Mean Hen?! Please help!!

[farmerswife2012]

Have a question! I just got a new hen and she is SUPER MEAN!! (. She isn't letting the others eat or drink. What do I need to do? My others can all be in the little kiddie pool together & eat together and just hang out. This new one is not letting that happen anymore?? Suggestions!!! Please!!!!

 

[Johnn]

Here are my suggestions:
Spray your other hens with anti-peck spray
Free range them/give more room
More food stations
Take your mean hen away from the rest of the flock for a few days and then reintroduce her.
Good Luck, Hope it all works out!

 

[farmerswife2012]

Thank you!! I will try that! I don't have another coop built yet. What should I do with her until then?! I hate that she is so mean. All my other hens came from different breeders as well. All healthy, playful, fun to watch. She is also healthy, ALOT bigger than the other ones I have & just mean! I have several feed stations available. When she notices that the others are gathered around other places she just runs and messes with them.

 

[farmerswife2012]

Does her breed have anything to do with it?? She is a Rhode Island Red/5 months old. I have two other Rhode Island Reds (that are as sweet as pie).

 

[Kernel Cluck]

First.. welcome to BYC from Wisconsin. Seclude the new hen for a few day and the try reintroducing her. If that does not work and you can't free range, you may have a problem. If she is much bigger than the others.... than she may always use her size to be "top hen"

 

[Johnn]

Thank you!! I will try that! I don't have another coop built yet. What should I do with her until then?! I hate that she is so mean. All my other hens came from different breeders as well. All healthy, playful, fun to watch. She is also healthy, ALOT bigger than the other ones I have & just mean! I have several feed stations available. When she notices that the others are gathered around other places she just runs and messes with them.

You don't need another coop. Just a cage to go in a shed or house away from the other hens for a few days. Also answering your other post, I have heard some Rhode Island Reds are nasty. The bad reviews in the breed section on RIR is mostly because they are mean. But also some people have lovely RIR's, so it just depends on the individual hen.

 

[alibra]

I hear that hatchery RIR's can be very agressive, but RIR's from quality breeders tend to be more mellow. I personally have a RIR hen from a hatchery, & she's the most agressive hen I have.

 

[aggiemae]

Our most aggressive and our least aggressive hens are both RIRs. The calm non aggressive one is the boss hen. Over the years I have had mean hens of almost every breed. The very worse ones have always come from giant hatcheries. It's one of the reasons we get locally hatched chicks even though ewe might end up with some roos due to inexperienced sexing.

As for your new hen, at five months its hard to introduce a single new hen to a flock, she make be reacting out of stress. This can be especially true of you new hen that was a "low" in her previous flock. As long as no blood is drawn leave them out in an opened area with plenty of hiding spots to sort it out.

If you can go with it things will usually sort them selves out when all the hens are laying. Though getting another hen the same age as your larger one might help.

How old are your other chickens? If you don't have a coop where are your chickens living?

 

[Johnn]

I really don't think you can blame the breed because I have 3 Buff Orpington hens in with a mixed flock and 2 of them are massive bullies and are really aggressive. And if you have heard anything about Buff Orps, you will know they are usually soft and are the ones to get bullied!

 

[keesmom]

Have a question! I just got a new hen and she is SUPER MEAN!!

(. She isn't letting the others eat or drink. What do I need to do? My others can all be in the little kiddie pool together & eat together and just hang out. This new one is not letting that happen anymore?? Suggestions!!! Please!!!!

You mention a kiddie pool, so how old are they? Is the new hen the same age?