Please Help-Bullied Hen, Will Adding More Help or Hurt?

[scjcb37]

I would truly appreciate some wisdom from the members here. Background info: I have 6 hens (3 red sexlinks and 3 black sexlinks) that are 6 months old and have been laying since 17 weeks. Their coop is 4x8 and the run is 12x16, so I think they have enough room. 'Asia' is the worst (she is my Dennis the Menace!) and picks on 'Angel', she(mostly)/they block the coop door so Angel cant go in, chase her off. She/they don't let Angel in the nesting boxes. Angel had to lay her egg on the floor of the run yesterday and then they all ate it like savages. They chase her off from food and water. I now have 3 spots for food and water to try and ease this. Ethel and China appear to share the top spot, yet Asia does the bullying. They are not physically harming her, I've never seen them so much as peck at her, they are just bullies. She does get into the coop and nesting boxes, she does get to eat and drink etc., they just like to do these things to her. She is certainly an 'outcast'. And the thing of it is, she is the sweetest hen ever. I have wanted to add 2-3 Ameraucana to the group, but don't know if this will help or hurt. Will it crowd them and make it worse, will it just add more bullies, or will it level things out a bit. I would really appreciate any input from this group as I know there is a wealth of knowledge on this board.

 

[lazy gardener]

Ameraucanas or EE (which you will most likely be getting) are timid birds. I do not advise you to get them, based on the issues you are having with your sex links. I suggest that you take Asia out of the coop/run and house her separately (out of sight) for a couple of weeks. She will complain bitterly. Then, try adding her back in. If the aggression continues, I'd re-home her. You may find that based on the size of your coop that your flock does better if limited to 4 birds. While your run and coop are technically big enough for 8 birds, their behavior shows they might benefit from more space.

 

[azygous]

Chicken behavior is complex and it involves individual temperaments. As you've observed, some "like" to bully and some are sweet tempered and on the timid side. Bullying can make a timid hen into a victim when her self confidence erodes from constant bullying.

It's difficult for a flock manager to know how best to deal with it let alone us who aren't able to watch the flock dynamics. We can offer up advice on things to try.

One tactic is to remove the main bully for a week, filing her away out of sight. When she returns, she will be more focused on re-establishing her rank than going after a timid hen. But this doesn't always work as advertised.

I've had success with giving a bullied hen a safe space to rest and recover her self confidence. I built my run with a "jail" partitioned off that serves this purpose. The hen is still in sight of the others and doesn't need to reintegrate when released from confinement. I've see a very timid hen go from hopeless victim to a self confident hen who stands up to bullies after a few weeks of not having to cope with daily assaults.

Another tactic is to use a safe pen to help a timid hen form an alliance with a few other well behaved individuals. Placed together in close confinement helps establish this bond. This helps give them all self confidence to stand up to bullies.

Free ranging can also reduce bullying dramatically.

 

[sourland]

 

[scjcb37]

Thank you so much for the advice, much appreciated! I now have a lot more to think about. First, I will keep them to the 6 I already have and not add the Ameraucanas or any others. Question: Do you think they have enough room in the current coop and run?? I will expand if needed, np, they are my girls and will make sure they all have what they need to be happy. They have 6 nesting boxes (that are not included in the size I mentioned, that is just floor space). They have 2 roost bar/with poop tray, but the all use the one. They do free range for a couple hour every day (weather permitting, as winter is coming). The run they are in is attached (but separated) to what used to be a dogs yard that is the same size as the run, maybe slightly larger. What do you think of either covering part of it with hardware cloth and make a separate area for Asia (but she can see the others as the one wall is a shared wall). Or what about if I enclosed the old dog run and opened the adjoining wall to expand the run? I can also remove Asia so she can not see the others, but she would have to be quite far away for them not to hear each other and I don't have the ability to do that. Another thought, if I got the Ameraucanas and put them and Angel in the dog run separate from the others? Quote: "I've had success with giving a bullied hen a safe space to rest and recover her self confidence. I built my run with a "jail" partitioned off that serves this purpose. The hen is still in sight of the others and doesn't need to reintegrate when released from confinement. I've see a very timid hen go from hopeless victim to a self confident hen who stands up to bullies after a few weeks of not having to cope with daily assaults.", I would love this to be the outcome.

