- Apr 13, 2012
- 28
- 6
- 84
I had briefly mentioned our situation in another thread about mean chickens.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1095494/really-mean-chicken/20
Quick Recap:
We have BSLs, RIRs, Barred Rocks, and Buff Orpingtons.
Our flock is a little over 1 year old and just recently 2 of our black sex links have become bullies. From what we have observed, typically one of them attacks another hen and the second will join in. Lots of feather pulling on their butts, not the vent specifically. Also, lots of pecking and feather pulling on the heads. Sadly, the two being picked on are our buff orpingtons, which are the friendliest, calmest birds we have. They just don't fight back at all and they are starting to shy away from the flock because of this.
Since posting on the previous thread, we have sprayed the purple antibiotic spray every few days on the bald butts. It seems to help keep the injuries from getting worse. The injuries aren't ripped open and bloody, but the skin sure looks red and sore. Not sure how long feather take to grow back in, but we haven't really seen any feather re-growth.
Last weekend, I caught the two bully BSLs in the act of pecking a weak hen again and I had enough. I have a large dog crate and I locked up the two "jailbirds." I put the crate in the run, so they can see the flock, but no physical access.
To my surprise, the very next day, the two hens that were shying away, were hanging out with the flock like everyone else.
So, that seems to have proven my thoughts that the bullies were scaring our two weak hens away.
I treated the jailbirds nicely; food, water, bedding, treats, and even gave them run time when the rest of the flock was free ranging.
I have read after a few days, to a week, of jail, the bullies could try to be set free again and they might not be bullies anymore.
So, yesterday, I let them loose while everyone was free ranging.
The first 5-10 minutes were ok, they were eating grass/bugs.
Then one went up to our other top hen, the RIR. The BSL charged her, but the RIR flapped her wings and showed her claws and the BSL backed away. That's what I was expecting. Reestablishing their spot in the pecking order, but no actual fighting.
Maybe 5 minutes after that, the BSLs found one of the weak hens and had her on the ground and they were both pecking her non-stop in the back of the head.
I had enough and locked them both back in jail. I'm not sure what to try next, if anything.
Initially, a month or two ago, I wasn't sure who the bullies were. Did I allow it to go on too long and now they can't be reformed?
Should I try another week long stint in chicken jail?
I do want to exhaust all options, but I also want a happy flock and I know with those two in jail, everyone looks much happier and I haven't seen any pecking, or feather pulling.
We do love all our hens, but if these two just can't be reformed, we aren't against the crock pot.
We just want to try everything we can first.
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1095494/really-mean-chicken/20
Quick Recap:
We have BSLs, RIRs, Barred Rocks, and Buff Orpingtons.
Our flock is a little over 1 year old and just recently 2 of our black sex links have become bullies. From what we have observed, typically one of them attacks another hen and the second will join in. Lots of feather pulling on their butts, not the vent specifically. Also, lots of pecking and feather pulling on the heads. Sadly, the two being picked on are our buff orpingtons, which are the friendliest, calmest birds we have. They just don't fight back at all and they are starting to shy away from the flock because of this.
Since posting on the previous thread, we have sprayed the purple antibiotic spray every few days on the bald butts. It seems to help keep the injuries from getting worse. The injuries aren't ripped open and bloody, but the skin sure looks red and sore. Not sure how long feather take to grow back in, but we haven't really seen any feather re-growth.
Last weekend, I caught the two bully BSLs in the act of pecking a weak hen again and I had enough. I have a large dog crate and I locked up the two "jailbirds." I put the crate in the run, so they can see the flock, but no physical access.
To my surprise, the very next day, the two hens that were shying away, were hanging out with the flock like everyone else.
So, that seems to have proven my thoughts that the bullies were scaring our two weak hens away.
I treated the jailbirds nicely; food, water, bedding, treats, and even gave them run time when the rest of the flock was free ranging.
I have read after a few days, to a week, of jail, the bullies could try to be set free again and they might not be bullies anymore.
So, yesterday, I let them loose while everyone was free ranging.
The first 5-10 minutes were ok, they were eating grass/bugs.
Then one went up to our other top hen, the RIR. The BSL charged her, but the RIR flapped her wings and showed her claws and the BSL backed away. That's what I was expecting. Reestablishing their spot in the pecking order, but no actual fighting.
Maybe 5 minutes after that, the BSLs found one of the weak hens and had her on the ground and they were both pecking her non-stop in the back of the head.
I had enough and locked them both back in jail. I'm not sure what to try next, if anything.
Initially, a month or two ago, I wasn't sure who the bullies were. Did I allow it to go on too long and now they can't be reformed?
Should I try another week long stint in chicken jail?
I do want to exhaust all options, but I also want a happy flock and I know with those two in jail, everyone looks much happier and I haven't seen any pecking, or feather pulling.
We do love all our hens, but if these two just can't be reformed, we aren't against the crock pot.
We just want to try everything we can first.
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!