What do you do with quarreling hens?

[kdwag]

That's funny. So, yesterday I spent the afternoon separating, isolating, to the point of my exhaustion and the bully's confusion. So, today they are all together and I've only checked them a few times. Hope nothing serious has occurred but so far, just a little pushing/shoving and chasing. The whole thing exhausts me so I decided to try the advice of those who say sometimes it takes time and a little brutality before they work it all out. We'll see. Good luck to you as well.

 

[azygous]

Most of the time, pecking order issues do sort themselves out. But in my case, I had an incorrigible feather picker in permanent jail because she can't be rehabilitated, and she was picking fights with four different hens through the fence. It escalated to two of the hens fighting each other because they couldn't fight the one who they really wanted, who was out of reach in jail.

It wasn't going to sort itself out. It's just a good thing I realized what was triggering all the violence, because as soon as I removed the trigger, peace was instantly restored.

Juggling the former jail bird around so she can lay her eggs and be safe while keeping her out of sight of the rest of the flock has its challenges. But I've built a pen that has many wings and enclosures, so it can be done without having to resort to the "final solution".

I just never thought chickens could be this complicated.

 

[kdwag]

I hear you. Can you build her something separate all together? It is exhausting,,,

 

[azygous]

When I had two roosters who wanted to kill each other, now that was exhausting! To help cope with that situation, I built a wing coming off the main pen like an "L". It only has a tiny portion in common with the main run, and I have it blocked off with plywood so Flo can't pick fights through the fence. She can spend all day in the pen and even has access to a coop with a special nest box I built for her in one corner under a nice window. When I decided to let Penrod the rooster use the jail instead of his pen, it solved everything.

He's even happier now since he has a much better view of all the girls. There are several who have been plucking him of his lovely feathers so he only gets to be with them when I let them all out to free range. Except for Flo. She has to remain in isolation because she's a wicked little girl even when free-ranging.

At night, it requires letting Flo into the other side of this partitioned coop to sleep, and getting Penrod out of jail and put into his coop to roost. They each know where they are supposed to sleep, but it requires my being around to let them in. That's really the only hassle, if you want to call it that. If I'm not home in time, Penrod will get quite panic-stricken being trapped and not able to go in to roost. But there are ways around that problem if it comes up.

 

[kdwag]

Wow, sounds like you have a good set up. When we build our new coop, I'm going to be sure I have an isolation section, if need be. That never even occurred to me initially. The things I've learned.

 

[azygous]

Better make that two isolation sections. Right now, the prisoner is in one, and the rooster is in another to protect him from a few overly adoring fans.

It's a simple affair to take a rectangular run and partition it off with gates you can either close or keep open. I've been feeding treats when older hens make it impossible for younger ones to get any of the treat, so I just swing close a gate, and the younger ones have a little peace for a bit.

It's also dandy when you're integrating half grown youngsters.

 

[kdwag]

Yes, that's what I'm finding. Thanks for the advice. My crazy bird has been back in the flock for a few days. She still chases my littler one but the attacks aren't quite as violent. My littler one does some really dumb things though and hasn't seemed to learn to stay far away when the crazy is near. LOL

 

[Happy Aggie]

Margaret - one of the 2 new Barred Rocks - has been remanded to chicken jail. She is being mean. She's used to free ranging and we have a chicken tractor. I think that is part of her irritation. But she will not be allowed to keep pecking the heck out of my other younger hens.

[/IMG][/IMG]

 

[azygous]

You mean business! That looks like a real jail!

 

[kdwag]

You know I've read a lot of stories about hens getting nasty with others and a lot of the trouble makers are barred rocks. Wondering if this is a breed thing? Mine is a barred rock.