Mean, mean "Attilla the Hen"

[DobieLover]

...or they are finally glad to have someone lower to beat on.

HBIC!

I think it's both for my lowest hen!
Oh, she most certainly is HBIC! Fits her like a glove.

 

[FiddleChics]

Well... I was actually the bigger proponent of the pinless peepers. That way she can still interact with the flock but won't lose her noodle trying to kill the chicks. If you put them on her for 2 weeks or so, that is going to allow all the birds to interact together and she won't be able to peck the chicks while they continue to gain size and integrate in with the hens. I don't really believe "time out" works for chickens like it does for toddlers. It requires the ability to sit and 'think about what you've done' and chickens don't do that. When you put her in the crate, you are just knocking her down in the pecking order and I think that is the current source of her aggression. She sees all these little chickens that are potentially going to outrank her and she'll be damned if that is going to happen.
I have 10 hens and a rooster and 15 six-week old chicks. Hands down the two hens giving the chicks the hardest time are the HBIC and the lowest ranking hen. I feel that the lowest ranking hen does not want these littles to shove her even further down to the bottom of an a new taller totem pole.

Ohhh! Ok that makes a lot of sense too... lol and that's exactly the way I was viewing the time out pen... lol It worked on my kids... Hum... Ok do the pinless peepers stay on 24/7? How do they attach? I looked at the link - do they go in their nose holes? Does it hurt them?

 

[Cryss]

When referring to jail time/separation is it possible to do it the same as integration? I mean leaving the prisoner in full view of the flock possibly even able to put heads in or out of the bars? If I ever have to jail another bully I would prefer to do it that way. I use a dog crate for introductions, also used (unsuccessfully) as a jail one time but I positioned it on my patio so there was no visual connection. That was nerve wracking because of lack of critter protection.

 

[DobieLover]

Ohhh! Ok that makes a lot of sense too... lol and that's exactly the way I was viewing the time out pen... lol It worked on my kids... Hum... Ok do the pinless peepers stay on 24/7? How do they attach? I looked at the link - do they go in their nose holes? Does it hurt them?

Go ahead and do a Google search on videos of people using pinless peepers. Yes, they stay on 24/7 and clip on through the nostrils. They don't hurt unless you leave them on too long and they wear on the nostrils. I would suggest starting with them on her for a minimum of 2 weeks while the entire flock is together then remove them and see how she does.

 

[MomJones]

Sure!
Others love their chickens and want to try all behavior modification tactics before resorting to that. It's a personal decision. The OP is trying to work things out.
It's also not completely unheard of for people to work on learning how to properly behave in chicken society so as to establish or maintain a harmonious relationshi! with their rooster vs. eating him. It's a personal decision.

I agree with you but this Attila the Hen sounds like she's had waay too many chances plus she's a threat to the flock. Can you tell I'm mad just thinking about her? And this isn't even my bird!! Sorry, some times I get too emotionally involved, but just thinking about her ripping feathers off those poor little young-un's makes me want to march in there and take care of business in a more permanent way.

 

[chicksandchores]

You mentioned having a bout with broodiness from her a few weeks ago - is there any chance she’s trying to go broody again? My broody hen walked around for weeks growling at everyone and growled while she was eating, drinking, or pecking at scratch. It really makes some of them exceptionally hateful and it just made me wonder if broodiness coupled with new threats to her already potentially affected (by wanting to brood) pecking order status might be causing her terrorist ways.

 

[FiddleChics]

Sure!
Others love their chickens and want to try all behavior modification tactics before resorting to that. It's a personal decision. The OP is trying to work things out.
It's also not completely unheard of for people to work on learning how to properly behave in chicken society so as to establish or maintain a harmonious relationship with their rooster vs. eating him. It's a personal decision.

Go ahead and do a Google search on videos of people using pinless peepers. Yes, they stay on 24/7 and clip on through the nostrils. They don't hurt unless you leave them on too long and they wear on the nostrils. I would suggest starting with them on her for a minimum of 2 weeks while the entire flock is together then remove them and see how she does.

Haha! @DobieLover OF course!! Youtube!!!! Why didn't I think of that!!! One can learn anything on Youtube! Great idea! I'm going to order the Pinless Peepers today, and maybe try them in addition - because I do have to let her have access to the nesting boxes too.

And as for culling... I more prefer to try & work out a problem first. And besides, these are my pets. I'd no sooner eat a dog that had grown old, and could no longer serve me well. She is a good layer too, and shiny, healthy & beautiful. My chickens are pets, they have names and I love them all... (though she's not high on my "like" list right now... lol I love her, but don't like her very much at the moment!) I have faith it will all work out and she'll be a good little hen again.

 

[FiddleChics]

You mentioned having a bout with broodiness from her a few weeks ago - is there any chance she’s trying to go broody again? My broody hen walked around for weeks growling at everyone and growled while she was eating, drinking, or pecking at scratch. It really makes some of them exceptionally hateful and it just made me wonder if broodiness coupled with new threats to her already potentially affected (by wanting to brood) pecking order status might be causing her terrorist ways.

It did occur to me, but she's not sitting on the nest like she had been - for exceptionally long periods of time. Now it's just an hour or two to lay... then she's out terrorizing the flock. Nor have I seen any broody poop - which is always a big sign... but whew... yes it's that same grumbly thing!

 

[chicksandchores]

It did occur to me, but she's not sitting on the nest like she had been - for exceptionally long periods of time. Now it's just an hour or two to lay... then she's out terrorizing the flock. Nor have I seen any broody poop - which is always a big sign... but whew... yes it's that same grumbly thing!

Well, the only reason that crossed my mind is because you mentioned that she was growling while eating even while the chicks weren’t around, and my currently sitting broody hen took all spring to decide to sit on the nest. She walked around fluffed up, clucking like mad, growling at anything and everything in her path, occasionally squawking as loud as she could and flapping her wings, still laid her eggs, still ate like normal, and only stayed on the nest for an hour or two.

 

[aart]

When referring to jail time/separation is it possible to do it the same as integration? I mean leaving the prisoner in full view of the flock possibly even able to put heads in or out of the bars? If I ever have to jail another bully I would prefer to do it that way. I use a dog crate for introductions, also used (unsuccessfully) as a jail one time but I positioned it on my patio so there was no visual connection. That was nerve wracking because of lack of critter protection.

Absolutely....better that way IMO....so they can observe the harmonious flock.