Mean, mean "Attilla the Hen"

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

UPDATE: I let Attila out of the penalty box around noon to mingle with the flock. At first she was fine, probably for about 30-40 minutes... then she started chasing the littles for no apparent reason. The chicks were all laying down napping - and she walked towards them, and attacked. It's not like they were trying to share or take her prize food, or take the best dust bath spot... it was just random nastiness. So I acted immediately, & put her back in the penalty box.

Around 6 pm, we let her out again. She was mellow and behaved within the realm of what an adult hen should do - with new, 9+ week old chicks... no aggression was detected, so we let her stay out. There were no issues.

But I was constantly checking - and then it began to get dark... and everyone started moving into the coop as normal. Good sign. Watching from the camera, I saw 7 chicks hop up through the chicken door - into the coop, and move up onto the roosts... ugh... then in walks Attila. They all scattered as she lunged at them, they were flying up the walls, hitting the windows, smashing into each other in a panic to get away from her. She was pecking & biting at them and they ran out. I watched her climb up on the top roosting bar and settle there. No one was in the coop now, except her.

Then, the chicks began to go back into the coop, to try again... and she attacked anyone that tried to climb up onto the roosting bars... even when they were at the far end, about 5 feet away & no where near her.

I ran outside at this point, and got her out of the coop, and she's back in the penalty box out in the run.

She's been on that roost with 6 other chickens last year this time, that were all her age when her group of chicks came in. I'm starting to wonder if she's crazy... or mental.

Now we move onto plan 2: Tomorrow my husband will help me put the pinless peepers on her. More to come.

OMG! I have mixed feelings about putting a camera in the coop, sometimes it's better not to see. However, in this case I think it likely saved the other chickens. My chickens seem to be settling in a bit more. I brought the littles out with the hens for their afternoon yard break and they did pretty good. A little chasing and the littles ran back inside the coop & run. One of the littles came right back out after a few minutes. Then the littles were actually hanging out in the run for a bit as well. My rooster is starting to be a PITA, so I have made one chicken saddle and will make four more. Once I have the hens outfitted I plan on letting the rooster out of confinement. Hopefully that will take care of any remaining angry hen issues. Good luck with the pinless peepers.

 

[FiddleChics]

OMG! I have mixed feelings about putting a camera in the coop, sometimes it's better not to see. However, in this case I think it likely saved the other chickens. My chickens seem to be settling in a bit more. I brought the littles out with the hens for their afternoon yard break and they did pretty good. A little chasing and the littles ran back inside the coop & run. One of the littles came right back out after a few minutes. Then the littles were actually hanging out in the run for a bit as well. My rooster is starting to be a PITA, so I have made one chicken saddle and will make four more. Once I have the hens outfitted I plan on letting the rooster out of confinement. Hopefully that will take care of any remaining angry hen issues. Good luck with the pinless peepers.

@Wee Farmer Sarah - I'm a VERY big fan of cameras & don't regret for a second, putting them in the coop. I have 1 battery "Arlo" facing the roosting bars, and another Arlo camera facing the nesting boxes. All I had to do was put a screw in the wall, and hang the magnet holders, and make sure that the location picked up on our Wifi. I did have to install a booster for our Wifi... but it's easy.

So I can easily check on the flock, from my iPhone or lap top - any hour of the night or day. (Most people do social media... lol... I check on my chickens.) But it's enabled me to really learn the quiet habits of the girls - for example - who sits next to who at night, which also tells more about who's droppings are who's... in case there's something odd. (gross, but true).

I also can see who's on which nesting box - which lets me identify who's egg is who's, and who is laying each day. I can tell who's egg- is who's... and if there's a blood drop, I know there's stress, or if the shell's strong/weak... and this is a BIG plus: I can time how long broody girls go on the nest... and keep an eye on things, without having to physically disrupt them. But I turn on the camera, check - and then shut it off, to save batteries. I don't let them just run.

