Need help with a Bully!!!*****Update*****

[chicknchick]

I understand what you are saying but when you only have 5 chickens, you tend to get a little more attached to them then if it were 20-50 chickens. They are my pets that give me breakfast. Not dinner!!

 

[fordmommy]

Quote:
Man-o-man. Don't beat yourself up. I, personally, say you have tried hard enough.

I got myself a girl in "time out" too, right now. I don't know if it'll work. If not.....craigslist she'll go. I have tried several things myself and the "time out" was her last chance. And let me tell you.....I feel bad for her. She has to sleep alone. Granted it's in the garage, but it's still cold. This is WI we're talking about. But I have had enough! Shape up. Or get out!

 

[math ace]

I think there is a difference between " chickens as pets" and "chickens as food".

I would re-train, before I re-home
I would re-home, before I ate.

Just because the chicken is too aggresive for my bunch, doesn't mean she wouldn't be a perfect fit somewhere else.

I got two chickens in TIME-OUT that have breed "aggressive" tendancies. If they don't merge with my other chickens who I picked for the breed "docile" tendancies, then I will rehome them.

My friend has some bigger RIR chickens as her main breed flock. These two chickens will make a good "new" addition to her flock. I think they will find it hard to be bullies in that group.

My friend won't mind the "new" source of eggs. I won't mind the extra work in finding them a new flock.

 

[newchickenmommy]

Gosh, this sounds like my life. It always suprises me to find that my problems are JUST like everyone elses where the chickens are concerned. I am having this same bully problem with one hen in particular and it is very upsetting becaise she is bullying my favorite hen! Not my best layer, but my favorite none the less.

I have 5 laying hens only, and no roosters. My first chicken Annie is super tame and nice. Very docile. She was so nice it made me want more chickens so she could have friends. The last addition to our flock last summer was a beautiful Gold Laced Wyandotte we named Belle. My chickens ARE pets so they all have names. Anyway, I live in Minnesota and it is snowy and freezing cold here. They have a heated 4 x 4 coop inside an enclosed 10 X 4 run that is covered with double thickness of plastic so they can still go in and out of their coop and not be so cramped. Annie never goes into the coop at night. She is always sitting on the ramp going into the heated coop, and I have to go put her inside at night and shut the door so she will stay warm. Actually, I think she is afraid to go in. The feathers right above her tail are gone now and this morning I looked and she has a big scab where she has been picked at. Probably by Belle, as she is the most dominant (and a little mean).

I like both hens, and I don't want to get rid of either one frankly. I am considering trimming Belle's beak so she can't do any more damage to Annie. Does anyone think this will work??

 

[math ace]

I have two wyandottes in time out for being bullies. I read in hendersons chicken chart that his experience with wyandottes was similiar. Tame chickens but ALPHA chickens.

I spoke to another breeder a few weeks ago - -- - and bully wyandottes - AGAIN.

So, I don't know if I am going to be able to fix the issue with the time out - - - but I am going to try. If I can't fix it, the wyandottes will have to find a new home. I have 17 chickens. ONLY the Wyandottes aren't playing NICE

 

[fordmommy]

I have been thinking of your posts all weekend. There is one more thing you could try. I don't know if anyone has mentoned it. Peepers-chicken peepers. Like horse blinders. But chicken blinders.

Here's a link. I really hope it helps.


http://shilala.homestead.com/peepers.html

 

[chicknchick]

How do Peepers work?

 

[fordmommy]

Quote:
I have never used them myself, but from what I have read, there are kinds that clip on to the nosterals. I just saw another post today where someone is asking for "peepers" links. And one of the first ones sounds promising.

I do know a few people who use them.

Here's the link to the post. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=295226

 

[chicknchick]

Separating her for two weeks didn't work. So today I took miss Daisy to a new home. A friend of a friend has several acres out in the country. There is a large coop and barn with 10 hens and two horses. The other hens were all out free ranging so we put Daisy in the coop to get familiar with her new home. She was ok at first and then one of the other hens went over to the coop to check out the new girl. It didn't go very well. They started fighting with each other through the fence. When Daisy saw us starting to walk away, you could tell she was starting to panic a little. I am really worried that this new home is not going to work out. Do you think they will eventually let her be part of their flock?

 

[fordmommy]

Yes. I'm sure they will. She has an attitude. And the new girls have picked up on that. She needs to be taught her place in the flock. And as for the fighting throught the fence. Completely normal. That's why they introduce them through fences. This way they can fight and no one gets hurt.

This really is the right desition for you flock. Your other girls will be happier.

AND an update on my snot. I am ordering clip on peepers for a back up. 98% of the time, she's okay......not great.....okay. But when she's a snot, she's a big one.