Ok, I have a dilemma...
Delilah is a two yr old sexlink. I found her on the side of the road a while back and when integrating her into our tiny flock of two she immediately was the bully. I didnt like that as I didnt want my favorite hens being upset. So I pinned Delilah and allowed the other two to step up, which they did- she was put in her place and all was fine in a day.
Well, our top hen died last winter, brining our flock of 3 back down to 2 and now Delilah is the top dog (err BIRD) apparently. She and the other hen are fine, neither dominates over the other- BUT I am trying to now introduce Nellie, a 4 month old light brahma hen to the two and Delilah is pure EVIL to her.
Nellie is sensative and freaks out- it is rather endearing how she immediately runs to me as if I'm 'gouls' and she will stand between my legs, behind me, perch up on my shoulder...anything for protection.
She's only 4 months old but because of breed, already the same size as my other two hens. She has lived in an adjacent pen, even was living in the same coop as I had divided it down the middle with wire. So basically they have been residing practically together for 2 months. When I take down the wire Delilah chases Nellie and grabs her feathers and won't let go and hunts her down until she corner's her. I tried the tough 'love approach' and just slipped Nellie into the coop one night and kept the coop real dark until mid afternoon, but the squawcking got way too bad! Since I live in the city I cant risk a complaint.
I tried doing what I did when I initially intoduced Delilah (now AKA Birdzilla) but Nellie is passive and just won't step up and defend herself, and me defending her just makes Delilah attack her more when I am not around. The wierd thing is, when Delilah is completely involved in foraging, digging a hole, or eating she practically ignores Nellie's pressance- Nellie follows her around trying so hard to be accepted then Delilah just 'looks at her' and Nellie freaks out running and baggocking looking for an exit hole in the fence and I have to come rescue the poor thing before she has a heart attack or angers the neighbors. (We do NOT have compassionate neighbors).
I hate to rehome my birds, as they are so friendly and I love them, but this just can't go on.
I have a small city yard and I built a tiny coop for Nellie at night and during the day I place her next to the other two. With the wire fence there is no incidence- but I cannot keep this up with a Maine winter comming...
Any advice??????? I would just let them work things out amongst themselves, but I've seen Delilah in action and she is relentless, and Nervous Nellie the skitzo chicken is getting flighty and paranoid and I am afraid my neighbors will complain to animal control (again).
Should I wait until she is full grown to attmpt the intergrtion?

Delilah is a two yr old sexlink. I found her on the side of the road a while back and when integrating her into our tiny flock of two she immediately was the bully. I didnt like that as I didnt want my favorite hens being upset. So I pinned Delilah and allowed the other two to step up, which they did- she was put in her place and all was fine in a day.
Well, our top hen died last winter, brining our flock of 3 back down to 2 and now Delilah is the top dog (err BIRD) apparently. She and the other hen are fine, neither dominates over the other- BUT I am trying to now introduce Nellie, a 4 month old light brahma hen to the two and Delilah is pure EVIL to her.
Nellie is sensative and freaks out- it is rather endearing how she immediately runs to me as if I'm 'gouls' and she will stand between my legs, behind me, perch up on my shoulder...anything for protection.
She's only 4 months old but because of breed, already the same size as my other two hens. She has lived in an adjacent pen, even was living in the same coop as I had divided it down the middle with wire. So basically they have been residing practically together for 2 months. When I take down the wire Delilah chases Nellie and grabs her feathers and won't let go and hunts her down until she corner's her. I tried the tough 'love approach' and just slipped Nellie into the coop one night and kept the coop real dark until mid afternoon, but the squawcking got way too bad! Since I live in the city I cant risk a complaint.
I tried doing what I did when I initially intoduced Delilah (now AKA Birdzilla) but Nellie is passive and just won't step up and defend herself, and me defending her just makes Delilah attack her more when I am not around. The wierd thing is, when Delilah is completely involved in foraging, digging a hole, or eating she practically ignores Nellie's pressance- Nellie follows her around trying so hard to be accepted then Delilah just 'looks at her' and Nellie freaks out running and baggocking looking for an exit hole in the fence and I have to come rescue the poor thing before she has a heart attack or angers the neighbors. (We do NOT have compassionate neighbors).
I hate to rehome my birds, as they are so friendly and I love them, but this just can't go on.
I have a small city yard and I built a tiny coop for Nellie at night and during the day I place her next to the other two. With the wire fence there is no incidence- but I cannot keep this up with a Maine winter comming...
Any advice??????? I would just let them work things out amongst themselves, but I've seen Delilah in action and she is relentless, and Nervous Nellie the skitzo chicken is getting flighty and paranoid and I am afraid my neighbors will complain to animal control (again).
Should I wait until she is full grown to attmpt the intergrtion?
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