When a hen becomes mean - what to do ?

[Isadora]

Small spaces are exacerbating the situation.

I was thinking that last night. I couldn't tell how big the setup was but it seemed small for the amount of chickens mentioned.

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

Small spaces are exacerbating the situation.

Small spaces are exacerbating the situation.

Yes, in my case it certainly would. Thank you!

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

I was thinking that last night. I couldn't tell how big the setup was but it seemed small for the amount of chickens mentioned.

The original coop fits 5-6 hens and I built an addition for roosting that will hold another 5 hens. So there’s almost 9’ of roosting space. I have 7 hens and don’t plan to grow my flock anymore at this point.
Not my dream coop, but it works, it’s safe and plenty of space for night time roosting. They also have an enclosed run about 16’ x 38’ when I’m outside they get to free range outside that.

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

No, no way. Don't worry about that at this point.
You could try separating her from the rest of the flock for a few days and see if that helps her attitude. They've been together with the new ones for 3 weeks, right?
Can we see pictures of your setup?

Here’s more pics. You can see the roosting area better. Everything is a work in progress. That fence between the 2 coops is open, but will eventually come down. They have a huge run and that 2nd red coop, but again I wanted them to all stay/roost together at night since I have the auto door to lock them up when I work late.
The white colored coop is the add on (I will eventually paint and coordinate to make it cute) but the small red prefab coop is extra and was used for the small chick. It will fit 4 large hens. It has one double size nesting box.
They are all very happy except Miss Grumpy Dixie.

 

[Mrs. K]

Sometimes you get a bird that does not fit in your situation. I think I would pull her out, with the idea of possibly selling her. Put her aside for a couple of days and observe the rest of the flock.

I am assuming that there is a lot of tension in your flock, and it is probably there all the time, even when she is not attacking. One often times does not notice it, until it is gone. So I would hold her somewhere else and watch the flock. I might try adding her back and seeing if it works, or I might try the pin less peepers and see...but if none of that works, I would sell her. She is ruining your enjoyment of this hobby.

And then I would count my birds, and that is the number that fits in the set up. Some birds can take a bit of overcrowding, and some birds cannot tolerate it at all.

Mrs K

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

Sometimes you get a bird that does not fit in your situation. I think I would pull her out, with the idea of possibly selling her. Put her aside for a couple of days and observe the rest of the flock.

I am assuming that there is a lot of tension in your flock, and it is probably there all the time, even when she is not attacking. One often times does not notice it, until it is gone. So I would hold her somewhere else and watch the flock. I might try adding her back and seeing if it works, or I might try the pin less peepers and see...but if none of that works, I would sell her. She is ruining your enjoyment of this hobby.

And then I would count my birds, and that is the number that fits in the set up. Some birds can take a bit of overcrowding, and some birds cannot tolerate it at all.

Mrs K

Thank you for your input

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

Sometimes you get a bird that does not fit in your situation. I think I would pull her out, with the idea of possibly selling her. Put her aside for a couple of days and observe the rest of the flock.

I am assuming that there is a lot of tension in your flock, and it is probably there all the time, even when she is not attacking. One often times does not notice it, until it is gone. So I would hold her somewhere else and watch the flock. I might try adding her back and seeing if it works, or I might try the pin less peepers and see...but if none of that works, I would sell her. She is ruining your enjoyment of this hobby.

And then I would count my birds, and that is the number that fits in the set up. Some birds can take a bit of overcrowding, and some birds cannot tolerate it at all.

Mrs K

So just an update on Ms Grumpy. I separated her from the flock in another area of the yard for 3 days (where she could not see them) then at dusk I put her in the coop to roost with the others. I didn’t see a behavior chance so put her in time-out 4 more days and it has given her a new attitude! She’s still “da boss”, but no longer mean and abusive. She even scratches around with the others without running them off. So, yay! 7 days for a successful attitude adjustment.