My 16 week old hen? Pullet? Is a bully.

[Hippshalfacre]

Hi everyone! My 16 week old (hen? Pullet?) whatever you call her refuses to let the 1 month younger chicks out of the tunnel that goes between the coop and the run. She chases them back in if even 1 makes a run for it. They are trying to get out in the a.m. for water and/or food and she is just a bully. Is this normal? I also think the older one is possibly about to lay her first egg. Her comb is red not her normal pale pink and she was squat walking a day or 2 ago. Am I correct in my thinking?

 

[FrostRanger]

Picture of the bird in question?

 

[tlcmurphy]

You need at least 2 separate food and water stations so this can’t happen

 

[Hippshalfacre]

Picture of the bird in question?

 

[Altairsky]

Add extra feeders and waterers. I would also put the bully in a chicken jail for a few days (same you would do to break a broody) and see what happens.

 

[Birdsonghill]

I agree with those before, that you need two feeders/waterers and a jail time for the aggressor. Just keep it short, only a few days or sometimes the flock will pick on the hen that returns aggressively! I have had hens that hunted and killed all the chicks not hers. Sometimes they became dinner. But , now I know that a queen must reign for harmony and peace and try instead, to modify or work around the behavior, if possible. Alpha hens and a very strong rooster often, makes the best performing replacement birds. Raising chickens is full of contradictions and surprises! When to cull is the uncomfortable question for many. Pets may require more work and more compassion and the flock still might benefit from an errant bird being removed occasionally. Best wishes for your flock and that pretty little hen!

 

[Birdsonghill]

About the girl about to lay, I have had them start between 17 weeks and nearly a year! Most breeds I have had, started laying at between about 18 to 25 weeks. The coming of very hot or cold weather as they are coming of age may effect that starting.


















































































































































































Most of my breeds, if spring started, have started laying at between 18 and 28 weeks. A few as early as 17 weeks. Some have taken nearly a year to lay their first egg but then became a good layer. Those slow starters usually were started so that very hot or cold weather hit when they were coming of age to lay.