Pecking Order

[4loveofhens]

Hi hope everyone is well.
I am writing to ask for ides and or suggestions.
I have one Leg Horn who is very old and a rescue from battery cages.
I also have 3 Isa Browns who are rescues from free range (In large Shed) farm.
Then I have 2 Australorps which I grew up from day old chicks.
The Australorps are at the bottom of the pecking order and the leg horn is at the top but one Isa Brown is up there with her but they all get along most of the time.
A week ago we rescued 3 more Isa Brown hens who are 18 months old from a free range farm (big shed)
It started out great and friendly but after a couple hours the pecking order started and the new girls were being bullied a fair bit.
Long story short a week has passed and they are all getting along pretty well, still have their moments BUT the problem is that one of the Australorp girls just hates the news girls.
This Australorp chases them around the yard, she goes looking for the new girls, she hides behind bushes and then charges at the new girls. Last night she stood at the ramp which leads directly to their sleeping area and every time a new girl would walk towards it she would charge at them. She did it mostly to just one of the new girls mainly but she had her moments.
Once it gets dark enough she goes to sleep and they all sleep near her looking very cute.
But then the morning comes and she is at it chasing them again and just stalking them.
So today I have locked her in and all the other girls are playing nicely and near each other. But Rebel (That is the bully Australorps name) she is trying to get to the new girls through the wire and she is being very loud.
All the other girls are getting along nicely, yes sometimes there is a peck here and there but nothing major.
Any ideas why Rebel is being such a bully?
Her sister (Sookie) whom she grew up with and who was at the very bottom of the pecking order before the new girls only picks on the new girls when Rebel chases them, that is when Sookie attacks them mostly, she copies her sister.
Is what I am doin leaving Rebel locked up, but can see them a good thing or is there other things I can try?
Thank you

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi hope everyone is well.
I am writing to ask for ides and or suggestions.
I have one Leg Horn who is very old and a rescue from battery cages.
I also have 3 Isa Browns who are rescues from free range (In large Shed) farm.
Then I have 2 Australorps which I grew up from day old chicks.
The Australorps are at the bottom of the pecking order and the leg horn is at the top but one Isa Brown is up there with her but they all get along most of the time.
A week ago we rescued 3 more Isa Brown hens who are 18 months old from a free range farm (big shed)
It started out great and friendly but after a couple hours the pecking order started and the new girls were being bullied a fair bit.
Long story short a week has passed and they are all getting along pretty well, still have their moments BUT the problem is that one of the Australorp girls just hates the news girls.
This Australorp chases them around the yard, she goes looking for the new girls, she hides behind bushes and then charges at the new girls. Last night she stood at the ramp which leads directly to their sleeping area and every time a new girl would walk towards it she would charge at them. She did it mostly to just one of the new girls mainly but she had her moments.
Once it gets dark enough she goes to sleep and they all sleep near her looking very cute.
But then the morning comes and she is at it chasing them again and just stalking them.
So today I have locked her in and all the other girls are playing nicely and near each other. But Rebel (That is the bully Australorps name) she is trying to get to the new girls through the wire and she is being very loud.
All the other girls are getting along nicely, yes sometimes there is a peck here and there but nothing major.
Any ideas why Rebel is being such a bully?
Her sister (Sookie) whom she grew up with and who was at the very bottom of the pecking order before the new girls only picks on the new girls when Rebel chases them, that is when Sookie attacks them mostly, she copies her sister.
Is what I am doin leaving Rebel locked up, but can see them a good thing or is there other things I can try?
Thank you

First of all - it's awesome that you rescued those hens!!!! You're a chicken hero!!!!

Secondly, was there a "look but don't touch" time for them to get used to each other? When I integrated rescue hens, I allowed them to forage together after a few weeks, put I didn't pen them together for a good 2 weeks beyond that (I did that, too, because I wanted to quarantine). I find that time really limits problems.

 

[4loveofhens]

First of all - it's awesome that you rescued those hens!!!! You're a chicken hero!!!!

