Weird pecking order...

[3KillerBs]

I bought pinless peepers but was unsuccessful in getting them on her. I could try that again. Her head was moving too much to get them on and I got frustrated after about 15 minutes of trying.

Handling birds is easier at night -- taking them off the roost in the dark.

Use a dim headlamp (preferably with a red light). If you can recruit an extra pair of hands to help that might be best. Otherwise wrap the bird in a towel so it can't flap it's wings (not too tightly, they need their ribs to breathe), and cover its eyes with a fold of the cloth.

When I need to restrain a hen's head for some reason (mainly so as not to get bitten by my broody Java), I pinch a handful of feathers at the back of the neck -- right where a rooster grabs on when they mate.

 

[abfiegen]

That's a good suggestion. I'll give that a try. Thanks!

 

[Chinachik]

I am sure you are like the rest of us crazy backyard chicken keepers and talk to your hens. when we made our roost bars we made them all level. We only have 3 hens in the coop right now. When i go out to take care of them on occasion it does seem like some pecking order is going on. If one of them gets more aggressive than I think they should I gently step in and tell them to stop. I do know that my neighbor has an Easter egger that was aggressive toward her older hen. (the older hen has since died) Would it be possible to maybe split your coop, yard and flock in order to keep your favorite hen?

 

[McChooky]

It doesn't work if you remove a bully and let her visit the flock ( supervised or not) Your goal is to reset the pecking order .

 

[abfiegen]

For the record, getting a rooster resolved the pecking order issue. All is well now.

 

[3KillerBs]

For the record, getting a rooster resolved the pecking order issue. All is well now.

Good to hear.

While having a rooster is not for everyone, they do seem to alter the nature of the flock -- in a positive way if he's a Good Boy.