Our Best Layer is Suddenly Acting Like a Bully

[Bear4boo]

Our Rhode Island Red has not missed a day laying since she began laying this past summer. She is the only one of our 6 who is still consistently laying (as it is winter) and she has begun to be mean to the other hens. Could there be a connection between her knowing she’s the only one laying every day and her pecking at the others? She even does it to the head hen. Any

suggestions on how to get her to stop?

 

[aart]

Could there be a connection between her knowing she’s the only one laying every day and her pecking at the others?

It's possible.

suggestions on how to get her to stop?

How bad is the bullying?
Does she chase them down and beat them bloody?
Keep them from feed and water?
Do the bullied have space to get away from her?

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes, laying birds are much higher in the pecking order than non-laying birds - kind of, sort of, generally speaking.

Try pin less peepers on her.