Oh what a bossy HEN - -

[redhen]

Quote:
yeah.. And i've even seen on here where a roo killed the hen...

 

[math ace]

teach1rusl - - it is exactly like that.

The Alpha hen is clearly the boss. Her best bud is much lower on the pecking order.

The submissive hen is picked on by almost everybody before I put the alpha hen in there. I introduced the two hens in question to the 15 younger pullets - 2 days apart. The submissive went first. All was well.

Then I brought the alpha hen in and things changed instantly. The roo got his butt kicked by the alpha hen immediately.
After the alpha hen took care of the roo, she went after a couple of the pullets that were high up on the pecking order.
Everybody decided she could be top CHICK if she wanted to be.

NOW, the submissive hen acts like she is big and bad because the alpha hen has her back so much. The others still try to SNEAK in a pluck if the alpha hen
moves too far away from her.

I am trying to decide weather or not to kind rid of the alpha hen. I am trying to decide how long I should allow this adjusting time to go on.
Before the introduction of these two hens, everybody was one big HAPPY family.

 

[redhen]

Give it time... they usually will work it out in a little while themselves..
OR the hen may always spat with the roo.... keep him in his his place..

 

[phalenbeck]

I have a hen that was lead of the girls till the Roo came. A couple of girls will have nothing to do with his Manhood, most will. The big shot hen has been in chicken jail a couple times for being too mean, and this seems to help. The roo and her at at peace now, she is top of the order. She has been out of jail since fall, and the flock is fine with 2 bosses. For info, my jail is a 4x8 tractor where they can see, but not get at the rest.

 

[math ace]

My jail is a 4 x 8 tractor where they can see each other too. I had to put one of the pullets in it last night. She has started feather picking one of the pullets that is at the VERY BOTTOM of the pecking order - - only since the alpha hen has been placed with the flock.

There was no feather picking before the alpha hen came in.

How long should this take to work for the flock to adjust to the alpha hen and the reverse?

 

[phalenbeck]

I have put the mean hen in jail for 4-5 days, on multiple occasions. Whenever Barbara is reported as moving from bossy to mean/mean she goes to jail. Just like some people she is a repeat offender. Just like some people she mostly is not punching out the neighbors, and I think has grown out of it now. Of course I have not added to the flock which is the trigger. She is a pretty girl, and a reasonable producer.

 

[math ace]

UPDATE: DAY 6 - First Day I observed the alpha hen not picking anybody.

Her submissive friend seems to be challeneging others on her own now. So, I think it has taken 6 days for the alpha hen to establish herself as Queen, but her friend is trying to find herself in the pack. These two hens are Wyandottes.

I am pretty sure the Marans have established themselves as the next in line below the Alpha hen. I observe the submissive hen make a NASTY feather picking attack on my one of my leghorns. So, I am thinking that she is getting close to finding spot in the middle of the flock.

I am really glad that Alpha is settling down because I want her to go broody and hatch some eggs for me. I didn't want to get rid of her, but I couldn't of taken much more of the aggression.