Super bully

[Carolrich]

Our 2 1/2 year old ISA Brown hen (Ollie) has suddenly become a super predator to all the other hens except the one she grew up with, Greta. We have two 2 1/2 year old ISA Browns and six 22 week Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks. As soon as Ollie emerges from the coop into the run in the morning she jumps on the pullets and starts ripping out the feathers on their backs. She even blocks the exit hatch and waits for them to emerge. Her behaviour has escalated to the point where we can't leave them together.
We integrated the two flocks carefully about 10 weeks ago. Ollie was not thrilled with the situation but was not physically abusive. She quickly established her dominance and the pullets steered clear of her. We have an 8 x 10 coop with 6 nesting boxes, 3 different roosts, a 12 x 16 secure run and a huge 1000 sq ft fenced outdoor wooded area for day roaming. The feeders and water pails are scattered throughout.
We are now locking Ollie in the run with coop access, and letting the others be in the large fenced area all day. Ollie is the only one laying right now but soon the pullets will start laying and need access to the nesting boxes.
Feedback will be appreciated.

 

[Folly's place]

You do have space, but she sounds like a witch! It's natural for the hens to dominate any new pullets, and push them around a bit, but this is not good for the health of the group.
Can you leave a wider door rather than a small hatch open for them? Having more than one doorway will be better, at least for now. I'd let the pullets and your one nicer hen all out together, and have Ollie in a big dog crate, or some separate caged area, right there, but unable to get to the pullets, for a couple of weeks.
In the past I found production reds and hatchery RIRs to often be nasty feather picking flock members, and no longer have them in my mixed flock.
Mary

 

[aart]

I'm betting the pullets coming near to POL may be the trigger for Ollie's aggression,
the pullets are already or soon will be working their way up into the pecking order.
I'd put Ollie in a wire crate in the coop or run so all the other birds have access to all the space.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you try pinless peepers on her?

I have some that don't get along and ended up doing 2 coops.

Crating her is a good idea.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think Aart is right, the pullets are going through maturity changes and that is triggering her attacks. Once the pullets start laying they should be mature enough to force their way into the pecking order so she is getting her licks in now.

The hen is laying and you probably want to keep her laying in a nest. If you can, my suggestion is to fence off a nest in the coop with a pen she cannot get out of and with enough room for food and water. When half the pullets have been laying at least a week, let her out and see how she reacts. She may accept them or she may need to be renames Attilla the Hen. Some are just brutes and bullies.

I don't allow one chicken to totally disrupt the peace and harmony of my flock. It's your decision but you may need to make a hard decision for the greater good. At 2-1/2 she is approaching the end of her laying days anyway.

 

[SueT]

I put pinless peepers on my bully hen, after she bloodied another hen. It stopped the behavior. She can eat, drink, roost, and doesn't seem uncomfortable. She still is in charge but no more injuring others. It saved her life because I wasn't going to keep a vicious bully.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

This happened in my flock. My RIR and BR were cannibalizing one of my poor hens. Instead of culling them, I ended up giving them to a farmer that free ranges full time. I have gone there several times to visit. They are no longer in charge! Something to think about.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with RR, try the crate for a while and if that does not work, solve for the peace of the flock.

Mrs K

 

[EggWalrus]

Just put her in a small pen or large dog crate by herself for a week or two. Keep her within sight of the others though. She will lose her place in the pecking order as the rest move up in the order. After 2 weeks when you put her back with the flock, she will have cooled her heels and the pullets will have the confidence to not take her gruff. I've had some serious bullys have their attitude adjusted this way. Can't guarantee it will work for this bird but it has usually worked for mine. Good luck!

 

[woodenfarm]

I put pinless peepers on my bully hen, after she bloodied another hen. It stopped the behavior. She can eat, drink, roost, and doesn't seem uncomfortable. She still is in charge but no more injuring others. It saved her life because I wasn't going to keep a vicious bully.

Where can you buy the pinless peepers?