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How's your bully behaving.. Is she upset being separated? I have heard that this works to lower the pecking order and I figure it should help with the feather pecking also. If she tries doing it again to the higher up chickens, then they'll be the ones to stop her and hopefully break the habit. If she makes it back to the top and starts feather pecking again, I could just jail her again. The thing with my chicken is that she only pecks the feathers from only 2 others (possibly a thirds head has been pecked by her, I just haven't seen it happen). You say that your chicken pecks all of them. So go figure.
Why do chickens have to be so mean?
I have only eight, so I just sit and watch. My Lucy is hateful. She just randomly walks up when they are eating, dustbathing and pecks. When they leave she just takes over doing whatever they were. One of my hens doesn't look as bad, but she is pretty quick and runs as soon as she comes close. Lucy, of course, has no feathers missing. Her fluffy butt in a cage in the coop. She flipped out. It was funny, afterwards, the other birds were all dust bathing and eating treats TOGETHER as one big group. I didn't see anyone else picking, yet. I just hope someone ele doesn't pick up the habit. I think I will leave in there for a few days, especially since my one hen Ruby had that bloody spot on her side.
I don't care about what others say about mites, protein issues, there is just plain meaness. Mine have a large run, cabbage and flock blocks, huge coop, etc....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/52367_dscn3602.jpg
The culprit!!
She's very pretty, but I know what you're talking about with them just being mean sometimes. Mine would do what you're describing, but then it turned into her pulling the feathers out of the other 2 brahmas butts. I mean, their butts are completely naked and some side feathers are missing also. There are no mites or fleas, they have plenty of room and the other day I let them free range for the first time ever (finally got the gate fixed) and there she was still pecking...with the whole world to explore...she's still pecking, so I know it's not a boredom problem. And the protein problem may exist, but I have them on really good food, with good treats...and no other chicken seems to be having a protein problem. I have been giving Mavis extra animal protein just in case though, just to cover all bases.
I have 4 brahmas, one turned out to be a roo. So of the 3 girls, I couldn't tell them apart. They are now 26 weeks old and I still can't tell them apart except for behavior. One is top hen and a little aggressive (Mavis). one is timid and shy and the other one is just normal. Anyway, I was aware that brahmas were really friendly, but I just kept seeing nasty behavior with them. With Mavis in time out, now I can see how sweet the other 2 really are. I guess I was always paying attention to Mavis's bad behavior and hadn't realize that it was always the same girl.
I'm going to try this for a week, and if she acts up again, I'll put her in for another week. It's my only option other than culling her and I really don't want to do that. I've kind have gotten closer to her now that she's alone. I'm paying more one on one time with her. Maybe I'll sweeten her up a bit with extra attention (and waxworms)
, but I figured that she'd have to be separated if she were sick or injured, so this is an ok thing to do. (Better the bully chicken be in there instead of the bloody pecked victim). I plan on keeping her in there for a week or 2 to lower her pecking order status (she is head chicken).
