Need some advice on "pecking order"

[SDDiver5]

Yeah, I don't mind making a new coop. I enjoy wood working and making things so at least I'd enjoy it. The thing I still cant figure out is why its just started to get worse now.

I got them from the same flock, Kept them in the same coop, they grew up together and everything was fine, then suddenly it started to get bad.

 

[SDDiver5]

Another question, The temporary "timeout" coop I made is on concrete. Its actually more of an enclosure than a coop. I only plan on keeping the bad hens in there for about a week and seeing how it goes when I reintroduce them (thinking Sunday afternoon). The floor is concrete and I put down a good amount of wood shavings and have a water and food bowl. Its a pretty protected corner of the yard so I'm not too worried about anything.

Will they get bored and make noise and bother my neighbors?

Will anything happen with them not being able to do a dust bath?

What about laying? Do I need to have an area that they will lay in?

Thank you again! I appreciate all your help!

 

[SkyWorld]

Just go with the flow. Be relax, but firm and in time the two mean birds will probably moderate their authority. Your birds I am assuming are still young and they like to be the boss of everything including you. When they get noisy don't worry what the neighbors think. Give them a big meal worm or some other food to keep them distracted. Let them out to do their egg and if they get nasty on your nice bird just pop them back into the time out. They will get the picture real fast. My husband has manage to snap his fingers and the chickens know it is time to go in the run. We also use a staff to herd them back in by gently tapping the ground and shepherding them in. Have fun

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[aart]

Pecking orders change, it's spring...longer days might be getting the hormones riled up.
As long as the picked on bird is not bleeding or chased, pinned down and abused, I'd leave it all be.
Chickens peck lower status members of the flock all the time every day, it's just how they roll.
As long as they can get away when pecked they just go back to their normal activity, part of which is being pecked regularly by higher status birds.

One thing to think about is maybe the egglu is too small (all the ones I've seen are pretty tight quarters),
Chickens do not like to be crowded, might be why the ruckus starts when the low bird goes into lay.
The coop should be big enough for everyone to have plenty of room if they have to be confined to the coop because of predators, bad weather or any other reason....like you not being able to open the coop door the minute they wake up and start to go about their day.

Another thing that sticks out is that you said you feed them morning and night?
They should have a good balanced chicken feed available all the time. That can help pecking order problems as everyone takes their turn at the feeder in order of flock status. If you feed only at certain times, is creates a rush to the food and the competitive survival part of the flock dynamics rears it's ugly head. Multiple feed and water stations is one of the best tools when integrating new birds because of this urge to protect their resources for survival-food and water and a place to lay.

Splitting the run and building another coop(with adequate shelter and a nest to lay in) is a good solution to try....
...and even if it doesn't solve this problem you will have a separate enclosure to integrate new birds if it comes to that. If you have to get rid of birds, I'd get rid of the mean ones.

 

[SDDiver5]

Thank you for responding!

The reason I feed them morning and night is because I was told by the guy I bought the hens from and the owner of my local feed store that chickens needs a schedule with their feeding. But I will definitely give it a try!

So are you saying I should put the bad birds in the coop so they can lay and then put them back in the "time-out pen"

I thought the Eglu might be too small but its rated for up to 5 birds and we have 4 so I thought it would be ok...but I would love for an excuse to build a brand new coop and run.......

"As long as the picked on bird is not bleeding or chased, pinned down and abused, I'd leave it all be." That's pretty much it. She gets pecked, runs away, gets chased, pinned down and then pecked once or twice more. The poor bird gets jumped on and makes a high pitch scream/moan. Then the mean birds kinda hang out right above her in a dominant way and then get bored and walk away. Sometimes it seems like my multi colored small brown bird seeks her out and runs from one side of the coop/run to the other just to get in her face.

 

[aart]

If the aggressive bird(s) are chasing and pinning like that, get the meanies separated and leave them separated for several weeks.
They will need their own place to lay, don't try to move them back and forth.
Split the run and make another coop like you mentioned before...it'll be fun and will put some fun back into keeping chickens for you.

4 sq ft of floor space per bird in coop and 10 sq ft of ground space per bird in run is an oft cited 'rule of thumb'....IMO, that is bare minimum.

 

[SkyWorld]

Do what you feel is best for your situation. If you decide to get rid of the nice bird it won't change the mean birds and a new bird will get picked on just as bad. It is better to make chicken soup with the mean bird than get rid of your nice bird.(Just saying)
I have one very nice bird and she got picked on by the 5 other hens. I didn't have the time or space to fix up a special place for the one or two hens that would be vicious on her. So I made places for my nice bird to get away from the problem, such as a perching palace inside the run and a board to block the mean birds from seeing her when I gave out treats. When the bratty bird would still go after her, I put the bratty bird in the run and gave treats to the other birds out side. Making sure the bratty bird saw that she was missing out on the fun. Yes it took time and a lot of squawking, but the problem has been tempered and my nice bird is still at the bottom of the pecking order, but she is not being beaten down.
As far as feeding, I have a feeder full all the time so everyone can eat when they want. It is working out well for me. With all that said I am not an expert with chickens, but I am happy to have my six hens and fresh eggs. I am learning every day and I only hope that your chicken problem will work out for you.
(My nice bird Lucy top left, getting along with the brats.

 

[Oceanchick]

Three or maybe just one of the three Copper Marans I have pretty much put a hit out on the fourth. She was down and out but I saved her. It took 4 weeks but I wouldn't let her die! I found another home for her and she's happy. But, I'm getting four new chicks and am praying that if I do this right, it'll work. One Buff Orpington, two Austrolorps and one Rhode Island Red. Fingers crossed.

 

[mrchicks]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[beaula]

I am new to the chicken thing too. I have had mine for 6 wks, they were one week old when I got them. They are all leghorns and I have one hen they are mean to and pick on too. So I don't think it is a breed thing, I think it is a chicken thing. I am building my coop this morning and am thinking about sectioning a piece off for the picked on lady.