I put my EE bully in jail for relentlessly going after an ex-broody. Did I do the right thing?

[Mrs. K]

Always solve for peace in the flock. Some birds will not fit in the flock. Cull those birds. It is a tough decision, but after you make it, you wonder what you waited for. A peaceful flock is a joy to watch. They lay better, they eat better. A stressful flock is just that, stressful. Wishing they would all get along does not work.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Always solve for peace in the flock. Some birds will not fit in the flock. Cull those birds. It is a tough decision, but after you make it, you wonder what you waited for. A peaceful flock is a joy to watch. They lay better, they eat better. A stressful flock is just that, stressful. Wishing they would all get along does not work.

Absolutely. There's no way I let this continue. The other chickens deserve a happy stress free home... and so do I.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Update: Today I put the bully back in with the flock (she was making the most sorrowful sounds while in jail, it was getting hard to take).

After a tiny scuffle with #5 and #6, a peck on the head from #1 and a high head peck threat from number #3 (who looks like she might want to move up a notch), all was calm.

I'd call this a soft reset, in that the pecking order seems to be the same so far, just with an attitude readjustment for #2 and most importantly little ex-broody #5 is much happier now.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It used to be called the crock pot.

Personally I prefer a nice Coq au Vin served with an assertive red wine.

 

[aart]

Update: Today I put the bully back in with the flock (she was making the most sorrowful sounds while in jail, it was getting hard to take).

After a tiny scuffle with #5 and #6, a peck on the head from #1 and a high head peck threat from number #3 (who looks like she might want to move up a notch), all was calm.

I'd call this a soft reset, in that the pecking order seems to be the same so far, just with an attitude readjustment for #2 and most importantly little ex-broody #5 is much happier now.

 

[chickenreyna]

I think all EE are slightly bullies..

I have 6 pullets: Favaucana is top (a benevolent ruler, rarely enforces using anything other than a side-eye, which works very well), bully EE is 2nd, 2 more EEs in the middle who sometimes join in the mean girl hazing but are usually peaceful and 2 OE Welsummer x Cream Legbar at the bottom.

The 4x6 Coop is always open to a predator proof 8x10 DL run. Freeranging is out of the question as there's no grass where I live but lots of loose dogs.

Everyone has been laying for a few weeks except the bully, who just started to sort of squat today (not sure if all this could be exacerbated by hormones).

Ex-broody OE is a tiny thing (Welsummer x Cream Legbar) and she was second to last in the pecking order, she just got out of the broody breaker where she had to be coaxed into eating with scrambled egg, mealworms, etc.

Now it's day 2 of freedom for the ex-broody OE and the EE making it her mission in life to attack her. I'd rather let them sort it out in the run but EE is also preventing ex-broody from eating no matter how many feeders I put in different areas in the coop and run.

I was concerned that little ex-broody wouldn't be able to gain some weight with EE chasing her constantly, pecking (no blood though) so, fed up with EE torturing her, I put EE in the broody breaker turned jail for a time out (a couple days?). It's a 3' x 2.5' rabbit cage (with food and water) in the coop.

Now e

 

[nminusyplusm]

Thank you, aart, same here! So far, so good. #2 EE and #5 OE are eating next to each other right now like nothing happened.

 

[MageofMist]

I can understand locking the bully hen up for a little while so she'll learn to behave when re-introduced... But starving them, no matter how long, so that they are weaker than the rest of the flock? That is extremely cruel.

I am not a vegetarian or vegan, but do keep chickens as pets and have worked with them on a farm and in school and college. They are instinctual, yes... But they are also very smart and social creatures and are capable of learning fairly quickly. Heck, I have quail who are said to not be as smart that learned how to manipulate me for treats, with the males food-peeping at me knowing that'll get them treats.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I can understand locking the bully hen up for a little while so she'll learn to behave when re-introduced... But starving them, no matter how long, so that they are weaker than the rest of the flock? That is extremely cruel.

Exactly. And no one in this thread suggested I abuse my girl by starving her. 4 days of jail in a roomy shaded cage with food, water and treats solved the problem. Everyone's happy, no need to re-home as this person above insists I do.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Thank you, Peeps61, for the excellent advice! Everyone is getting along great, no more stress in the flock!