VICIOUS HENS

[Spartan22]

It almost sounds like crowding stress.  Have you considered expanding the size of the run?  It sounds a bit crowded for 10 hens, especially with more coming.  It would also be helpful to add obstacles within the coop and run so hens lower on the pecking order can stay out of sight or hide from higher-ranking birds.

Alternatively, cull the bullies.  Although you may find a new set of bullies emerge when you integrate the new flock members.  

I thought I even double the minimum requirement on space? I think I will expand the run with partition to solve future bullying. What threw me off was it just started couple weeks ago. I never had the problem for a year especially winter, when they were cooped up a few times.

 

[song of joy]

Mrs K had some good advice in another post about strategies for reducing bullying. She recommended adding roost bars and some pallets (leaning against wall and/or elevated 2-3 feet) to the run to take advantage of vertical space and give harassed birds more room to hide and evade bullies. This may be an quicker and easier solution that adding onto the run.

 

[Judy]

It almost sounds like crowding stress. Have you considered expanding the size of the run? It sounds a bit crowded for 10 hens, especially with more coming. It would also be helpful to add obstacles within the coop and run so hens lower on the pecking order can stay out of sight or hide from higher-ranking birds.

Alternatively, cull the bullies. Although you may find a new set of bullies emerge when you integrate the new flock members.

Excellent point, IMO.

 

[aart]

Quote: That is odd.