Needs A LOT Of Help Dealing With An Aggressive Hen

[aart]

The black chick already has a part of her upper mandible missing:

Just a chip, should heal up, probably from the HC.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

The black chick already has a part of her upper mandible missing:

View attachment 2229292

yes, that’s an old scrape from a while ago, it is healing up quickly.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

The setup I can see is by no means appropriate and I am not surprised at Bubblegum's aggressive behaviour living in this narrow grating jungle.

Thanks for the input. Other than adding hide outs (which there were 4/5 of when they kinda lived with her) we can’t expand or buy another coop. We live in the city, so we don’t have much room.

Best picture I could get, will get more later.At this point I'm really asking do you think it’s even possible they could move in together or would it be best for Bubblegum to move to another family and get Skipper a started Pullet friend?

 

[aart]

get Skipper a started Pullet friend?

Nope.
Any integration is going to be dicey in that small of a set up.
Space is the number one factor in ease of integration.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the input. Other than adding hide outs (which there were 4/5 of when they kinda lived with her) we can’t expand or buy another coop. We live in the city, so we don’t have much room. View attachment 2229546 Best picture I could get, will get more later.At this point I'm really asking do you think it’s even possible they could move in together or would it be best for Bubblegum to move to another family and get Skipper a started Pullet friend?

We got 3 chicks, 1 turned out to be a rooster, sent to a friend (House #1). Then another chick was too loud and ended up being sent to another friend (House #2). Now it’s just Bubblegum.

Then because we don’t just want one chicken, we got 2 baby chicks. We raised them up and at 6 weeks we introduced and moved them in (or at least tried too). Bubblegum pecked Honey, one of the chicks too death one night.

No, I don't think they can move in together at this point.
You need more run space for sure.

Are you allowed to have chickens where you live?

Not trying to be mean, but you ended up with just 1 (Bubblegum) because 1 was a rooster and the other was "too loud". Bubblegum has her territory/space - even if it's not that large - it's hers.
The new ones were invaders. Large Fowl need space. Keep them in their separate coop/runs or make a bigger run and coop.

If you keep getting ridding of ones that you see as trouble/a problem and make no effort to resolve/improve/correct the cause/reason for bad behavior - you are not making any progress. You will continually run into more problems.

 

[LaFleche]

Thanks for the input. Other than adding hide outs (which there were 4/5 of when they kinda lived with her) we can’t expand or buy another coop. We live in the city, so we don’t have much room. View attachment 2229546 Best picture I could get, will get more later.At this point I'm really asking do you think it’s even possible they could move in together or would it be best for Bubblegum to move to another family and get Skipper a started Pullet friend?

I think it might be best to set up some kind of aviary right there in the back near the fence where I can see a patch of grass in your picture.
Then separate the aviary with a removable solid frame and hardware cloth and put the coops at each end of the aviary. So each hen will have her own space while getting used to see and share the same aviary with the other.

Another option which might just turn out more suitable in your situation might be quail.

 

[rosemarythyme]

From your photo of the 2 coop/runs... is there any way to fence off the gap between the two units to create a bigger run space? Not sure how big that would be all together if it could be done...

As this really comes down to space issues (overall sq ft and also the width of the space) the only way you're realistically going to be able to have Bubblegum with another bird in the same coop/run space (regardless of chick or pullet or hen) is to give them enough space so that 1) the birds can physically put enough distance between them to stop a chase and 2) you can add suitable obstacles to help providing safe hiding spots for use as needed. Maybe with enough time and familiarity they'd become friendly enough to share the same coop at least.

Or you could free range full time, knowing that there's some risks with that, but it'd give them both the space they need to get away from each other as well as room for plenty of clutter.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

From your photo of the 2 coop/runs... is there any way to fence off the gap between the two units to create a bigger run space? Not sure how big that would be all together if it could be done...

As this really comes down to space issues (overall sq ft and also the width of the space) the only way you're realistically going to be able to have Bubblegum with another bird in the same coop/run space (regardless of chick or pullet or hen) is to give them enough space so that 1) the birds can physically put enough distance between them to stop a chase and 2) you can add suitable obstacles to help providing safe hiding spots for use as needed. Maybe with enough time and familiarity they'd become friendly enough to share the same coop at least.

Or you could free range full time, knowing that there's some risks with that, but it'd give them both the space they need to get away from each other as well as room for plenty of clutter.

I could see if we could add an aviary/extra large run or some more space that connects them while still keeping them apart.


When Honey died, they had free ranged all day together. I put them in the coop at night and went out there to check on them (for eggs). They were all up in the roosting area, but I could sense something was wrong. I didn't trust my gut and left them in there.

I think once they are very comfortable through a fence together, I could free range them (nearly all day) together then put them in their own coops at night. Do you think they would eventually be able to live together somehow?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think once they are very comfortable through a fence together, I could free range them (nearly all day) together then put them in their own coops at night. Do you think they would eventually be able to live together somehow?

It's hard to say because every animal is an individual, and every set up is different, so there's no 100% sure way to tell if something will work out.

I think if you can start by extending run space (in case it's ever needed) and free range with some obstacles (even ordinary things like patio furniture and plant pots can help), and keep them separately at night for the time being, it's possible to have them live together. They might even decide on it themselves if one ends up following the other to their coop for the night.