I have a hen that's a BIG bully! HELP!

[Mexiontheloose]

So...I have three chickens, a black australorp, Columbian Wyandotte and a Speckled Sussex. They are just over a year old and everything has been pretty good with them. The Australorp has made herself the boss since day one. But now she's taken to bullying the Wyandotte. And I know there's a "pecking order" but this goes far beyond that.

She pins her in the corner after chasing her into the coop and through the run. After pinning her in a corner she pecks her non-stop until I go and break it up. So far I've put the Australorp in "time out" for three days the first time, and just yesterday I pulled her out of lock down that she was in for 8 days. Today, she was back at it. It's to the point where the Wyandotte is missing a lot of feathers on her neck and her right wing.

What can I do? Is there any way to break this? Does she need to go into lock down for longer? (She's is back in lockdown as of noon today.) I really don't want to have to get rid of her...but at this point I'm about to ring her neck!! My Wyandotte has not laid an egg for almost a week now...I think she's quite terrified of the whole thing.

As a sidenote, the Wyandotte has NEVER challenged the Australorp for her title. She's always been compliant with everything.

Any suggestions?!?

Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Se if you can get some Pinless Peepers and put them on the bully. They help with cannibalism and feather picking - not sure if they work on over aggressive birds, but it's worth a try.