Utah!

[PoultryPedia]

La Casa de Pollo -- You could try separating your EE in a cage by herself for 4-6 days & then putting her back in with the rest. Sometimes that simmers down a bossy hen because when a chicken's been gone a few days, the other chickens treat it as a new intro when the chicken comes back & make the "newcomer" have to work for a place in the pecking order all over again.
But perhaps that might not help since your banty is so much smaller--but sometimes a little hen can be really assertive over newcomers, so it might help???

 

[PoultryPedia]

Something that can help some with drafts from a coop door is to create a wind-blocking partition by putting in a small piece of plyboard or two as a mini-wall or two around the area where the chickens like to sleep. Sort of like a bedroom cubicle.

You can also lean a piece of plyboard against the outside of the coop over the pop door to shelter the door somewhat from wind, though of course there will still be some breeze, especially when the wind blows from "sideways" directions. But it can help at least decrease breeziness.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Quote:
Thanks for the idea

Will try that! We have tried throwing her "out" of the enclosed coop/run just during the day, the snow has made it cold and wet so she just sits next to the run waiting to go back in...so this morning we had her in the house in a dog kennel, we thought to keep her in there during the active parts of the day at least then put her back in the coop at night. She squawked a lot so we put her back out in the run and she was picking on another one's bum to the point she is bleeding pretty bad, (a big buff orp!)so now she is out in the yard again. Frustrating! Then I came in the house and put her on the local classifieds and on here to find her a home because I was just worn out from dealing with her

But we could maybe try putting her in the kennel in the garage for a bit in time out, then she would be completely away from them for longer than just the daytime like you said. We have never kept her away from them for more than 8 hours or so. Do you think the change in temperature (it is not as cold in the garage, it is insulated) will be a problem when we put her back out?

 

[auntie hattie]

Speckledhills- putting up a partition is a great idea! I don't know why I didn't think of that because my silkies usually sleep in the same corner of the coop and a partition would work. Thank you so much for that idea. We have been closing the door at night but this might be our solution. I do still worry about the cold temperatures though. Last night my little tin of water froze in the coop. I keep reading that I should'nt heat the coop but it is so hard to think of them in the cold. Ugh. I hate being cold! We have found that the coop even with the small door closed is the same temperature inside as outside. Last night was about 27 degrees coldest yet.

 

[PoultryPedia]

La Casa--It sounds like it's been rough trying to deal with her aggression!

I'm glad you have resources that can let you try out separation.

I'm thinking the temperature adjustment wouldn't be too bad if she's only in the garage for a few days, cuz weather sometimes warms up for a few days & then goes back cold & chickens usually transition okay. You could maybe put the kennel outdoors a bit sometimes, also, if there's somewhere safe away from the other chickens, to help her stay acclimated.

I'm sorry she's been so mean. It's really hard to handle chickens acting that way. I hope she calms down.

 

[PoultryPedia]

auntie hattie -- I'm glad the partition idea is workable for your coop! Hope it helps.

Hmm...as I'm thinking more about it, the chickens are likely to try to perch on the wall of the partition, which would eliminate the windbreak benefit.

(I had a divider wall before that served as a good windbreak when the coop door was open, but it was more major and had netting on top all the way to the ceiling.)

But, if other chickens don't sleep (& therefore don't poop) above the Silkie bed area, you could slant a plyboard or piece of cardboard from the top of the "mini-wall" to the wall of the coop to prevent perching. Or not even put in a verticle partition--just a leaning plyboard over the area. You could nail a short piece of 2x4 to the floor next to it to keep the bottom edge from slipping along the floor, too.

Good luck!

 

[auntie hattie]

I don't think my bantam Polish or Ameruacana and EE would want to roost because they have their own places on two other roosts that would be much higher than the new addition. If anything it would just be another way Gertie my banty Polish would use to help her get to the roost and spot she has claimed.

it is worth a try at least. Good idea on the 2x4 on the bottom edge to hold it from slipping.


La Casa- we kind of have a simular issue with our EE. She loves to pick on my Gertie and pull out feathers from her head. We find she only does it when the go to roost at night so we have to keep our EE in the run until everyone is in the coop and settled for the night then we take Lucy our EE in and put her on another roost. By then it is dark enough she stays put. Not a preminate solution though because we won't always be able to be at home at that time of day. My DH says we need to get rid of her but she is the only one old enough to give us eggs and I am very attached to her so I just keep planning my day around being home at the right time to protect my Gertie. I'm not sure why my EE chooses only to peck on the roost and by the way it doesn't matter what roost I put Gertie on either. She just doesn't want her and my Ameruacana to roost. Gracie the Ameruacana is smart enough to jump off when the attacker Lucy approaches. Chicken hope I figure them out soon. Good luck on your situation. Separation does help.

 

[idispatch4911]

Casa de Pollo & Whittni - If you're still interested in doing a free chicken exchange, I'll be the transport unit. I'm heading to Nephi / SLC this coming Thursday and will head back to StG Monday. Let me know...

Speaking of wind blocks - you should see my beautiful coop! I'll try to post a pic. It looks SO HOKEY! Instead of buying solid pieces of plywood to hang on the outside, I just rounded up a bunch of old shutters, plastic tote tops and screwed them on. Found a few pieces of plywood too that were small that will work. FREE! But UGLY! Glad these chickens aren't moody teenagers that will complain about their "room" being ugly!

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

idispatch4911-Thanks for the offer! Will let you know

Thanks everyone for all the support and helpful comments, it is a sad situation, I just do not want my girls to be in such a life threatening situation, it makes me sad when someone is bleeding or beat up, I just do not want that anymore. We got our old rabbit cage, it is bigger and has chicken wire about a (3x2x 2 1/2 tall) cage that is pretty tall and way above her head so she can pace a little...put her in the garage a few hours ago. She is squawking but starting to settle down. Will see what the dynamics are out in the coop/run over the next day or so and decide whether to keep trying trying this or just let her go try a new place....I really think the others need a break, so separation will be good, I am grateful for the input and ideas!

About the windbreak subject---we put some plastic around the outside of our run, clear stuff, it still lets the light in but so far has held against the wind, we just stapled it to the wood. It was left over plastic from our crawlspace floor covering, pretty thick, it is working really well. My husband called it 'visquine' and yes I have no idea how that is spelled haha! I have however been wondering if it makes them feel more closed in and may be making the fighting worse....not sure

Wish us luck

Lisa

 

[Whittni]

Quote:
Your coop itself is really cute! I'm using some plastic stuff from the dollar tree that you put down before you paint walls...I decided I'm fine without the other hen, thanks so much though!