 

[azygous]

Every flock is different. All you can do is try the different tactics and see what works and what doesn't.

I do highly recommend creating a safe pen. It comes in handy more often that you would think.

 

[lazy gardener]

TO OP: RE: your thoughts about getting the EE and putting them with Angel. I would not do that unless you are prepared to maintain a separate coop and run long term. Let me tell you, IT GETS OLD REAL FAST. I keep a separate grow out coop, and heave a sigh of relief when I can close it up until hatching season rolls around again. Your birds can, and will always appreciate more space. Whether it will solve your existing problem... I am thinking not. But, if you can give them more space without a lot of extra work for yourself, you could always try that. I think moving the trouble maker out of the flock would be the first plan. Of course, #2 could always move into the #1 spot and be just as nasty to Angel. It would be so cool if Angel and your nasty biddy could be housed together long enough for them to bond. When I had my first flock, my bottom pecking order gal was BFF with the top biddy. No one messed with the bottom gal when top biddy was around. It was an interesting alliance.

 

[scjcb37]

TO OP: RE: your thoughts about getting the EE and putting them with Angel. I would not do that unless you are prepared to maintain a separate coop and run long term. Let me tell you, IT GETS OLD REAL FAST. I keep a separate grow out coop, and heave a sigh of relief when I can close it up until hatching season rolls around again. Your birds can, and will always appreciate more space. Whether it will solve your existing problem... I am thinking not. But, if you can give them more space without a lot of extra work for yourself, you could always try that. I think moving the trouble maker out of the flock would be the first plan. Of course, #2 could always move into the #1 spot and be just as nasty to Angel. It would be so cool if Angel and your nasty biddy could be housed together long enough for them to bond. When I had my first flock, my bottom pecking order gal was BFF with the top biddy. No one messed with the bottom gal when top biddy was around. It was an interesting alliance.[/QUOTE
I believe you 100% and have no doubt maintaining 2 coops/runs is not fun, and I really hope it doesn't come to that. My thoughts of putting the Ameraucanas with Angel came from my thinking that if I had to separate her into a separate coop/run, I wouldn't want her to be alone. I will do whatever I have to as i couldn't bring myself to rehome her, that's my girl . I've been doing a lot of thinking and processing all the advice. I think I am going to separate Asia for awhile (because i do love my little trouble maker as well) and while she is separated I will open up the dividing wall and make the run more than twice the size it is now and see if that helps. TY for all the advice, it is appreciated and will be put to use. Love this board and it's helpful/knowledgeable members! ☺

 

[scjcb37]

I believe you 100% and have no doubt maintaining 2 coops/runs is not fun, and I really hope it doesn't come to that. My thoughts of putting the Ameraucanas with Angel came from my thinking that if I had to separate her into a separate coop/run, I wouldn't want her to be alone. I will do whatever I have to as i couldn't bring myself to rehome her, that's my girl . I've been doing a lot of thinking and processing all the advice. I think I am going to separate Asia for awhile (because i do love my little trouble maker as well) and while she is separated I will open up the dividing wall and make the run more than twice the size it is now and see if that helps. TY for all the advice, it is appreciated and will be put to use. Love this board and it's helpful/knowledgeable members! ☺

 

[scjcb37]

Update: today I tried something different. I put all my hens in my garden. Not a single problem with any of them. And it sure was a nice excuse to have to sit outside for a few hours and relax because 'I had to observe the girls . Anyway, the garden is 3,969 sq ft, so plenty of room and lots to do, no time to bother each other. And free labor, because the are turning the soil and weeding for me . They are also enjoying the soil much more, they have all dug holes and are having a great time dust bathing. Now to talk hubby into putting a top on the garden! I really hope this peacefulness continues...if not, onto plan B