Just how do you "discipline" a hen???? I need some advice

[wolftracks]

Out of 22 hens my BR is a pain in the neck. She also has a mixed breed tag team partner.

Yesterday I got tired of sitting outside with a spray bottle so my games could eat, drink and take dust baths. I packed up the little culpits and put them in with my big hens.

They kept running down the roost to let me know they weren't happy in there today, but too bad. Now they know what it's like.

If they didn't lay the most eggs lately they would be gone.

My flock I had to give up last year included my Dom hen Susie. To this day I guess she still lays like crazy, but man was she noisy and a bully. She's attack my Polish hens without mercy. One day I lightly wacked her behind everytime she attacked them or in mid run to do so. After than she even slept in their coop with them. She was still a nag, first for treats and a pain, but I miss her anyway. She made it hard for the Polish to go to the coop for 2 days, but after the got over it, they were all fine together.

 

[Jen71]

Oh boy. I am losing this battle.

I just went out to the coop again and was greeted by a "full out" attack by Lily (16 week old Hen).

The girls are free ranging around the backyard. Lily only attacks when I am near the coop. I tried several times to grab her immediately after the attack. Every time I tried to grab her, she flew or jumped out of my grip. She kept turning back around and attacking me.

This has come out of no where. Almost every time I go outside, I bring some nice treats for them. I have been cuddling and taking very good care of my girls since they hatched. They've been handled often - and always with love. She has always been dominant, but now she's trying to establish herself as the boss.

I guess I will have to get my husband to grab her and flip her upside down, because I am not able to do it.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Wolfwoman]

Chicken jail. Separate her from the flock for a period of time, when you reintroduce her she'll have to reestablish pecking order.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Yup, I concur..........Pop

 

[LauraG]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions.

I cant catch the wiley little bugger either, ugh its so frustrating......like the deer fly that buzzes your head relentlessly and then lands on your back and stings you!!!

Chicken jail, sounds like a plan.

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

I vote for chicken jail, too. Catching them during the day is HARD. But you can cart the culprit off to chicken jail at night. She'll be easy to snatch off the roost. I've kept a chicken isolated for a day and night (with food and water of course) and then returned the bird the next day. Things were much better... for a while. Rinse, Repeat!

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Sometimes the most flighty birds will escape, even at night. I use a flashlight to blind them and grab them from behind. Also, a chickens memory is about 2 weeks. If you jail her, make sure you keep her there for at least 2 weeks so she has a fresh stert with the "new" flock..........Pop

 

[kenora44]

I had a rooster like that and I put him in chicken jail for a few hours. It was enough to re establish the pecking order. Not sure if this time length works for all chickens. Mine were only 10 weeks old at the time.

 

[Leia's Chickens]

"Chicken jail" lasts a week at our house. If it doesn't work, they go back to jail for a second week. Has resolved even the most difficult case of a bullying hen here.

 

[oldchickenlady]

Go to Walmart (or sporting goods store) and buy a big dip net (fish net attached to a hoop and handle). Next time she comes at you just drop the net down over her and she's caught!

Then you put her in chicken jail.