What can I do with our aggressive black hens. Any advice?...

[J&J's Girls]

How old are they? As pervious posts say hormones could be kicking in. We have 3 pullets: 8 month Rhode Island, 6 month Barred Rock and a 5 month Australorp. My BR has been laying for 2 months now and as she grew and her comb and waddels came in (right about the 6 month mark) she woke up one day grump and pulled my RI (oldest) from her nest box. Causing a minor cut on the RI comb. They scuffled the next few days and I let it go until I felt it was to much. Then the BR was placed in a "travel crate" inside the coup while we arent home . I let them in the yard all day and as evening approached I took the aggressive bird and placed her in the "travel crate" until the others were on their roost for the night, then I placed the aggressor with the others on the roost. Chickens have poor night sight and get a little loopy the darker it gets. This usually means they sleep together just fine. They woke up the next morning and were fine. Have been since. Try "chicken jail" for the aggressors. This advise was given me and it worked.

 

[erinszoo]

Nice looking birds. I'm no help on breeds but from what I see they look like girls. Is there any way you can get another photo of their heads? Roos usually develop their combs and wattles faster than the girls. I understand not wanting your chickies to fight at all or get hurt but they honestly will be healthier and happier if they have an established pecking order which may involve a little hurt for some of them. It won't take them long to figure out who's in charge and then they won't fight any more ... unless they are roos and then you'll probably have to look into isolating or rehoming. If they are free ranging every day, even if confined at night, space shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Some of ours ended up with pecked combs from the process of figuring out who was in charge and we had to put ointment on them but by 18 weeks they had all molted for the first time and knew their place and we haven't had any issues since.

I hope the new coop helps you out.

 

[J&J's Girls]

They all look like hens to me. The black ones are probably an Australorp. I have one and she looked the same about 3 or 4 months old. They will be good layers. My girls is sweet as can be. Not aggressive at all, she will defend herself but never seeks to push anyone around. She actually brought the flock closer together! I say give it time they will sort it out. It looks worse than it usually is. As long as they aren't drawing blood I wouldn't even seperate them.

God Bless

 

[SilverMoon]

Thank you all for giving me tips and advice

. Right now we have the troublesome ones seperated but boy do they let me know they dont like it. At least I assume its that their mad. I think tonight we might seperate the black ones even further so one to each corner so to speak. And tomorrow I want to test them all hanging out again. I know I cant stop the pecking and whatnots from happening to my Artemis but I dont know what else to think. Its heartbreaking to see her pretty much get so scared she has to find a safe spot. If it is hormones well I hope this behavior doesnt last long. We loved them all as a unit. I still love them to death even if they're being bad girls right now.

 

[SilverMoon]

J&J's Girls :

They all look like hens to me. The black ones are probably an Australorp. I have one and she looked the same about 3 or 4 months old. They will be good layers. My girls is sweet as can be. Not aggressive at all, she will defend herself but never seeks to push anyone around. She actually brought the flock closer together! I say give it time they will sort it out. It looks worse than it usually is. As long as they aren't drawing blood I wouldn't even seperate them.

God Bless

Well I think Artemis did tear into Silver or Shadows ear. It was frightning to see the small spot, the tear. But after that time she is the one getting pecked at most of all. Serena isnt that much involved.​

 

[SilverMoon]

Thank you all for the comments so far. Friday we plan to re integrate them as a unit. I think if they make any more issues its to the doggy travel pen they go again. I think a collective two days of being cooped up should have done wonders. Its been heavy winds enough to knock down trees and power lines in my area and all over certain areas so we opted for a second day inside. Oh they let me know they werent happy

. But I will surely show more pics if I can get them enough of them. Again thank you for the wonderful comments. This should subside soon enough

.

 

[SilverMoon]

This is the second troublemaker.

This is the first troublemaker with the baby Serena as I call her. Today the smallest one was pecking at the two black ones. And they seemed afraid but didnt stop their one behavior to Artemis.

There is the scared one Artemis. Its sad to see her be so isolated. She has her own water and food. I thought this reintegration would change things but I see it didnt change much.