

[Abriana]

being mean or not but she actually drew blood from those chicks' feet.





hmmm, hanging cabbage.
I will try that when the chicks are calmed.

Thanks again.. T_T

No problem! There are a million other ideas out there, you can go online and find them

 

[cosmosue]

Ah ok I didn’t know she was doing actual damage - my bad. If you can’t get her to do something else then yeah you will have to separate, so it goes with quail. They can be nasty. But usually it’s the roos as I have older girls with younger birds and I haven’t had this issue.

 

[cosmosue]

And I asked because I was curious if she is an aggressive bird or just had a strange habit. So it was a legit question, sorry!

 

[Coffgirl]

And I asked because I was curious if she is an aggressive bird or just had a strange habit. So it was a legit question, sorry!

It's ok!
I didn't mean anything bad.

but I'm kinda upset why my hen wants some company but also attacks her companions..
It's really hard for me to get what she wants.
I was thinking about getting my roo back together with her when she finally get along with all chicks, but it looks so impossible at the moment.

 

[cosmosue]

Sorry sounds like she’s got some bad habit or something it happens but like everyone else says maybe If she has something else more fun to pick at she will pick that... like when they tell a smoker to chew gum LOL or something like that....

 

[Coffgirl]

I just did the cabbage things and tried something else to peck but she get bored from that really fast and started to peck on the feet again.

So I stop trying now.. because it's starting to be a disaster..
my chicks were so tamed and calmed but now they even run away from my hand.
it may take a while before they can be calmed again.. :/

 

[Susan Dye]

So sorry things are not going well for you and your flock. You might just have to keep her isolated for a while (weeks/months?). Maybe even rehome her. When I rehomed a bully hen, the entire flock seemed to let out a sigh of relief. There was an instant change in the demeanor of the flock. They knew the trouble maker was gone. And the change might be just what she needs to break her biting habit.