Mean Hen.

[Nats Chickens]

Pip, one of my chickens, really has it for poor old Jewel, one of my other chickens. I am at my breaking point with her as I go out in the yard and Jewel comes running to greet me, and about 75% of the time her comb is torn or shredded from Pip mounting her. She drives me crazy because she doesn't even lay eggs! Does anyone have any idea what to do? All my other chickens are fine with each other, it is just these two. I have no idea what to try and unfortunately getting rid of her isn't an option. Answers please!
~Nat

 

[CannedMonster]

Is Pip a rooster?
Could you post a photo.

I would definitely separate the aggressive one if the other bird is being made to bleed.
How many birds do you have?
How old are they?

 

[azygous]

This is such a common problem in many flocks that I decided to write an article about a method I discovered that really works wonders for the victim. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

Most folks never stop to think about the victim's insecure behavior contributing to the bullying. When you restore a victim's self confidence, she gives off different signals than when she felt like a victim, and the bully loses interest after a while.

Meanwhile, a bully can be stopped with a simple fly swatter. A smack on the butt when she begins to go after a victim will nip it in the bud. After a while, all I need to do is brandish the swatter and the bully will suddenly lose all interest in bullying her victim.

 

[Nats Chickens]

Pip is a hen. She is a year and 8 months old. Jewel is a year and 7 months. They have always lived together, even before I got them. Here is a picture of Pip.

Thank you for the link! She really is becoming a problem.

 

[Nats Chickens]

Jewel has a best friend she grew up with, by the name of Belle. Belle is sort of Jewel's 'Big Protector', but she isn't always around. What if I try to seperate her and she gets sad because she can't be with Belle? Also, she is used to free ranging on 3 quarters of an acre, so won't she be upset about being locked up and not alowed out with the others? Though you are right about the 'victim' status, I even saw by 14 week old pullet take her on over some yogurt earlier and she totally backed up and ran off. (I think the pullet was a bit surprised)

 

[Nats Chickens]

BTW, I have 8 chickens. 4 are over a year and a half and 4 are 14 weeks old.

 

[Nats Chickens]

@azygous, are you there? What do you think I should do?

 

[Nats Chickens]

Also, anyone else got more ideas?

 

[azygous]

You can certainly put the two BFFs together in a safe enclosure, treating them as a unit. It will just reinforce the bond they already have with each other.

 

[Nats Chickens]

You can certainly put the two BFFs together in a safe enclosure, treating them as a unit. It will just reinforce the bond they already have with each other.

Yes, but what about the free range issue? Any ideas?