We have a bully- I think?

Yes, I'd keep them apart as along as the one is being aggressive. And I would let them have visual access. When I intro new birds it's through a chain link fence so they can see, hear, and even peck at each other but can't hurt each other. Here's a great article from the Learning Center about introducing new birds https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
Good luck to you!

 

A bird that exteme at this young age---I'd look into returning her for another chick. Why start out with a problem animal? These birds are going to have to live together in confinement for years. If she can't play well with others at this point, it's really not likely to get any better with time.


That said---space can be an issue with pecking. How much room do they have? Are you using a brooder, or are they in the coop? At this age, it would be best to have 2 square feet per bird, so 10 altogether. Overcrowding can cause behavioral issues.

So can boredom. Chicks raised with a hen are out and about, scratching, finding food, interacting with the flock, learning about avoiding predators, etc. Chicks in a brooder are...well....in a brooder. They need something to do, or like all littles, they find things to amuse themselves that aren't the best. Try providing veggies or other treats to pick at---things like apple, leafy greens, etc. Thing they have to peck apart and work on for a while to eat. Scatter grit on the floor of the brooder along with a little scratch. they'll spend time scratching through the bedding to find the food---this is a very natural thing we don't allow a lot of chicks to do. Just be sure you elevate the waterer, or they'll bury it in bedding from all the scratching

 

Red birds are known to be aggressive...I had some and sold them all...Way too much stress for me and my other hens...

Sorry, you may want to rethink your breeds?
Separating her will not really change things too much....

 

Best of luck....Sorry things are going so wrong with aggression...Lots of more docile egg layers you might want once you decide on making changes...

Cheers...

 

I get the store not taking her back, some will and some won't.

Keep in mind, it's perfectly okay for you to sell that bird if you need to. You're not obliged to keep her for the rest of her natural born life just cause you purchased her as a chick. If she doesn't work for you, she may work just fine for someone else.

 

You have other chickens... Perhaps you could do an early integration of her into your adult flock. They just might give her some lessons in proper chicken behavior.

 

X2 yes!

 

I do have a bully.She is a 4 year old hen.She started attacking one of my younger hens.They have been in the same run for 15 months.At first I thought I it was just a pecking order thing going on..Until my younger hen would hide.When we had them out in their yard for free ranging.My younger hen would stay to her self.and run in fear when that hen would come with in 5 feet of her.My older hen would sneak up on her and jump on her back and started attacking her.I have a big run and I am able to close each section off.That's what I did.The older hens Have their own area.My 4 younger hens have their area.Each of them have their own coop.And multiple runs.My younger hens is so much more relaxed. She was never a regular layer.now she lays a couple times a week.I am sorry I had not done this months ago.