Please advise on excessive bullying during hot months

[chillismom]

Hi, this is my first post so I wasn’t sure where to put it, especially since it is a two-part question. Excuse me if it’s in the wrong forum or if it’s too long!
I have three 2 yr old chickens, T-Boz (Sussex,) Chilli (EE) and Left Eye (Plymouth Rock) all have very different personalities but none stand out more than Chilli. She looks super different and much smaller than the other two, she’s extremely social and talkative and the best and fastest at finding food. Over the past year, T-Boz took over as head of the pecking order which would be fine except she continues to bully Chilli sometimes seemingly for no reason. (Left Eye doesn’t have beef with anyone and never gets pecked at all.)
Summer weather just started which is making it much worse. T-Boz (who is very healthy and fat) and Chilli both seem to suffer in the heat but T-Boz has started breaking and twisting Chilli’s feathers with her beak and chasing her to peck her repeatedly. I give them ice in their water, make cool mud puddles and provide plenty of shade but Chilli still tries to follow me into the house every time I leave. Should I:

1. Get Chilli a chicken diaper so she can come in the house for a few hours in the summer and get a break from the madness? Do we think it will fit her? I read something about Ameraucanas not being able to wear diapers and wonder if this is true for Easter Eggers too.
2. Introduce a new Easter Egger to the flock? I’ve been thinking an even number might shake things up and help with the bullying. Thought maybe if there was another chicken that looked similar to Chilli it would be harder for T-Boz to focus on her.

Again, I’m pretty new at this, I’ve only had these girls for two years so I’m just guessing. Trying to figure out how to separate T-Boz like you’re supposed to, but we’d have to build a whole new structure so in the meantime, I’m trying to at least cut down on the problem. Photos of Chilli attached (photobomb from Left Eye)

TLDR: Chicken singling out and bullying Easter Egger. Getting worse in the heat. Should I buy a diaper to give the Easter Egger a break from it all? Should I introduce a new chicken?

 

[Mrs. K]

You can bring her in if you want to, but I do not think separation for chickens works well. Often times it causes more problems. Adding more birds generally makes pecking problems worse.

It sure looks like there is a lot of space there, and that is the usual culprit for pecking problems, lack of space. Do you have hide outs in the set up? Roosts, platforms, mini walls where birds can get away from each other help best.

What are measurements of your set up, can you post pictures? How hot is hot? Where are you at.

Mrs K

 

[chillismom]

You can bring her in if you want to, but I do not think separation for chickens works well. Often times it causes more problems. Adding more birds generally makes pecking problems worse.

It sure looks like there is a lot of space there, and that is the usual culprit for pecking problems, lack of space. Do you have hide outs in the set up? Roosts, platforms, mini walls where birds can get away from each other help best.

What are measurements of your set up, can you post pictures? How hot is hot? Where are you at.

Mrs K

Thanks so much for your reply, Mrs. K, this is already so helpful!
We’re in Northern California about two hours north of San Francisco so we’ve got a dry heat and it’s been getting to be in the 90s, the highest temperature lately being about 101. I’ve attached a photo of the run/coop area where they spend the first part of their day when they’re laying. Not sure of the exact measurements but there are some hiding spots, different levels, a saw horse and an area to the right behind the coop where Chilli usually hangs out separate from the other two.
Most of the day (afternoon until dark) they’re free range so there’s plenty of space and even more hiding places but the problem seems to be T-Boz seeks Chilli out in those hiding places. On hot days, I see her spotting Chilli from across the property and running long distances to peck at her. Not sure what’s going on there!

 

[Mrs. K]

You do have some clutter, but you could use a lot more. The key is to have birds disappear. If she can see her across the way, that is no good. The lower hen needs to be able to get completely out of sight.

You could also use more of the vertical height, but adding roosts, or a saw horse, or a ladder.

But upon thinking about this, what might work best, is pin-less peepers. They can really help a small flock out.

100 degrees is hot, but it looks like you got good shade. A dry heat is better on chickens than a humid heat.

MRs K

 

[chillismom]

You do have some clutter, but you could use a lot more. The key is to have birds disappear. If she can see her across the way, that is no good. The lower hen needs to be able to get completely out of sight.

You could also use more of the vertical height, but adding roosts, or a saw horse, or a ladder.

But upon thinking about this, what might work best, is pin-less peepers. They can really help a small flock out.

100 degrees is hot, but it looks like you got good shade. A dry heat is better on chickens than a humid heat.

MRs K

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I had heard of pinless peepers once before but wasn’t sure how effective they were. I will definitely try that. Also, there is a fabric tarp Chilli hides behind in back of the coop but, but from what you’re saying I think an actual wall would be more effective. Lot to think about!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also I would not add another bird. Adding more birds might temporarily redirect aggression (to the unfortunate newcomer), but you'll likely end up with just a bigger mess in the end as birds fight for space and ranking.

I agree that more clutter here could help, maybe 1 or 2 items towards the center, to really help break up the space. Or a bale of hay or straw to pick at. Also multiple food sources is a good idea, even with only 3 birds, if some of the aggression seems to be centered around food.

 

[chillismom]

Also I would not add another bird. Adding more birds might temporarily redirect aggression (to the unfortunate newcomer), but you'll likely end up with just a bigger mess in the end as birds fight for space and ranking.

I agree that more clutter here could help, maybe 1 or 2 items towards the center, to really help break up the space. Or a bale of hay or straw to pick at. Also multiple food sources is a good idea, even with only 3 birds, if some of the aggression seems to be centered around food.

Thank you! Yeah, I think I should maybe add another saw horse or something to the empty middle area since they love to perch but don’t like to roost in the coop during the day. I can also move stuff around

 

[aart]

I think I should maybe add another saw horse or something to the empty middle area since they love to perch but don’t like to roost in the coop during the day. I can also move stuff around

Good idea.
I like the 'clutter' to be movable, changing things around once in awhile can be like a whole new place.

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

I have heard good things about the pinless peepers. Also if you dont mind having your girl in the house I would let her come in. Not sure why a diaper wouldn't work for her. I'm sure you can make adjustment to get it to fit her right. Also love to the names.lol always loved TLC myslef