I need some advice please about bully Ameraucana

[Michelelyl]

Hi Everyone, I am very sad right now. I have 5 seven week old chicks who just went out into the coop on Saturday (today is Tuesday). They have all gotten along in the brooder just fine. On Sunday, we noticed that the Ameraucana (who is the biggest one) was picking on our Light Brahma. To our horror, the Light Brahma-Squirt started squawking and running around and the Ameraucana-Moa was picking her feathers out and Squirt was bleeding a bit. I took her out and she had a bunch of feathers picked out and had a lot of wounds on her back. I bought some Vetericyn on the advice of the poultry manager at our local feed store and after I treated her and it dried, I gooped her up with Pick No More. I took out Moa and put her back in the brooder by herself, and then put Squirt back in the run with the other 3. No problems. They have been just fine. I let them out in the yard to play, and took Moa out into the yard. She did just fine for about 20 minutes, then started picking on Squirt again. Moa has now spent two night alone in the brooder in the garage, and she is a very sad girl. Today I let her out in the yard to play with the other girls, and again, she started picking on Squirt again. I just don't know what else to do. Should I give Moa away? The other 4 get along fine. Moa seems so sad and lonely, but she is such a bully and is hurting Squirt!
thank you for any help you can give- I do have a friend willing to take Moa with an established flock of 5 RRI and 3 chicks.
Michele

 

[sourland]

Sepereate the bully fora period of 2 weeks. Upon reintroduction the others may pick on her - hopefully lowering her in the pecking order. If she resumes her obnoxious behavior then I would relocate her to another home.

 

[Donna5]

yesterday I had to seperate one of my Easter Eggers(bottom of the pecking order) because she was bullying the "top" hen...who for days would not leave her nest box,I thought she was sick until I saw with my own eyes the EE flat out attacking the Orpington. These girls have all grown up together since they were shipped as day old chick.

I see a lot of nastiness lately...do they get a weird spring fever or something??

 

[sourland]

Chicken society is frequently cruel. Everyone is always looking for a weakness and an opportunity to improve their position.

 

[Chicks on DL]

It has taken time for my #1 hen to accept the newcomer a sweet BO. The #2 BR still chases the BO around but I am hoping that too will calm down. Separating the aggressor just made her more aggressive so I had to separate the submissive hen but let them all free range together. Now they are one happy flock. Things should calm down after they work things out in a month.

 

[CorinneP]

As Squirt grows with the seperation she can better defend her self or learn to back away from your Bully .. There is a pecking order ..

 

[CorinneP]

But at seven weeks she does need protection