I also have electric powered "Nest" cameras outside on the coop ( I LOVE these ones). I keep an eye on things and can listen. Any activity pings my phone at my set level of movement or sound. I can hear (and talk) through these cameras. You wouldn't believe what goes on when you're not there! Racoons, fox & even people who shouldn't be there... I actually caught one of our lawn men - take the blower - and blow it directly at my chickens. They were flying around, hitting the wire walls and OHHHHH I was furious! I never would have known - was it not for the camera. The hens are my beloved pets. I fired them, and have a new company now that's kinder and very careful around my chickens.

Sounds crazy, I know... but too, I work at night, and my son doesn't always reply on his phone... but a quick check of the camera & I can see it Live - if the coop door's closed, or if I scroll through the recorded video - I can see if he put the girls in! At $80 a year for the 2 Nest outdoor cameras - to can keep video for 5 days... & it rolls over so I have 5 days to go back & check things. 22 cents a day is worth my peace of mind.

Haha... I was in Ireland last Fall, checking on the girls, & at 1 point, I couldn't see them (the camera can't pick up 1 area behind a tree, in the corner of the run) but via the camera I said "Oh Girls!" and they all came running out of their hiding spot! lol I did a head count... and I felt better all the way over on the other side of the Atlantic!

I want to give the free ranging a try... thank you for the input on that and it's always interesting to hear how things like this go. I'm afraid to do it, and worry that they'll get lost, or worse, fly over the stockade fence... where our 1 neighbor's has mean dogs... so idk about that... but best of luck with making the saddles! I don't have roosters... but I hope that helps!

 

[FiddleChics]

Update! DAY 2: Attila the Hen... has finally calmed the cluck down. I did not have to resort to the pinless peepers.

We were outside with the flock - all day yesterday & today watching their interactions. Last night we watched them go into the coop at dusk... The little peeps - all climbed up onto the roosting bars and were all cozy & set for nighty-nights... but within 15 minutes... in comes Attila. On the camera... I watched her march up onto the roosts & lunge at the peeps... there was a ruckus & all the peeps began flying around - hitting the walls dodging the pecks. They ended up on the floor - huddled together.

I immediately went and retrieved Attila from the coop - and she went into the penalty box out in the run, which she seemed shocked about because it had been a decent day. She obviously gotten happy being back with her Alpha hen... but she blew it with the peep agression.

Last night was actually easy... lol because we had a nice bon-fire going by the garden, so my husband & I sat, waiting pleasantly, a nice bottle of red wine - lol, because my darling husband KNEW I was stressed about this whole thing. It was a beautiful, cool summer night and the crescent moon was hanging overhead. So we waited about 1/2 an hour with Attila in the penalty box, and the peeps went back up onto the roosts.

After about an hour, I went back and got Attila & carried her back into the coop, and placed her next to the Alpha hen... the peeps moved away, but stayed on the roost.
All seemed to go well through the night, and the 2 adult hens stayed away from all but 1 of the peeps - who chose to sleep on the floor of the coop.
Today, we watched more... and Attila stopped chasing or even aggressively following the peeps. I am keeping their treats far apart, and have 3 feeding stations & 4 water stations... so it seems ok... no need for Pinless Peepers... Thank God.

 

[Cryss]

Such great news! Here's hoping it continues!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Such great news! Here's hoping it continues!

Great News @FiddleChics. I tried a different approach with Miss Vicious. I let the rooster out to have a sleep over with the girls the night before last. The littles were safely tucked into their "apartment" and the hens were on the roost. Next morning the hens were ready for me to open the pop door. Everyone marched out then Randy started chasing all the hens away from the food and let his new best girl have her breakfast. Before I put him lock up he let all the hens eat before he ate but he never chased any away. So of course his new best girlfriend was none other than Miss Vicious. So I put him back in his bachelor pad. Kept all the birds in their separate domains all day and did not give them their free range time. When I went to close all the doors after dark I found one of the littles resting quietly with the big hens on the roost. This is my little escape artist. However, I put her back with her sisters and locked down the coop. This morning, so far, everyone is being civil. The protective curtain is down between the littles and the hens and they seem much calmer. I thought my plan had back fired, now I'm thinking it may have worked. Good luck with your flock.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Update! DAY 2: Attila the Hen... has finally calmed the cluck down. I did not have to resort to the pinless peepers.

