Mean chicken pushing her luck in suburbia. Things I did not know would happen.

[ShelleyN]

I believe I'm at a crossroads. One of my original three from 2011 is making life miserable for the three new 16 weekers. One of the youngers is at POL and will never be allowed near the coop and the nest boxes if I don't do something. There are daily, vicious attacks, hunting them out, sneaking up from behind just to be mean and attack. I've been waiting for the youngers to get big enough for things to calm down, but it just keeps going to the next level and I don't want to be hunting all over for eggs in the back yard. It has made it so stressful for all for too long.

I will have to say, for the average suburban back yard chicken fancier, I don't recommend adding a new batch of chickens to the group unless you have two of everything--coop, run, nest boxes. Just my $.02.

 

[Den in Penn]

Yup, two of everything sure helps. Have you tried separating the attacker yet? A week in isolation might help by letting the others establish a pecking order with out her.

 

[ShelleyN]

Can't, I would need two of everything to do it!

 

[subhanalah]

All you need is an empty dog crate.

 

[nancypo]

I just posted what I did- and it worked. Separate a section of the coop/garden run. Where they can see each other, but not interact. It worked for me. You can't always throw them in together and have it work. My 2 older ones just ignore the new 4, and it's been 9 days. I used extra chicken wire and green plastic garden fencing...

 

[nancypo]

You may also need to get rid of your 1 hen. I was prepared to do that with my 1 who can be aggressive...

 

[Mrs. K]

sometimes you just have to cull the trouble

 

[ShelleyN]

I had the youngin's separated by a fence for weeks before removing it. The one wyandott would march up and down the fence mumbling and grumbling just looking for a way in to do them harm. She was the low man with her two sisters, but they never treated her like this--just the occasional peck at the feeder.

 

[subhanalah]

My lowest in the pecking order of the older birds is BRUTAL to new comers. Not enough to seriously damage anyone but enough to show them that she takes her position in the pecking order VERY SERIOUSLY!

 

[nancypo]

You may also need to retire her...