Hy-Lines attacking my Leghorn

[ChookaPete]

I may have missed it, but was Chamomile part of the original group? If so, when did the bullying begin?

No she was not.


In late October 2023, I bought four Hy-Line pullets, who were only a few weeks old.

A few days later one of the chicks died. I was very sad and numb. I took her to the vet for a post-mortem but they just said to monitor the other chicks in case they were infected with something, over the next day and a half. I waited that amount of time and all were okay, so I bought two more Hy-Line pullets.

So here we have (not in order) Cumin, Coriander, Cardamom, Caraway, and little Clover on the far end.



Sadly on 14th February 2024, just as I had returned home after a few weeks away Caraway died. I was numb for a few days.

In early March, I noticed some turbulence among the flock. Then I witnessed Clover being attacked by Cardamom, constantly chasing her and pecking her away from the feeder boxes and water bowls. I set up multiples but she would still aggressively chase her away regardless.


I was away again in early April for a few days, then returned to find that Clover went broody on the patio chair. The rest of the chooks were confined to the backyard (only Clover had the brains to fly over the fence!).
I was given five fertilised eggs from the stockfeed place.
By 30th April one of them hatched to reveal a little Leghorn who I named Chamomile . I tend to pronounce her name "Cammo-meel".

On the second day Chamomile had escaped into the backyard and was being swiped at by the other chooks. So I rescued her and Clover and put them into their own nursery coop. However then I was away for six weeks, where strong winds damaged the coop and the two chooks got out, while the other three got IN! However when I returned all had bonded. I had no trouble with bullying until very recently.

 

[ChookaPete]

After 5pm, I transferred Clover from the front yard to the backyard. She whined a little to be in the front yard, then contentedly foraged with Chamomile.

Clover interacted a little bit with new Cinnamon and Caraway2. Chamomile didn't interact much, but she has seen them and so far does not consider them a threat. It is six o'clock now and none of my chooks want to go to bed! I am leaving them alone for about half an hour or so, then will go check on them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have read here that if a chicken goes at another one, holding it down, pecking its head and drawing blood, that is not normal pecking-order behavior. That is one chicken trying to kill another. Some of the Educators here often advise that the best thing to do in that case is to rehome the victim. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to protect poor Chamomile and change the social dynamics of the flock, but if Chamomile keeps getting so severely bullied, you might consider that option. Another possibility is to cull the bully. (Cull meaning remove from the flock, possibly also by rehoming.) @Mrs. K always says "solve for peace in the flock." I wish you and your flock all the best.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

PS - I also pronounce Chamomile as you do. KAM-oh-meel.

 

[Mrs. K]

You might try the pin less peepers. They can really stop aggression.

 

[ChookaPete]

Today I put all the chickens in the backyard at the start of the day, and Cardamom stalked down Chamomile and attempted to attack her. I stopped her just in time. Then I shifted the four fully grown Hy-Lines to the front yard, while Chamomile and the pullets Cinnamon and Caraway2 stayed in the backyard.

In the late afternoon, after being separated for the day, Cardamom again went to attack Chamomile. Chamomile was quietly and calmly foraging, when Cardamom slowly stalked her. I sensed Chamomile's anxiety beginning to rise. Chamomile in fact squatted down on the ground in fear of Cardamom, and Cardamom pinned her down with her claw and stood over her, and gave her a peck on the neck.
Extremely dominant. No blood was drawn.

I got furious with Cardamom. I then used the hose to keep Cardamom at bay while Chamomile could get to the coop so she could go to bed.

Today I have been seriously contemplating to re-home Chamomile, but I also feel like that would mean I have failed her. It also means that Cardamom has 'won'. I'm also considering to re-home Cardamom, or just take the cleaver to her neck...given that she has a history of attacking (she attacked Clover earlier in the year when Clover went broody).

 

[ChookaPete]

You might try the pin less peepers. They can really stop aggression.

Oooh, thank you! What exactly are these?


EDIT: I found it! https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-apply-pinless-peepers.78669/

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Worth a try! Keep us posted.

 

[ChookaPete]

Worth a try! Keep us posted.

Thank you!


It has been an intense week of keeping Cardamom separate from Chamomile, worrying about what to do and feeling ambivalent when given different advice from people I ask (offline).


On Monday I set up two nest boxes inside the little wooden 'nesting nook'/nursery coop, which is the entrance 'foyer' to the roosting coop in the shed. Basically I placed two old plastic pots on their side kept them from rolling about with a brick. I put some straw and one of Chamomile's eggs in each, to encourage the chooks to use them (I do have golf balls stored somewhere but I had to think on my feet).

By this morning, Chamomile was the first to lay her egg, around 7am, and it was inside the new nests! Clover also had laid her egg soon after. Cumin and Coriander still waited to after 7:30am to lay their eggs in their favourite weed patch, and Cardamom this time didn't lay her egg until 9:30am! And yep she still went to the old cupboard on the front porch to lay her egg!

Between 7:30am and 9am-ish, Cardamom was still a little on the warpath with Chamomile. But the difference was that Chamomile was in the front yard with the rest of the chooks! Her confidence has definitely picked up a little . I picked up a plastic stick and would tap it here and there to ward off Cardamom from attacking Chamomile, telling her "Heeeey, be nice!"

By midday ALL of the grown chookies were (and still are, right now) sitting together in the front yard side garden basking in the shade!

I rewarded them with the chips I saved them from the fish & chip shop I had bought for takeway last night (I ate the fish, and saved the chips for them).



I don't think that the problem is over with, but I am very grateful that things have returned to peace at least for the time being! I was feeling cut up because I do not want to give up Chamomile or Cardamom. Chamomile is so lovely and sweet, and Cardamom earns her keep by laying eggs daily.

I am still preparing the shade arch to be a "bully bin" in case Cardamom or any chicken does attack another, but will make sure this time they are isolated for at least ten days straight.

Another point is that Cardamom has not drawn blood while attacking Chamomile. If I said that earlier, I was mistaken from feeling anxious. If Cardamom or another chicken DOES draw blood, then I have her moved on one way or another.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It takes about 25 hours for an egg to be formed inside a hen's body, so in general a hen will lay about an hour later each day, then take a day off and start again the following morning. I believe Educator @aart has a wonderful graphic showing the process. Maybe she will share it again here.

Glad your girls are starting to get along better.