Two Hens - one has to go. Please help us decide what to do!

[aoxa]

I have one bully head hen named Denny. It's all part of the pecking order, and my roosters keep it in perspective for the most part. Are you able to get a couple more hens or a rooster? My RIR hen has quite the attitude as well. Sometimes she is very submissive to any and all of my girls, but other times she is a total lunatic.

I feel for you. I would personally keep the underdog. Maybe get her some friends that are known easy going girls. I find my silkies are great with any other breeds.. The bigger girls don't seem to understand that they are chickens as well

 

[Eddie K]

These birds just continue to confound!

After Sophie's display of aggression yesterday and our failure to get the peeper to stay on her, we removed Bean's peeper today because it obviously gave Sophie an unfair advantage and was causing friction between them.

Before I go on, bear in mind that they've been separated for the best part of two months except for when they've been under close supervision, and every time Beans has tried to have a tug at Sophie's feathers who has had to beat a hasty retreat.

So we tentatively let Sophie out of the coop to join Beans who was happily grazing on the grass. The tension was palpable. (I'm not making any of this up or anthropomorphising, it actually happened like this!). Beans continued grazing. Sophie feigned disinterest and started grazing herself, but all the time keeping one eye on Beans, who continued grazing. Sophie edged closer. Beans continued grazing. Sophie engaged what I can only describe as a fly-by sortie, sweeping across the path of Beans' rear end and lightly brushing her with her body. Beans continued grazing. They spent about an hour eating grass together under our gaze. The tension still tangible to me because they normally cluck at each other happily when they're on the grass, this was conducted in stony silence. Together again, but not reconciled.

They've now been together all day. Supervised, unsupervised and unpeepered. Beans has not once exhibited any aggressive behaviour towards Sophie, who in return has been very respectful towards Beans.

I'm not naive enough to believe that Beans won't be an awful bully again, but seeing Sophie with a spring back in her step around Beans has really lifted the spirits.

I also have a theory about the peepers we received. They were red. Is this the stupidest idea ever?

 

[aoxa]

These birds just continue to confound! 

After Sophie's display of aggression yesterday and our failure to get the peeper to stay on her, we removed Bean's peeper today because it  obviously gave Sophie an unfair advantage and was causing friction between them. 

Before I go on, bear in mind that they've been separated for the best part of two months except for when they've been under close supervision, and every time Beans has tried to have a tug at Sophie's feathers who has had to beat a hasty retreat. 

So we tentatively let Sophie out of the coop to join Beans who was happily grazing on the grass. The tension was palpable. (I'm not making any of this up or anthropomorphising, it actually happened like this!). Beans continued grazing. Sophie feigned disinterest and started grazing herself, but all the time keeping one eye on Beans, who continued grazing. Sophie edged closer. Beans continued grazing. Sophie engaged what I can only describe as a fly-by sortie, sweeping across the path of Beans' rear end and lightly brushing her with her body. Beans continued grazing. They spent about an hour eating grass together under our gaze. The tension still tangible to me because they normally cluck at each other happily when they're on the grass, this was conducted in stony silence. Together again, but not reconciled. 

They've now been together all day. Supervised, unsupervised and unpeepered. Beans has not once exhibited any aggressive behaviour towards Sophie, who in return has been very respectful towards Beans. 

I'm not naive enough to believe that Beans won't be an awful bully again, but seeing Sophie with a spring back in her step around Beans has really lifted the spirits. 

I also have a theory about the peepers we received. They were red. Is this the stupidest idea ever? 

They are red because it masks the colour of blood on a wounded chicken, therefore cannibalism is not a problem

I have heard that the peepers have worked if they were on for a period of time, and than taken off. I have no idea 'how' but it is said to work.

 

[Eddie K]

Thanks aoxa. Neither of our birds are wounded so I was thinking along the lines of the red peeper perhaps appearing to look like blood. I know chickens are normally quite good at identifying what's what but it was just a thought. When Sophie went for Beans yesterday she always seemed to go for the head, rather than the neck or tail.

Beans had it on for one day. I'm not sure what it is that's changed her behaviour. I think it's the feeling of helplessness she experienced when Sophie went for her yesterday. Dunno really, just a theory.