Top Hen of Pecking Order Stressing New Chickens

[crivello6]

So we have mixed our chickens together once the chicks were big enough to protect themselves from the other chickens. Our top hen still picks on them and they haven't started laying yet, when I know they should start as ones from their hatch group have started. My husband has a feeling that this queen bee hen is the cause of them not laying yet, and threatening to kill the top hen. He has soaked her with the hose multiple times and it is just this one hen that makes the 2 new hens to stay in the coop.

We aren't quite sure what to do here, all i know is I don't want my chickens to be stressed the other older 2 don't seem to have a problem with these 2 new ones.

any suggestions???

 

[ChickenLover172]

I had the same exact problem. My little bantam was stressing out our young chickens. We had to shut her up inside the coop while the rest were in the pen and when we let the chickens out, she was let out into the run and she was forced to stay there by herself. Eventually, with enough time spent alone in the pen, her attitude got much better.

 

[crivello6]

Maybe that's what we need to do is just separate her from them till she learns not to be such a mean girl.... we will try that! Thanks

 

[ChickenLover172]

Your welcome