Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[stoopid]

Does anyone have a chicken that cannot get along with anyone? I do. Little Periscope the Showgirl, is proving to be a nasty little curmudgeon. Starts pecking fights with everyone, freaks out if you look at her/him the wrong way, and goes after other chickens that try to eat or drink at the same time. I'm not sure if it's hormonal or just a bad attitude that needs adjusting.

Do you think separating her/him from the others for a few days might help? I figured if I take her out for a few days, maybe her top of the pecking order will change? I feel bad for little Peri, such a gorgeous partridge color, was the tiniest baby of the silkies, but (s)he's driving everyone crazy. I have another nutbar in the big girl coop, Diva, but she's not nasty, she just tends to be a little flighty.

Any advice?

I'll take her if nothing else works.

 

[magsrags]

Does anyone have a chicken that cannot get along with anyone? I do. Little Periscope the Showgirl, is proving to be a nasty little curmudgeon. Starts pecking fights with everyone, freaks out if you look at her/him the wrong way, and goes after other chickens that try to eat or drink at the same time. I'm not sure if it's hormonal or just a bad attitude that needs adjusting.

Do you think separating her/him from the others for a few days might help? I figured if I take her out for a few days, maybe her top of the pecking order will change? I feel bad for little Peri, such a gorgeous partridge color, was the tiniest baby of the silkies, but (s)he's driving everyone crazy. I have another nutbar in the big girl coop, Diva, but she's not nasty, she just tends to be a little flighty.

Any advice?

Rosie,
I've had to rehome a number of girls over the years because of the turmoil they created in the coops.
Just like people some birds are "difficult".

I re-homed a gorgeous cuckoo marans last week because she was so load, unmanageable and unfriendly. Soon as she was gone my other 7 settled into a wonderfully quiet pecking order and no more pacing....and the loud egg announcements are over....some birds need a new home to ne comfortable.

Re-homed a blue cochin last fall for the same reasons. She was just tormenting the other birds and terribly bossy and noisy.
I like the peace and quiet I finally now have.
My broody snow cone's eggs are due to hatch in 6-7 days!

My leg bar (7 weeks old) is hanging out with her and for some reason she is allowing it.

 

[magsrags]

Small Wheels in front and handles on the other end. All PVC.. I have trained them to walk up into it and then back home for those meal worms as a lure.

Love it and a great idea! Maybe I can make my broody 1 to grow put her peeps in.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Small Wheels in front and handles on the other end. All PVC.. I have trained them to walk up into it and then back home for those meal worms as a lure.

That's really cool! My property probably wouldn't even work for that. It's a nightmare. Hills and bumps jutting out, trees and rocks-it would have to be twisted so as to meet the ground. I'll talk to the old man and see what his take is. I did rig up an old puppy pen from my breeding days (those buggers open, and thank goodness they were big puppies-I bought the HUGE one. It's 4 feet tall and 16 across, so one side of the property, where they would access the front is closed. Now, the other side of the house is open, but for now, the wheelbarrow is keeping them away-they're terrified of it. I'd need a gate of about 300+feet to close that off. Do they make dog playpens that big?

 

[Cheeky Chick]

I'll take her if nothing else works.

Thanks Roberta, I'll try to make something work, but it's good to know I can bring her to you if nothing does.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Rosie,
I've had to rehome a number of girls over the years because of the turmoil they created in the coops.
Just like people some birds are "difficult".

I re-homed a gorgeous cuckoo marans last week because she was so load, unmanageable and unfriendly. Soon as she was gone my other 7 settled into a wonderfully quiet pecking order and no more pacing....and the loud egg announcements are over....some birds need a new home to ne comfortable.

Re-homed a blue cochin last fall for the same reasons. She was just tormenting the other birds and terribly bossy and noisy.
I like the peace and quiet I finally now have.
My broody snow cone's eggs are due to hatch in 6-7 days!

My leg bar (7 weeks old) is hanging out with her and for some reason she is allowing it.

I've never had such a difficult bird. (well, except my vicious cockatiel, Satan) the other girls are snoozing in the sun, this one runs over and pecks them on the butt, wing, whatever is closest. She then gets into the head down "come on, mess with me" position. She actually kind of growled at me last night. Sigh. I really wanted a sweet showgirl, and this beastie is out of control. The other silkies are just mellow "Oh HI!" type of girls, shuffling around, beeping at me-this maniac runs at you like you're dinner and she's hungry.

I may put up a barrier for her in their pen for a few days and see if that adjusts her attitude.

 

[jmrosalia]

The two Bantams I have are black silkies.

 

[Naturegal]

jejejej, I just love the post here. I have 3 hours a day that I am alone and I sit and read them. I will be 63 in a month. While my pressure drives me crazy and those little aches and pains are more frequent, I feel great. I am more than new at this, if that is possible. I mean the chicken thing. My grandsons and I (mostly I) decided we wanted chickens. And so the story has started. We are up to the part where we go and get some grown chickens. I can't begin with chicks, I am clueless. At least with big girls, I can get used to dealing with them, and cleaning and caring. I fear the local fox and his buddies the raccoon. sry! I just rattled on. What I meant to say was that the 60s is the new 30s. So think... I am 32, 32, 32. it works

 

[Carolyn252]

Stoopid/Roberta:
I sent you a pm.

-Carolyn252

 

[smkchick]

Well, I finally turned over the soil in the vegetable garden area and sent in the rototilling crew (a/k/a the flock). Now I'm heading out for a couple of tomato and cucumber plants. Need to finish the fencing for it too. But, hey, I'm wayyyy behind on this project! Can't seem to get started today. Ack.

The NJ babies are venturing out of the coop. It's a riot to see little Pearl hop up into the henhouse whenever one of the big girls (me included) approaches. Gotta get out there with my camera!