Where to send a Beautiful Bully Hen

[jcarney13]

I have three hens and one, RedHot is an absolutely gorgeous golden laced wyandotte who lays an egg almost every day. RedHot is also a stone cold bully to my other hens, particularly the one at the bottom of the pecking order (pepper) - though she's taken to plucking out Chili, (the top girl)'s molting feathers pretty ferociously.

RedHot's feather picked Pepper so she looks like half a fur ball, and when she drew blood from Chili we put her in chicken jail, hoping to straighten her out. We let them all free range together though and twice she's grabbed a hold of Pepper's neck and spun her around like a dog fighting (most recently was this morning).

She's always been a little more fierce than the others since we got her (She and Pepper joined Chili this summer when they were about 11 weeks old. They're 7 months old now), and we've isolated and reintroduced everyone before to get a few weeks of peace, but I'm starting to think this girl is not gotta fall in line and it's time to get rid of her. But I have no clue where to take an aggressive chicken.

I'd hate to have to send her to the stew pot since she's so productive (and mean as she is, I still kind of love her). I'd like to think that a larger flock would be better for her- with more room and a few more hens to push her around and put her in her place, but how do I find a place like that? And would anyone willingly take a chicken like her? Any advice for where to start would be greatly appreciated!

 

[theoldchick]

Simply advertise her as an aggressive but good layer. Somebody will take her. You never know, the shock of being placed in a totally new place with a totally new flock might just put her in her place. Good luck!

 

[jcarney13]

Simply advertise her as an aggressive but good layer. Somebody will take her. You never know, the shock of being placed in a totally new place with a totally new flock might just put her in her place. Good luck!

Thanks! A (possibly silly) follow up - Where does one advertise a chicken? We got our pullets from a feed store, so I don't know where people tend to look for chickens otherwise. Is there a good site to go through, or is it just a craigslist and crossed fingers kinda thing?

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have three hens and one, RedHot is an absolutely gorgeous golden laced wyandotte who lays an egg almost every day. RedHot is also a stone cold bully to my other hens, particularly the one at the bottom of the pecking order (pepper) - though she's taken to plucking out Chili, (the top girl)'s molting feathers pretty ferociously.

RedHot's feather picked Pepper so she looks like half a fur ball, and when she drew blood from Chili we put her in chicken jail, hoping to straighten her out. We let them all free range together though and twice she's grabbed a hold of Pepper's neck and spun her around like a dog fighting (most recently was this morning).

She's always been a little more fierce than the others since we got her (She and Pepper joined Chili this summer when they were about 11 weeks old. They're 7 months old now), and we've isolated and reintroduced everyone before to get a few weeks of peace, but I'm starting to think this girl is not gotta fall in line and it's time to get rid of her. But I have no clue where to take an aggressive chicken.

I'd hate to have to send her to the stew pot since she's so productive (and mean as she is, I still kind of love her). I'd like to think that a larger flock would be better for her- with more room and a few more hens to push her around and put her in her place, but how do I find a place like that? And would anyone willingly take a chicken like her? Any advice for where to start would be greatly appreciated!

glad your here easiest lock her away for week or rehome or cull three options ... you might let us know where you are please if your not across the world maybe I would take her by the way I am in Mossyrock, Washington state

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ask at the feed store you got them from if they would mind if you posted a flyer saying that you have a hen needing a new home. My local store has a bulletin board for customers to post on.

 

[aart]

Thanks! A (possibly silly) follow up - Where does one advertise a chicken? We got our pullets from a feed store, so I don't know where people tend to look for chickens otherwise. Is there a good site to go through, or is it just a craigslist and crossed fingers kinda thing?

The GLW mixes I had were ferocious bullies too, not great layers either, have some SLW now that are pretty assertive.

Craig's list, farm store bulletin board, local Facebook poultry groups,
or try on your state chat thread here on BYC:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-thread.270925/

 

[Eggcessive]

Try TSC. They sometimes have weekend animal swap in the parking lot once a month. Any local store or gathering place may have a bulletin board to advertise. Free chickens are usually snatched up quickly. My wyandottes were beautiful, and but I too re-homed them to a friend with a large flock, because they picked on my more mild-mannered hens. He was thrilled, and they had a good life in his flock.

 

[jcarney13]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I really appreciate them!
We're in LA, but I know there are people on the outskirts with much more space so I will try all of these ideas to find RedHot a happy home.

Thank you again!