Knowing when to rehome, cull or keep trying?

[Mrs. K]

Some birds work in your set up, some don't. ALWAYS solve for peace in the flock. I agree:

• put the pin less peepers on
• advertise as laying hens $10 each
• No takers - make soup

What a lot of time people don't realize right away as how much this destroys the pleasure of having chickens. When they are gone - you will be amazed at how much happier you are with the birds you kept and seriously wonder why it took you so long to do it.

Some birds work, some birds don't - Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[Sally PB]

 

[jrichter67]

Some birds work in your set up, some don't. ALWAYS solve for peace in the flock. I agree:

• put the pin less peepers on
• advertise as laying hens $10 each
• No takers - make soup

What a lot of time people don't realize right away as how much this destroys the pleasure of having chickens. When they are gone - you will be amazed at how much happier you are with the birds you kept and seriously wonder why it took you so long to do it.

Some birds work, some birds don't - Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

Thank you so much Mrs. K! This sums up exactly how I feel about the flock right now!

 

[Eelantha]

Hello there! New to BYC and this is my first post! I have been cruising around reading a lot of posts and searching forums already and I am sure this has been discussed so if I missed the information I am looking for I do apologize! To give you background, I am a newer adult flock mom, but was raised around chickens my entire childhood.

I have a flock of 13 birds that are 10 months old, six Gold Sex Links, six EE's and one Buff roo. I have had problems with all of my Gold Sex Links since they were 3 months old, they have continually pecked on my EE's. I feel like I have already done a lot to determine the root cause and try to correct the issue with no resolution. We upped their protein, we use Scratch and Peck 18% layer feed instead of 16% now, and added BOSS and Grubblies soldier fly larvae. We enlarged their outdoor run to 30x50, (can't let them free range as we are building our home currently and have too many contractors on the property). They get garden leftovers, have plenty of roosts and playthings in their run, extra food and water stations. We have used BluKote and Rooster Booser Pick no More on any injuries and they just scoff at that and keep on picking. We have tried "chicken jail" for a few weeks at a time, added the rooster (they even peck on him!) and pinless peepers on the offenders. I left the pinless peepers on for more than a month and as soon as I took them off, the behavior started again. I have also tried correcting the offenders by reaching down and giving them a quick hand peck on the back of their neck when I observe the behavior. I have treated for mites recently, however this behavior started months before mites showed up. I am at the point where I just feel like I have exhausted all of my options and that my only choice now is to rehome the God Sex Links or cull them all. They don't pick on each other so if I rehome them as a small intact flock I do think they would be ok with no other flock members. Or I cull them all and stock my freezer... or is there ANYTHING that I missed?

I just feel bad that it's come down to this, I feel like I have failed despite huge efforts. I have educated myself by reading blogs, articles, books, talked with other flock parents and tried so many things and nothing has worked. I did have one person tell me that it's a breed issue with the Gold Sex Links but for the amount of research that I have done to only hear that in one place left me skeptical. Any additional insight is welcome

Sadly, aggressive tempers are all too common in gold sex-links. Every commercial hen I've had (and seen) for the last five years has shown it, and once they're set on being disagreeable they are difficult to correct. From personal experience, I can say that Gold sex-links are sweethearts with us humans, but have no mercy for other chickens if they don't like them. The best solution is to re-home them as quickly as possible; failing that, cull them.

I would also watch your EEs very closely if you introduce chicks to them, to make sure the gold sex-links vicious attitudes won't have rubbed off on them when it comes to newcomer birds. If you see any of your EEs displaying even a hint of a bully's temper, separate the chicks from the adults immediately. All the better if you can make it so the chicks can't see or hear the adults. Otherwise, your Gold hens' bad temper will not only have bleed into your EEs, they'll risk transmitting it to your new chicks. That's what happened to me in 2019.

I made the mistake of keeping my victimized juveniles after re-homing an adult Silkie bully who wouldn't let them breathe; the beaten chicks grew up into adults who fell on the chicks that came after them with high prejudice. I couldn't re-home my new bully birds due to covid-19 confinements in 2020, so in less than two years I went from one bully bird to an entire flock of it. It took the entire year of 2020 for my old birds to come at a very grudging truce with the juvenile ones, and they're still pecking each other more times than not despite that. If I get chicks this spring, I'm going to build a separate coop that's out of sight of the first one so they hopefully won't pick up on my current flock's bad temper. I'd re-home my flock, but I need their eggs so I can't part from them until I can replace them. Fingers crossed that the plan works.

I can't help but wonder though - you say you have alot of contractors on the property? Maybe your Gold hens are reacting negatively to all the noise made by their machinery, and that's why they turned aggressive on your EEs? My hens are sensible to loud sounds, they often shake their heads if I speak in a high voice. Do your hens shake their heads often whenever the machines are active and working?

Best of luck for your EEs and your Gold hens, whatever you decide to do with them

 

[MissE]

You should have no problem selling young layers. Post them on Craig's list as a starter flock.

Meanwhile, it may be a pain, but if you're able, section off the run so they have one area and the EEs have another during the day. Maybe even put a small shelter in the run with make shift nest boxes. Kick everyone out at first light, and don't let the GSL back in the coop until roosting time.

