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No one can say I didn't try.....and try...

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by savingpurple, Jul 18, 2011.

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  1. Jul 18, 2011 #1
    savingpurple

    savingpurple Songster

    432
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    Apr 2, 2011
    NW Ohio
    and try again....

    Ms Pissy was given cage freedom today. She failed yet again within 30 minutes. Attacks started back up. I was giving her one last chance. I bought a small dog crate on Saturday. Put her in it, in the outdoor run. With food and water. Put her, int he crate, in the coop at night with the other ladies.

    Thought I would see what happend this morning if I let her out. First 30 minutes I was impressed, only to be fooled into thinking she could change.

    My husband told me he would build me a small second coop with another run for the 2 white leghorns, but why should PurpleButt, be put out of her flock, and into a den with a witch, Ms Pissy. She doesn't pick on PurpleButt, but still.

    It would be so much easier for me to get rid of her if she was mean to me. She is so sweet. one that doesn't peck me. I can hold her, and she just sits there. She loves when I rub her back. AND, she is laying me some good eggs:) LOL She sure is living up to her name !!!

    So...maybe a second coop is in order. ????
     

  4. Jul 18, 2011 #2
    M@M@2four

    [email protected]@2four Songster

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    Oh, if they only made prozac for chickens.... [​IMG]
     
  6. Jul 18, 2011 #3
    RSFChicks

    RSFChicks In the Brooder

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    Mar 27, 2011
    Rancho Santa Fe
    Not sure if you have the space to free range them at all but when Im trying to indroduce new chickens to the flock I first put them next to each other in separate cages which sound like what you are doing. Then I slowly let them all out together so there is space for them to get away from each other, at first they ignore each other and stay in their own groups but eventually they start to get to know each other without being thrown in the cage together where the pecking order is confronted. After a few weeks I then start putting them all together after the free ranging with some treats like boiled eggs or scratch and leave them in until there starts to be conflict then I take them out and try the next day, eventually they work it out. If one is particularly aggressive however and just doesnt want to join the flock in a civilized manner I try and find a buddy that they do get along wih and separate them. Right now I have a game hen that just showed up one day and fights with my Silkies but doesnt try it with my Orpingtons or BLRWs so shes with them and I only let her with the silkies when free ranging and everything seems to be going fine. Hope that helps, the pecking order is a serious thing for them and some seem to have a harder time than others for sure.

    www.facebook/ranchosantafechicks
     
  8. Jul 18, 2011 #4
    savingpurple

    savingpurple Songster

    432
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    Apr 2, 2011
    NW Ohio
    Okay thank you first for your advice on free ranging them. I came home from work and decided that I didn't have enough stress in my life, that this would be a good night to get Ms Pissy out of her mud filled crate, as it was NOT suppose to rain today. So I pulled out the bottom tray, and sat her on a section of green crabgrass. OH my, she went crazy. She is a sweet hen.....

    I decided to open the outdoor run, and let the others out too.......

    Wish I had my camera, or at least my cellphone. Didn't. They LOVED it .

    We have big hawk issues. So was so afraid to leave them to get it. Earlier......With the rain today that was not expected, we had to dump the water from the tarp , that I left on for shade, and they all freaked, because my husband didn't hear me say slowly and they flew all over. After the run door was opened, one hen stayed in the coop, and never came out. Worried she might have gotten hurt. Wil check on her tomorrow,as she just went right to the roost.

    Ms Pissy,still in the crate, seen the others moving more away form the coop, and started getting upset, and called the hens back to her. My husband and son witnessed this with me. She made some sound, and all 5 came over to her area.

    WHY can I not give up on this hen that I saved?? She is SO mean to the other hens, but sweet as pie to me.??? WHY can I not do it??

    I am just having such a hard time making a decision on her fate..........
     
  10. Jul 18, 2011 #5
    Beekissed

    Beekissed Free Ranging

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    This world is not my home.
    She sounds like a good flock leader. I'd leave her alone....as long as she is not consistently picking on and bringing blood on any single bird, I'd just let nature happen. This is what a bossy ol' flock leader hen does. The other birds will learn to stay out of her way or suffer the consequences. As soon as they learn to let her have first dibs at the feed, etc., it will all calm down.
     
  12. Jul 18, 2011 #6
    KKatknap

    KKatknap Songster

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    Nov 15, 2009
    Albany, OR
    Quote:I'm gonna have to ditto that. [​IMG]
     
  14. Jul 18, 2011 #7
    savingpurple

    savingpurple Songster

    432
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    Apr 2, 2011
    NW Ohio
    No blood has ever been drawn, just pecking them relentless, and grabbing them by the wattles and shaking. they are afraid to leave the coop or enter. Okay... will let her out agin tomorow.....see what she does.

    The night time roosts is brutal to watch! She beats up on them big time. Should I just ignore? What is too much?

    Can you all come here to help me decide if she is mean and needs to go, or just pissy and can stay? LOL I can cook a good meal !!! LOL

    honestly...thank you so much! And honestly, come on over !
     

  17. Jul 18, 2011 #8
    Beekissed

    Beekissed Free Ranging

    22,974
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    This world is not my home.
    In all the years I've raised chickens I've never had a consistently mean bird, either to me or to their flock mates. I have observed bossy hens who will bully~briefly~a lesser hen but not every day, all day. Mine always have free ranged, so lesser birds can always escape, so I'm not sure how it would go in penned life. When I was growing up ours were penned and I witnessed several squabbles, chasing and pecking....but never all day, every day, to where the other birds could not exist happily.

    I'd just let them do what they do and let them learn who is boss and they will either conform to her rules or they will continue to get schooled.

    Try not to watch.... [​IMG]
     

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