nasty Bully be-aitch chicken getting worse and more agressive to the others

[Xtineart]

My wee Betsy, butter wouldn't melt Betsy rules the roost. She's top dog, mama hen, head honcho in the pecking order but recently she's become almost intolerable towards my other 2 girls. She doesn't socialise with them, she attacks them. She pecks and flaps at them relentlessly. She's been seen jumping on the back of one and pulling it's comb in a squabble over a cabbage leaf, and today she drew blood on the lowest hen wee ginger. I noticed this evening she wasn't even letting Ginger anywhere near the feed. Even if Betsy wasn't eating she'd charge over to Ginger as soon as she tried to get some food and start pecking at her head or pulling her comb, wee ginger just hunched and looked terrified, or gave me a look that said 'please, please help me'

I dont know quite what to do, Betsy has always been a nasty wee bully but for some reason she seems to have gotten worse and worse. I cant part with her, and it would break my heart to get rid of Ginger but I cant let this go on. Ginger has already had to be given a night coop of her own to sleep in as she was being attacked so badly, and now one of the other hens is limping and I cant help but think it's the result of a Betsy fight.

please help.

 

[Chick Charm]

A couple of things that may help.

Get a few more hens. With only three this tends to show itself more. Pecking order will again have to be established over time. Beware integration comes with its difficulties.

Separate/isolate the top hen for 48 hrs, then put her back.

Wish ya the best.

 

[Xtineart]

I might have to find a way of isolating her, not sure I want to take her into the house mind you as she'll just feel spoilt and special and might be even worse when I put her back in with the others. I cant get more hens though my garden really isn't big enough to support any more than I have. I did have another but she died from egg peritonitis complications, she was Betsy's best buddy and she really hasn't behaved well at all since.

I dont think my wee nerves can take much more, goodness only knows how the hens must be feeling.

 

[Chick Charm]

Gotcha. If you don't have the room then adding more isn't an option. Trust me with the 48 hr isolation, it does have an effect. But a barn or garage is better suited for that for sure.