What to do with a bully?

[lazy gardener]

Being flock animals, IMO, your 2 "small coop" set up is part of the problem. If they try to crowd together, which is their nature b/c of their flocking behaviors, they are crowded. And if they sleep in 2 separate coops to have the room they need, that brings division to the flock and fosters more pecking order discord. If I were you, I'd sell or otherwise get rid of both of those coops (or save one for brooding chicks in the future) and build at least a 4 x 8 walk in style shed coop. You could attach it to your existing run 'a la mode style to turn it into a mock Woods style coop.

Kitty kibble in small quantities would give them an immediate boost of animal protein. Perhaps when ever you give them any treats that are NOT part of their formulated feed, add some kitty kibble.

 

[aart]

The crumbles are new. Won them at a contest at our feed store.
We some stuff in there, like leaves, but I’ll try putting a few logs in there.

Feed the crumbles for sure, what is the protein percentage of the crumbles and your layer feed? Read the tag sewn into bottom of bags.
Stuff to climb on and under is best.

Being flock animals, IMO, your 2 "small coop" set up is part of the problem. If they try to crowd together, which is their nature b/c of their flocking behaviors, they are crowded. And if they sleep in 2 separate coops to have the room they need, that brings division to the flock and fosters more pecking order discord. If I were you, I'd sell or otherwise get rid of both of those coops (or save one for brooding chicks in the future) and build at least a 4 x 8 walk in style shed coop.

That's what I was thinking, thanks for typing it out.

 

[JanetMarie]

I cull hens who bully others. I don't have many hens who have pulled others feathers out, but ones that have, I haven't had success in rehabilitating.

They are free range and some still cannibalize. With one I put extra feathers out for snacks (from butchered roosters), and that didn't help. She just liked to pluck and eat feathers from live flock mates.

A problem with keeping a cannibalistic chicken in the flock is that others learn and copy that behavior, and that is one reason to cull.

Last year I culled a buff Orpington hen who decided to start attacking a muscovy who was broody. She was 5 years old, and always docile, so I don't know what got into her.

The bottom line is, give them enough room to forage, meet nutritional needs, clean water, dust bathing areas, a clean house, and if they still cannibalize I think it's in the best interest of the flock to get rid of the offender.