We were outside with the flock - all day yesterday & today watching their interactions. Last night we watched them go into the coop at dusk... The little peeps - all climbed up onto the roosting bars and were all cozy & set for nighty-nights... but within 15 minutes... in comes Attila. On the camera... I watched her march up onto the roosts & lunge at the peeps... there was a ruckus & all the peeps began flying around - hitting the walls dodging the pecks. They ended up on the floor - huddled together.

I immediately went and retrieved Attila from the coop - and she went into the penalty box out in the run, which she seemed shocked about because it had been a decent day. She obviously gotten happy being back with her Alpha hen... but she blew it with the peep agression.

Last night was actually easy... lol because we had a nice bon-fire going by the garden, so my husband & I sat, waiting pleasantly, a nice bottle of red wine - lol, because my darling husband KNEW I was stressed about this whole thing. It was a beautiful, cool summer night and the crescent moon was hanging overhead. So we waited about 1/2 an hour with Attila in the penalty box, and the peeps went back up onto the roosts.

After about an hour, I went back and got Attila & carried her back into the coop, and placed her next to the Alpha hen... the peeps moved away, but stayed on the roost.
All seemed to go well through the night, and the 2 adult hens stayed away from all but 1 of the peeps - who chose to sleep on the floor of the coop.
Today, we watched more... and Attila stopped chasing or even aggressively following the peeps. I am keeping their treats far apart, and have 3 feeding stations & 4 water stations... so it seems ok... no need for Pinless Peepers... Thank God.

I am really glad the penalty box worked and so quickly. Congrats and good luck!

 

[FiddleChics]

Great News @FiddleChics. I tried a different approach with Miss Vicious. I let the rooster out to have a sleep over with the girls the night before last. The littles were safely tucked into their "apartment" and the hens were on the roost. Next morning the hens were ready for me to open the pop door. Everyone marched out then Randy started chasing all the hens away from the food and let his new best girl have her breakfast. Before I put him lock up he let all the hens eat before he ate but he never chased any away. So of course his new best girlfriend was none other than Miss Vicious. So I put him back in his bachelor pad. Kept all the birds in their separate domains all day and did not give them their free range time. When I went to close all the doors after dark I found one of the littles resting quietly with the big hens on the roost. This is my little escape artist. However, I put her back with her sisters and locked down the coop. This morning, so far, everyone is being civil. The protective curtain is down between the littles and the hens and they seem much calmer. I thought my plan had back fired, now I'm thinking it may have worked. Good luck with your flock.

Oh BOY! LOL! Who needs Game of Thrones?!?!?! This is better than any tv show - for sure! I love it. Don't we just love our flocks and their relationships! I hope all goes peacefully for you there! Seems like it's working here... though 2 or 3 of the peeps still prefer to sleep on the floor... but I"m sure that'll change when it gets cold this winter and they decide to snuggle up together! hahah... Had to laugh that his new best girlfriend was Miss Vicious! LOL! He likes the 'bad girls' lol!

 

[Trux]

@aart, I think you may be hitting the nail on the head. But she's been continuing to lay - but she sits on in the nesting box for hours. And for weeks before she was sneaking onto the nesting boxes at night. During the day I shooo her off of it if she's already laid and I've taken the egg away, but she has been doing broody droppings in the morning... no mistaking those.
Here is Attila - this afternoon, on her 2nd day in the penalty box. She puffed herself up like a big old turkey... wings out... growling... it's awful. Do you think this is broody?

That sounds like broody talk to me, and the puffing and feathers on the back of the neck going up, just like my BO broody

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Oh BOY! LOL! Who needs Game of Thrones?!?!?! This is better than any tv show - for sure! I love it. Don't we just love our flocks and their relationships! I hope all goes peacefully for you there! Seems like it's working here... though 2 or 3 of the peeps still prefer to sleep on the floor... but I"m sure that'll change when it gets cold this winter and they decide to snuggle up together! hahah... Had to laugh that his new best girlfriend was Miss Vicious! LOL! He likes the 'bad girls' lol!

And he was such a nice rooster before, now I believe he has gone over to the dark side.

 

[FiddleChics]

And he was such a nice rooster before, now I believe he has gone over to the dark side.

If he's lusting after the likes of Miss Vicious... I'd say he's well on his way! hah... <3