Many potential buyers won't want to see the pinless peepers on them. If a buyer already has hens, it's likely these girls would start at the bottom of the pile and learn some manners. A bossy RIR should put them in their place. Separating them during the day may allow you to remove the PPs.

 

[jrichter67]

Sadly, aggressive tempers are all too common in gold sex-links. Every commercial hen I've had (and seen) for the last five years has shown it, and once they're set on being disagreeable they are difficult to correct. From personal experience, I can say that Gold sex-links are sweethearts with us humans, but have no mercy for other chickens if they don't like them. The best solution is to re-home them as quickly as possible; failing that, cull them.

I would also watch your EEs very closely if you introduce chicks to them, to make sure the gold sex-links vicious attitudes won't have rubbed off on them when it comes to newcomer birds. If you see any of your EEs displaying even a hint of a bully's temper, separate the chicks from the adults immediately. All the better if you can make it so the chicks can't see or hear the adults. Otherwise, your Gold hens' bad temper will not only have bleed into your EEs, they'll risk transmitting it to your new chicks. That's what happened to me in 2019.

I made the mistake of keeping my victimized juveniles after re-homing an adult Silkie bully who wouldn't let them breathe; the beaten chicks grew up into adults who fell on the chicks that came after them with high prejudice. I couldn't re-home my new bully birds due to covid-19 confinements in 2020, so in less than two years I went from one bully bird to an entire flock of it. It took the entire year of 2020 for my old birds to come at a very grudging truce with the juvenile ones, and they're still pecking each other more times than not despite that. If I get chicks this spring, I'm going to build a separate coop that's out of sight of the first one so they hopefully won't pick up on my current flock's bad temper. I'd re-home my flock, but I need their eggs so I can't part from them until I can replace them. Fingers crossed that the plan works.

I can't help but wonder though - you say you have alot of contractors on the property? Maybe your Gold hens are reacting negatively to all the noise made by their machinery, and that's why they turned aggressive on your EEs? My hens are sensible to loud sounds, they often shake their heads if I speak in a high voice. Do your hens shake their heads often whenever the machines are active and working?

Best of luck for your EEs and your Gold hens, whatever you decide to do with them

Wow! It sounds like you have been through the wringer with your flock! Thank you for the great advice for when I do integrate new chicks with them. It will be several months until that happens.

The contractors being on the property is new thing, this behavior started happening months ago and I was with them this morning when some work was being done with machinery and it didn't seem to bother them at all, they aren't right next to the build site and have a building between the build site and the run area. But it was a good thought!~

 

[jrichter67]

You should have no problem selling young layers. Post them on Craig's list as a starter flock.

Meanwhile, it may be a pain, but if you're able, section off the run so they have one area and the EEs have another during the day. Maybe even put a small shelter in the run with make shift nest boxes. Kick everyone out at first light, and don't let the GSL back in the coop until roosting time.

Many potential buyers won't want to see the pinless peepers on them. If a buyer already has hens, it's likely these girls would start at the bottom of the pile and learn some manners. A bossy RIR should put them in their place. Separating them during the day may allow you to remove the PPs.

I figured as much about selling them, I just hate to admit defeat you know!

I could put up a small shelter and section off the run, it's definitely big enough to do that and that's a great idea especially with the weather getting better.

 

[springvalley123]

I figured as much about selling them, I just hate to admit defeat you know!

I could put up a small shelter and section off the run, it's definitely big enough to do that and that's a great idea especially with the weather getting better.

It's not admitting defeat, it's learning from experience. In a week or so you'll be replying to someone else's post and sharing your experience. Some breeds/personalities don't mesh well. It's clear you really like/love your EE's so I hope the wonderful advice you've gotten works well for you. I like the idea of segregating the two flocks in the meantime. One, they'll look better when the buyer comes for them (even if you sell the sex links, it might help to have the EEs look better). Two, it'll give you options when/if you decide to get the next generation of chicks. Best of luck!

 

[Eelantha]

Wow! It sounds like you have been through the wringer with your flock! Thank you for the great advice for when I do integrate new chicks with them. It will be several months until that happens.

The contractors being on the property is new thing, this behavior started happening months ago and I was with them this morning when some work was being done with machinery and it didn't seem to bother them at all, they aren't right next to the build site and have a building between the build site and the run area. But it was a good thought!~

It's an experience I hope to never live again. Machine noise was the only thing I could think of once I read all your failed attempts to correct the bullies. Sex-links though, they've been bred for egg production, not flock integrity, so their temperament isn't ideal for mixed flocks u_u

x2 on small shelter & sectioned run. Your EEs will breathe easier for it.

 

[cher2324]

Hi! We’ve had a chicken or two just be mean! Raised with everyone and then just go bully! It’s an awful feeling as an owner. We have rehomed them with a local farm. She has a lot of land and they free range. Maybe there’s someone near by that will take them, especially if they are laying. My hen is doing so well in her new flick of of 100+. It’s just what she needed. Do whatever is best for you! Good luck