Reintroduce my flock member back to the coop

[Yukonn15]

Hello, our flock leader hen attacked one of the other hens, which I didn't know right away. She became very ill and by the time I found out her wound was highly infected and full of maggots. It was a terrible day but through a lot of help and thank God for screw worm spray that is used on cattle, and BYC website, we did save her. She has been kept separate and recovering nicely now for about two weeks. She has seen the flock and is fine with all except the leader. They roam the yard in the day time and the leader tries to charge her. I don't want another injury. She started sleeping under the roosting bars on the floor in the poop before I knew the whole story. I don't want her down there. So does it help to add more roosting bars? Or should I move them and the nesting boxes to make them think the coop is new ? Has anyone ever had success to stop fighting this way?

 

[gander007]

I have had to add more roosting spots as the crowding can be a little rough on poultry and it sounds like they need some more room so you don't have any more injuries and sleeping in the poop is just plain not healthy for any living creature .....



Enjoy your poultry ......

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! Sorry about the attack on your hen. Has the flock leader ever attacked any of your other hens viciously? Gander007 has made some good points. How many square feet is the floor area of your coop and how many chickens do you have? Are they free ranged during the day, or are they kept in an inclosed run? If so, how many square feet is the floor area of your run. Overcrowding can quickly lead to aggression, feather plucking, and even cannibalism.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC!! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Sorry about your hen! Yes, add more roosts; it's not healthy for a chicken to sleep on the floor. Make sure the chickens have plenty of space. The most common cause for bullying is being overcrowded. Also, give them boredom busters such as dirt, leaves, hanging treats, toys and again, lots of room.

 

[Yukonn15]

Thank you everyone for your quick reply. Our coop is huge for our 5 hens. 12x8. So that's 96 sq ft. It's about 6ft high so I walk inside everyday to collect eggs. We had 6 hens , one died. That's when I think the problem started. But roosting bars, they are 3ft wide and there are in ladder form, so the hens all go to the very top. So really up there for sleeping there is only 3ft. I will for sure add more bars. Do you think it's safe to put her in ? What about caging the attacker within the coop for a couple days?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I have a flock leader that is brutal with the hens....well she used to be when she was younger. She has improved somewhat over the years. But I tried everything as she charged any bird she just didn't like and I never could break her of this. Ripped combs, yanked out feathers, even bit me. So I used pinless peepers on her. She wore these when ever she was all cranked up and her spells usually lasted a couple weeks. She wore them on and off over these past 3 years. These can alter the personality somewhat and for short periods of time. But once a cranky bird always a cranky bird...



They can see up, down and to the sides, but not straight ahead of them. Take about one day to learn to eat and drink with precision. And this hen, after wearing these on and off for 3 years, has learned to use her eyes just as if she isn't wearing them, so they are useless on her now. She can bite with great accuracy!! LOL

So if I were you, I would use these on your bird. I don't allow bullying in my flocks and once a bird is caught being a bully, they are never give the chance to do it again.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[drumstick diva]

I think your lead hen needs to swim with the noodles in chicken soup. I would not give her another chance.

 

[Yukonn15]

Thanks for all the help. We did add more roosting bars and they won't sleep on them. They just huddle together in the same spot. Also we did cage the bully for a couple days within the coop and that seems to do the trick. After that the bully became docile and friendly. That was very unexpected.