Secondly, was there a "look but don't touch" time for them to get used to each other? When I integrated rescue hens, I allowed them to forage together after a few weeks, put I didn't pen them together for a good 2 weeks beyond that (I did that, too, because I wanted to quarantine). I find that time really limits problems.

Thank you I have rescued numerous hens from terrible conditions.
As for the "look dont touch" time, wee only did that for about 2 hours as the place we got them from said they would be fine and just keep an eye on them.
All the other girls are nearly 100% perfect with each other it's just Rebel the naughty Australorp who has a problem.
So she is looking and not touching as she is locked up and all the others are together from today.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you I have rescued numerous hens from terrible conditions.
As for the "look dont touch" time, wee only did that for about 2 hours as the place we got them from said they would be fine and just keep an eye on them.
All the other girls are nearly 100% perfect with each other it's just Rebel the naughty Australorp who has a problem.
So she is looking and not touching as she is locked up and all the others are together from today.

Maybe give her a few more days and try again. There will be another shuffle of the pecking order when you put her with them, but she won't be at the top, in all likelihood. At least not at first.

I LOVE the name Rebel!!!!

 

[4loveofhens]

Maybe give her a few more days and try again. There will be another shuffle of the pecking order when you put her with them, but she won't be at the top, in all likelihood. At least not at first.

I LOVE the name Rebel!!!!

Yeh I named her Rebel coz when I got her when she was a day old she was always the brave one who would run around, jump on everything, go discovering and I always used to say you are a Rebel and her sister Sookie was the one that was always scared and crying.

I ended up putting Sookie in with Rebel coz she started picking on the new girls too and coz Rebel was looking a little stressed not being with her sister.

Since those two have been separated all the old girls who are at the top of the pecking order are sitting near the new girls and sun bathing.

It's so strange that the Australorps who used to be at the bottom of the pecking order have now turned into the bullies.

I hope a couple days of keeping them apart will calm things down.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Yeh I named her Rebel coz when I got her when she was a day old she was always the brave one who would run around, jump on everything, go discovering and I always used to say you are a Rebel and her sister Sookie was the one that was always scared and crying.

I ended up putting Sookie in with Rebel coz she started picking on the new girls too and coz Rebel was looking a little stressed not being with her sister.

Since those two have been separated all the old girls who are at the top of the pecking order are sitting near the new girls and sun bathing.

It's so strange that the Australorps who used to be at the bottom of the pecking order have now turned into the bullies.

I hope a couple days of keeping them apart will calm things down.

I hope so, too. Sounds like a great group of girls.

I just don't understand chicken politics....

Keep us updated!

 

[Mrs. K]

Once in a while, you get one that is just ruthless. Personally, I would keep her alone, and away from the others. If she is a bit stressed, I would ignore it. I would keep her out of sight and sound of the other birds for a week.

Then try it once more... but, and there is a real possibility here, she will be back to her old trick pretty darn quick. Then I think you have two choices, re-home her somewhere else, or try pin-less peepers.

Some birds just do not work out with one flock, will be fine in another. Personally I hate strife in the flock, always solve for peace in the flock. Just wishing they will all get along won't work.

Mrs K

 

[Aunt Angus]

Once in a while, you get one that is just ruthless. Personally, I would keep her alone, and away from the others. If she is a bit stressed, I would ignore it. I would keep her out of sight and sound of the other birds for a week.

Then try it once more... but, and there is a real possibility here, she will be back to her old trick pretty darn quick. Then I think you have two choices, re-home her somewhere else, or try pin-less peepers.

Some birds just do not work out with one flock, will be fine in another. Personally I hate strife in the flock, always solve for peace in the flock. Just wishing they will all get along won't work.

Mrs K

Out of sight? I'm genuinely curious - not disagreeing at all. I am always looking to learn more in case I have similr issues. Would this be to completely reset the pecking order?

 

[theoldchick]

You might need more room for your gals. Otherwise, you can try various boredom buster toys for chickens. As a last resort you can try pinless peepers on your trouble maker to see if that stops her unwanted behavior.