Rehoming a bully hen

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moniquem said:
All 3 remaining hens slept all night together on the TOP roost. This morning when I gave them their warm oatmeal breakfast, yes I make them warm oatmeal breakfast, I didn't have to seperate the dishes and monitor the feeding, they all ate out of the same large tin together.

Yes, she was the soft shell layer. I did let the new owner know that she had some laying issues.

One of the other foreseeable problems I had is with daylight change, it is going to get dark here around 3 pm. I work till 5-6pm but my daughter works swing so has to leave the house around 2-4pm. All 4 of the hens would have to be locked into the run, with little hiding areas, for a few hours until i get home to lock up the coop. After Louise cornered Rocket in the nest I was worried that Rocket would have no where to hide from her torment. I did put a chair in the run but Rocket would most likely have been stressed out of her mind. Just not a good situation.....boo
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Pleased you have a more harmonious flock now. Can I just mention that you are not doing them any favours giving them oatmeal every morning. I know they love it but it is not healthy for them and may even have been responsible for the aggressor laying soft shelled eggs. A balanced diet is very important for laying hens and a daily treat can very easily throw things out of kilter. If you are also treating them with other things like scratch or corn or bread/rice pasta then you may be heading for trouble. Larger birds like the Sussex are more prone to fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome and it can kill them suddenly with no obvious prior symptoms. Layer feed is formulated to provide everything they need to be healthy and lay eggs. The more treats you give them the less of the proper feed they eat and over a period of weeks and months that can take it's toll. We all like to treat our chickens but it needs to be carefully restricted and oatmeal is not a good choice. I believe "The Chicken Chick" posted a good article in conjunction with a vet about the health risks of feeding chickens oatmeal. As an alternative, soak their pellets/crumbles in warm water and give them a warm mash or try fermenting it.
 
rebrascora said:
Can I just mention that you are not doing them any favours giving them oatmeal every morning.
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I really only give enough oatmeal to bind things together and warm it up. I do a mixture of their layer feed, oyster shell, grubblies, peas, raisens, wheat germ, flax seed and a bit of cinnamon. I only give one treat a day, the rest of the time is spent foraging in the kind-of-big yard or their normal food. Honestly its about a cup for all the chicks and I don't give them other people treats like bread or pasta.

rebrascora said:
Larger birds like the Sussex are more prone to fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome and it can kill them suddenly with no obvious prior symptoms.
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She is a bit of a fatty! I will watch her.....
 
Folly's place said:
That's a lot for three birds! Less would be better, and an all-flock feed with separate oyster shell makes more sense too.
Mary
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I forgot there were only 3 chickens, so yes, a cup is a lot, but it depends how much of that cup is made up of their regular feed.
I would not mix oyster shell into their feed. There should be plenty in their layer feed and if not, the chickens themselves will usually take what they need if you offer it in a separate dish. By mixing it in, unless you know the exact percentage you are adding, you risk overdosing them, which is not a problem short term, but over months or even years could become a health risk.
 
I have noticed that hatchery Barred Rock females are SCRAPPY as heck. An acquaintance had a terrible Marans/Wyandotte hen that was a really bad bully in her flock and asked me to take her and butcher her. I took her and put her in my Rock pen and she was a model citizen for almost a year (then the lady wanted her back! lol). My big exhibition Barred Rocks are much milder in temperament. But even the pullets I hatched that are half hatchery and half exhibition are super scrappy.
 
I am going thru this right now myself. I have a small flock of just 4 and 2 are picking on the lowest one is the pecking order. I am rehoming the biggest aggressor tomorrow. Sure hope I dont have to give up another one. I will have 3 left after her departure. I am hoping the single bully left will chill out. At least fingers crossed. She is not nearly half as bad as the one I am rehoming. The one leaving is drawing blood and chasing the little ones around and will not let them eat. They are skinny. I have tried everything. The jail in a crate, water gun, pinless peepers you name it. Really sucks. First time chicken lady and it can be tuff some times. She is my best layer of course.
 

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