The head hen is so mean.......

[BethieofVA]

to the other three. She pecks them whenever they come close, she strolls by or if they are eating something she wants. The few times I have been in there I scolded her. This morning I gave them four a banana broken into several pieces. She peck each pullet and chased them away. She then charged me. I swatted her with my kiddie rake. She ran and stayed away. I wish she would stop PMS'ing and start laying. LOL!

I guess this is what they do, huh?

The others are fine. She has done nothing more than peck them in the back of the neck, nothing severe.

 

[X2Farm]

Sounds like a mild version of my older hen, who's head honcho. Hopefully yours mellows! Mines in timeout in a brooder inside right now

 

[hudsonhousechicks]

Hmmmm....sounds like someone needs to go to finishing school. Naughty hen.

 

[teach1rusl]

My little witch is 2nd in command. I'm giving serious thought to putting her in chicken jail for a few days to see if that helps. The only one she doesn't chase/peck is the lead hen. My patience is wearing thin with her...if they weren't allowed to free range so much I think her hiney would be gone by now...

 

[WilczenskiFarm]

Does time out work? I got the same thing going on, but with a bald submissive and another going bald!

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Many swear by isolating the bully for a few days (w/food & water of course) away from the other birds. They say when the hen re-enters the flock, they are typically lower down on the ladder...

 

[BethieofVA]

Got her cornered this evening after seeing her picking on the others. I used my little plastic kiddie rake to help me. She immediately squatted into submission. I "pecked" her a few times behind the neck and held her down for about a minute. I have the feeling that is going to take a few times to get her to catch on that I am boss!

 

[ChooksChick]

I have heard this sort of complaint more about RIR than any other breed! I had one BR that was fairly aggressive until the first time she went broody, but other than that, they really haven't ever been all that bossy. I know removing her from the others for a few days will take her down a few pegs on the dominance chart, but I'm not sure if you are ready for that yet.

Gotta shut of pc- deadly lightning!