Two Out of Control Hens... Help!

[BIggoMamma]

Give them plenty of space to roam around. If they are too confined or bored they are more likely to pick. If you let them roam around in the yard you do have to watch for dogs, cats and predators. Get rid of the feral cats or you will never have chickens. Plus, feral cat waste in your garden carries disease. Feral cats will eat baby chicks also. If they are picking there is a product you can buy at farm supplies stores called something like Chicken Cannibalism Preventer that you paint on the chickens. I do not remember the exact name but the word CANNIBALISM is in the name. Vary their diet. I use cheap Wild Bird food. They like something crunchy for variety and the seeds. Also put a battery operated radio in the chicken coop. They are happier and lay more. Chickens like stimulation and will be mean if they are bored or too close to each other. I have been told egg eaters start eating eggs because they need more calcium but once they start to eat eggs they just keep it up. You can get powdered Oyster Shell calcium. Good luck. If all else fails completely separate them. It sounds like they are reinforcing bad behavior ("feeding off each other.") Chickens are surprisingly smart and can learn behavior.

 

[Peeps61]

UPDATE:

Iʻve been keeping the RIRʻs separate from each other so Big Red canʻt pick Little Red. They have been taking turns in the pen with the flock within their own little pen (they have their own cage within the entire cage). Tried Little Red with the flock without Big Red on her own without the cage, and she will go and chase after some of the hens and pick at them. The hens run away, trying to maintain the space between them but Little Red will still close in the gap and continue to chase and pick the other hens. So I separate her again. Big Red will do the same without the cage, but it seems more intense.

Nothing has changed, so I will be giving the two away to a friend who has other RIR in his own flock. He will try them out and see what happens. If not theyʻll probably be culled.

On the other hand, I donʻt think I will be getting RIRʻs again for some time.

Yes, RIR's, especially the production lines, can be aggressive. I have several, but I also free range my flock, so the less dominant birds can get away from any bullies. Most seem to coexist fairly peacefully, though, and I do LOVE the nice, big, brown eggs that my RIR's lay!

 

[lutherpug]

UPDATE:

Iʻve been keeping the RIRʻs separate from each other so Big Red canʻt pick Little Red. They have been taking turns in the pen with the flock within their own little pen (they have their own cage within the entire cage). Tried Little Red with the flock without Big Red on her own without the cage, and she will go and chase after some of the hens and pick at them. The hens run away, trying to maintain the space between them but Little Red will still close in the gap and continue to chase and pick the other hens. So I separate her again. Big Red will do the same without the cage, but it seems more intense.

Nothing has changed, so I will be giving the two away to a friend who has other RIR in his own flock. He will try them out and see what happens. If not theyʻll probably be culled.

On the other hand, I donʻt think I will be getting RIRʻs again for some time.

My RIR is also a bully, I feel your pain. Every day I get closer to putting her on Craigslist. One and done with this breed. Hopefully your flock dynamics improve once they've been rehomed.