bullied bird - pecking order - how to solve issue ?

Chicken Girl · **Joined:** Wed May 02, 2012 7:15 pm **Posts:** 48

Hello;

I am new here.

I have 6 chickens that were given to me (age and previous history unknown).

One bird is always bullied by another more aggressive bird. The bullied bird is pecked continually and is slowly becoming damaged. Two birds peck at the bird with one being far more aggressive than the other.,

I have read that it's a good idea to remove the bullier to a separate pen, but allow her to see the rest of the flock, but not join the flock. I have read to do this for 3 days then reintroduce the bird. I assume you then do the same with the other bird :?:

.

Is this the best methodology for dealing with this situation ?

Thank you, Jolanda

wickedwings · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 10:08 pm

No, you don't remove the other bird, what you are trying to do is destroy the dominance the first bird has in the flock so it feels inferior when you reintroduce it to the flock. If you remove the second bird as you've suggested you will end up in exactly the same situation, just one week down the track.

Chicken Girl · **Joined:** Wed May 02, 2012 7:15 pm **Posts:** 48

wickedwings wrote:

No, you don't remove the other bird, what you are trying to do is sestroy the dominance the first bird has in the flock so it feels inferior when you reintroduce it to the flock. If you remove the second bird as you've suggested you will end up in exactly the same situation, just one week down the track.

Thanks for your reply.

OK - remove the bullier - no worries, then reintroduce.

Do I then do the same with the second bird that is bullying? There are two dominant birds - one more so than the other. Remove the first for three days and reintroduce, then remove the second for three days and reintroduce?

Sorry to confuse you earlier, Jola

wickedwings · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 12:33 pm

Sorry, I see what you're saying now, remove both the bullies consecutively to break the cycle. Yes you could try that or you could pull out the two at the same time and leave them seperate for a while, probably more like a week than 3 days if you have the facilities. Reintroduce the birds at night when they are pretty docile and with any luck they will get up in the morning and just go about their day. There may be some argy-bargy when you return them as the flock tries to sort the pecking order again but hopefully it will settle down. The possibility still exists though that you might not cure the behaviour at all and then you might need to decide which birds to cull for the good of the flock. Or you could try running a rooster with them if you're allowed in your part of the world, apparently that has a settling effect on the girls.

Chicken Girl · **Joined:** Wed May 02, 2012 7:15 pm **Posts:** 48

Thanks Wicked Wings. I'll try what you have suggested (seperating the 2 bullies for a week or so) and re-introducing them.

The situation cannot continue so something must be done.

I'll post my results to the forum.

Thanks again, Jolanda....

pintails · **Joined:** Sat May 05, 2012 12:04 pm **Posts:** 3

Good subject I am have these troubles too and 1 hen is the main offender I have thought of just chopping her and eating but she is the best layer

wickedwings · **Posted:** Sat May 05, 2012 4:40 pm

pintails wrote:

I have thought of just chopping her and eating but she is the best layer

Sometimes, after all your efforts, that is still the final solution.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Sat May 05, 2012 9:45 pm

We had severe behavioural problems with one of our hens, she was the Alpha hen and she was down right vicious and in the end psychotic, we tried everything suggested for a peaceful co existence but failed, so we ended up having to relocate her.

pintails · **Joined:** Sat May 05, 2012 12:04 pm **Posts:** 3

Thank you I am thinking it may be my only solution sadly but for the good of all 1 may have to go just miffed its my best 1

Chicken Girl · **Joined:** Wed May 02, 2012 7:15 pm **Posts:** 48

Hello everyone,
Spent half of Saturday building an enclose within the chicken run for madam bully. Transferred her under the cover of darkness and thought. mission accomplished. Who greeted me Sunday morning at the gate to the run but madam bully, demanding breakfast. So much for our "secure" enclosure. So added additional security features to chooky changi. Again, transferred madam bully under the cover of darkness and the pecking order re-engineering experiment is hopefully under way. I hope this works as she's one of only two chickens (we have six) that lay. I hate the thought of having to "dispatch" her, even though she is psycho chook.

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bullied bird - pecking order - how to solve issue ?

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