Washingtonians

[UrbanEnthusiast]

UE. Whom ever is the troublemaker stick them in a crate for a minimum of three days while your bird adapts to normal life again.
Yes, the one in the crate is going to get ticked off but that is to be expected.

If after letting it out it immediately goes back to harassing place it right back in the crate.

I have had some birds that took three crate times before either it got the message or another bird came to the aid of the one picking on it to stop it and then that bird realized the gig was up.

There is no such time table when it comes to behavior patterns.
Three days is minimum though imo because most birds who pick on others take at least that long.

You might go four or five days right at first to get the message across.

I have found it on average no matter the days in crate it takes two crate periods.

Thank you for the advice! Here's the deal: We have five hens. The current pecking order, from top to bottom, is: Gertrude (mean mutt), Salma (Welsummer), Maggie (Wyandotte), Effie, and Bonnie (both Leghorns). Effie and Bonnie are younger and were added to the original flock back in June. They are inseparable, of course. Gertrude and Maggie have always been best buds. Salma has always been more of a loaner. What if we isolate Gertrude and Maggie together? That would surely tick Gertrude off less, but would it have the same dampening effect on her aggressiveness? And can we simply lock them in the coop together during the day and only crate them at night? We'd put feed both inside and outside of the coop, obviously.

 

[Rainwolf]

crating a mean bird is like time out for kids.... they have to be alone for it to do any good.
Birds are slow learners so it takes a couple days at least to enforce.

 

[Hinotori]

It was the one that crashed through the fenceline behind me when I took that picture that freaked me out. I bruised up one of my fingers trying to get in the house quickly. DH laughed at me because I panicked.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: It's even possible she belonged to someone who collected exotic birds (our ring neck pheasant were originally fom China). She's escaped and doesn't like being alone.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: My sister has flood lights and talk radio (turned up LOUD) attached to a motion sensor to keep elk out of her garden. It has to be talk radio. Music stations don't work.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote: They're so gross! John poked it on the counter and it burst too, so I got to clean up egg yolk off the counter.

That's ok, it just means you closer to the "real " eggs!

Well the problem is that she's already been laying since early September. Then she up and quit laying last week and I haven't seen an egg from her in 9 days. Usually she lays every day. Then I found one of those under the roost, one in the nest box the next day, and this one today! But I watched her lay this one, so I know it's her having issues. I switched from flock raiser to Layer (though I provided plenty of calcium before, so that shouldn't have been an issue either). I don't know why she quit, and is having a hard time starting back up again!

 

[Hinotori]

Isolation works best, if they have a buddy it doesn't get through their heads as well. I had to isolate one of the EEs for being a really female dog to everyone lower than her on the pecking order. Four days in isolation changed her attitude.

Have another pullet, that is half silkie and was raised by one, that used to go stalk the silkies and attack them. No one else, just silkies. The silkies don't even live in the same pen as her. I only let them out when I'm watching because of their crest issues. Isolation didn't fix her. I got to the point I'd spray her with the hose or a spray bottle when she went after them. She finally got the message and leaves them be now.

 

[hallerlake]

This thread is really cool. Most of the questions I have posted here about Salma's injury and recovery, I also posted in the Diseases/Injuries/Emergencies thread and scarcely got any response over there. Salma may not have made it without the advice I've received here. Thanks, guys!

One of the responses I did get in the other thread suggested I could change the pecking order by "isolating a couple for a while". I asked for details about what that would entail, but have not yet received a response. But I would very much like to see Salma back at the top of the pecking order in our flock if possible. Not only for her own safety while she's recovering, but because she was really sweet to my two Exchequers before she lost her spot. She really eased their transition into the flock and protected them from Gertrude the mean blue mutt and Maggie the big dumb Wyandotte. Now that she's down a rung she's a bit more standoffish towards them and maybe this is just my crazy chicken lady talking, but it kind of breaks my heart. The Exchequers were only two months old when I brought them home and Salma was almost like their mama. Can anyone tell me who I need to isolate and for how long, to make that happen? Or should I just leave it alone?

Quote: Isolate the meanest one, Gertrude.

 

[hallerlake]

You still have time to grab some straw and cover your runs.
That not only gives them something to do when you throw bird seed or other food in it the straw greatly helps them from becoming mud pits.

Also don't forget the day after Thanksgiving is Monroe Farm & Feeds annual sale on food, bedding, etc.
If you can............ save up some $$$ because it will pay off big time.

I was told about it two years ago and both times saved some major $$$$

I did not know that.....and I could hit Molbak's on the way home.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: If you lock them in the coop, where will the others lay their eggs?