New Hen is Mean

[WendyTestaburger]

Personally, I would plop her right out in the group while they are free ranging. From my theory on chickens, this would be as if a wild chicken were to approach your flock and try to join. As for reintroducing at night, this is to reduce conflict by tricking the flock into thinking this one was already here. In this case, you actually want some conflict, but against the bully. Of course, stick around in case things get especially violent. There will be some pecking and screaming, but if you start seeing blood, it would be best to separate them.

As for sleeping tonight, I would let Penny sleep in the coop with everyone else. In theory she should be a much more submissive chicken after todays experience.

Ok we will free range now and give it a go!

 

[WendyTestaburger]

I'm free ranging now because we never got the chance before. Willow and Penny didn't skip a beat, they're back together again. So far Penny only charged my favorite girl (Dot) once but no pecking, Dot ran away immediately.

 

[WendyTestaburger]

Gah, she was being a jerk again on the roost. Indiscriminately pecking anyone who got close to her to the point they would jump down. I have her back in the garage now. I can try putting a dog crate in the coop? Or should I try a longer time-out?

 

[WendyTestaburger]

Bumping this to see if there are any suggestions?

 

[aart]

Where/how/why did you 'rescue' these birds?
Soudns like you may have a 'bad' Penny.....and that's why she was up for rehoming.

 

[WendyTestaburger]

Where/how/why did you 'rescue' these birds?
Soudns like you may have a 'bad' Penny.....and that's why she was up for rehoming.

I emailed a hatchery and asked if they had any older hens in need of a retirement home, got them in the beginning of June and did a month long quarantine. At first I had to separate the two rescues because Willow was actually pecking at what little feathers Penny had left. The rooster at the hatchery had been overmating these two to the point they were missing a ton of feathers, I don't know why she chose not to separate them from the roo, she did have saddles on them. But she did tell me she almost told me no, so I don't think she was looking to rehome them, especially since I reached out to her. It's definitely possible she jumped at the chance to get rid of a meanie though

 

[WendyTestaburger]

She seems fine around Willow too so she can get along with other birds, is that a good sign?

I'd really like to try a few more things before resorting to rehoming her. Since she and Willow still knew eachother after the 3 days apart does that mean I should do a longer time out?

 

[aart]

View attachment 3191874I emailed a hatchery and asked if they had any older hens in need of a retirement home, got them in the beginning of June and did a month long quarantine. At first I had to separate the two rescues because Willow was actually pecking at what little feathers Penny had left. The rooster at the hatchery had been overmating these two to the point they were missing a ton of feathers, I don't know why she chose not to separate them from the roo, she did have saddles on them. But she did tell me she almost told me no, so I don't think she was looking to rehome them, especially since I reached out to her. It's definitely possible she jumped at the chance to get rid of a meanie though

Sounds more like a backyard 'breeder' than a commercial hatchery?

 

[WendyTestaburger]

Sounds more like a backyard 'breeder' than a commercial hatchery?

She has a business and tons of chicks to sell so I think she's technically a hatchery on a farm. Definitely wasn't a small operation. Would you do a longer time out?

 

[aart]

She has a business and tons of chicks to sell so I think she's technically a hatchery on a farm. Definitely wasn't a small operation.

Did you see this 'farm', and how the breeder birds were kept??

Would you do a longer time out?

No, I would give the bird back to the breeder.