Mean chickens

[aart]

Ditto Mrs. K.
How big is coop in feet by feet?
Do you have a run too?
Details and pics would help.

Removing bully then adding her back may work.....or cause other problems.
Harder to balance/juggle things with only 3 birds.

 

[luvmigirls]

i agree with the above posters, giving the lead meanie a time out away from the flock for 3+ days will reset the 'pecking order' and give your victim a chance to find a better spot in the order.
Tricks, Always have 2 feeders and a treat block. Keep each in separate corners.

 

[Suzilla Bean]

This often happens if there is not really enough room, at about this time in the flock. What WAS enough room because the chicks were small, becomes not enough room when the birds grow. Some people think that if they are raised together, that will outweigh space issues, but it often times doesn't.

Going into winter, this is apt to get worse. The long nights mean birds are roosted together for up to 16 hours a night. Bad weather keeps them more confined and closer together. This is the time, one needs to measure the coop, the roost space and count heads.

I may be wrong, maybe the time out will work, but what will probably happen is the tension will drop when you pull a bird out, as that give the remaining birds more space. Then when you go to add a bird back, you will be too small, high tensions and fighting as the birds themselves try and correct the problem.

Mrs k

It's not a space issue. They have plenty of space. If need be, I'm eating the bully.

 

[pennyJo1960]

yup go with plan of 2 or 3 days out reset the pecking order alright

 

[Suzilla Bean]

I went out today to take Janet out of confinement only to discover that La Toya is the chicken in charge. In less than 5 minutes, war began. La Toya is now in confinement.
New question: how much "fighting" is acceptable?

 

[PirateGirl]

I think I'm fortunate in that my girls get along but I do see picking/pecking from time to time. I saw Lola grab Dela by the comb the other day and was surprised because I'd thought they were buddies. What I ask myself about the fighting vs normal pecking order behavior is the following...

is anyone getting hurt?
is there any blood?
is there feather plucking? or feather loss due to stress?
is everyone acting normal, eating, drinking, doing their chicken things?

Generally I leave them to sort it out unless the answer to the above questions raises more concern.

 

[luvmigirls]

I went out today to take Janet out of confinement only to discover that La Toya is the chicken in charge. In less than 5 minutes, war began. La Toya is now in confinement.
New question: how much "fighting" is acceptable?

I would say: if the lower ranked chicken comes over to the food, and the leader pecks at her neck or comb or back, and she yells quick and runs, but the higher continues eating, that's fine.

Alternatively if the lead chicken starts to target the lowers and goes out of her way to CHASE or BLOCK her from areas, or she's trembling in a corner or she's loosing feathers on her neck, when no dispute is apparent, (ie roost, nest, food, space), that's an issue, that's a bully.

 

[Suzilla Bean]

It was bullying alright. Chickens are ferocious!

 

[Suzilla Bean]

After putting Janet in isolation for 2 nights and La Toya in isolation for 3 nights, the same order has been established. Rebbie continues to be segregated to the coop. I added two extra feeders, a hiding spot, and an extra perch while La Toya was in time out.

Either Janet or La Toya will be dinner.

 

[sannabelle]

If you don't want to eat one of them you could post for rehome or sell otherwise, enjoy your dinner!