Is this what chickens do????

You need to segregate - or outright get rid of - that mean hen. Some chickens are bullies. For flock cohesiveness, and your own sanity, get rid of her. Temporarily MIGHT do it, if you put her in a jail coop for a week or so. It changes the pecking order and when she returns, there will be another hen who has established herself as Top Hen.

That MAY solve the problem, but you may just need to find her a new home. Or, if you are able to do so, process her and have some Mean Chicken & Dumplings for dinner some night.

 

Well, sometimes! But certainly not always!

Some folks have had luck reforming a bully by putting her in a separate cage for a week or so, so that she has to start over again in the pecking order.

It's also good to have some variety in the run - perches, logs, bushes, rocks - any kind of thing so they can get out of each others' sight sometimes. But a hardcore bully needs a timeout, and if that doesn't work, then removal.

 

That's what some chickens do, until the owner has enough and turns them into soup. Sounds like your hen is not a team player...therefore she should get cut from the team.

 

Try to separate her from the flock for a few days or so. I would put her in a dog crate and let her learn her lesson. With her being gone for a few days it will shake up the pecking order a bit and maybe they will gain a little confidence with her gone and then bring her back. If anything it will give her a few days break from her.

What breeds are we talking here and how old? Also, have all 6 of the girls been raised together or was the an flock integration recently? A little more info will help... I am new to chickens also, but have been doing a lot of reading trying to up my knowledge to be prepared for anything and this is what I have read that others have done with mean hens. Hang in there...it'll work out.

Hopefully someone with more experience can help you out more.
Good Luck!

Dereck

 

Well, obviously, that's what that chicken does, but, good grief, she's a trouble maker. That would be difficult to watch. I'd for sure have her out and in a dog carrier or some other form of isolation (with her own feed and water, of course) to give your other hens peace and a chance to work out a new pecking order with just the five. Then after two weeks, I'd put her back in with them.

Hopefully, by then she will end up at the lower end of the pecking order and will adjust properly to her new spot in the flock.

I know it's harsh to put her in isolation for so long, but it's harsh to the other five hens not to do something to help them live peaceful lives. She has some sort of behavior issues. If the two-week isolation doesn't work, I have no idea what to do. Maybe get a rooster. That would help with the flock dynamics, well, if you get a good rooster, which is an iffy proposition. Usually it's best to have a rooster who grew up with the girls be the flock leader. And yes, I really think it will take two weeks. One week might work, but if it's not long enough, then you'll have to start all over. Not worth the risk or extra work involved.

I've never seen such a thing. I feel for you. That would be really upsetting to watch.

Where did these hens come from? It doesn't sound like they grew up together.

 

Well, it's not what my chickens do. And they'd better not start either or whoever the troublemaker is will be gone in a heartbeat.

 

Sounds like Leghorn Pot Pie time, if you don't wish to rehome her.

 

Well I have found with my hens there is some pecking everyday. From what you are saying though sounds like you might have an extreme case. I have never done the isolation thing like they are talking about but, hey worth a shot. If when she gets back in a week she is being just as mean as before I would really look into rehoming her. Don't feel guilty about it, I mean she is making your other birds miserable. I just had to get rid of a roo last week. I raised him from a baby but, about a week and a half ago he started flogging my kids and I. After 3 days of him trying to do this I re-homed him and I am so much happier for it. I wish he would of stayed nice but, I raised him the best I could and well that is just who he was. He is lucky after flogging my 7 year he just got re-homed and not turned into stew. May I ask what breed is your meanie hen?