Bullies

[jersey bean]

Afternoon all

I have got 6 hens, all bought at the same time, about 15 months old and all seemingly happy together until now. One keeps chasing another away, especially round the food (there is room for all of them to feed) and today i saw her jump on top of the bullied one and the others joined in having a go!

One i could have sin-binned, but 5? The bullied one has lost a patch of feathers at the front.

I really need to resolve this asap as we are getting a rescue dog on Thursday and I will have my hands full with him as he has never lived in a house.

I did read an earlier post where it tuned out the bullied hen was ill. Our bullied hen has always had a funny neck twitch but seems healthy. We do have a slight drop in eggs tho I've got no idea who is and isnt laying.

Any suggestions?

[MaureenHall]

Try the sin-bin with the biggest bully, and if that doesn't work, try the other method of picking up the bullied one and thrust her into the bully's face. Do that a few times and the bully will think she's met her match and start to leave her alone. The funny neck-twitch sounds a bit worrying though, hopefully someone else will be able to give an answer to that, otherwise I think some vet advice might be needed

[Flummery]

I think the others are foilowing suit when they see the bully attack. I'd still go for separating the bully for a day or two. You can also pick her up and walk around the garden with her for a bit. She's then taken away from her 'Queendom' and has no-one to go for. When you put her back down she's perceived to have been subservient to you - and subservient doesn't cut any ice with chickens!

[jersey bean]

Thank you very much- I have walked the bully round the garden twice, making a point of going past the run where they coluld see her - altho I think they were too busy scoffing! No sooner had i put her back in she was off again! We have a small quarantine coop I shall dig out and put her in that.

As for the neck twitch - its something shes always had and when we first got them she was poorly and was taken to the vet - he could find nothing wrong. I had gone through all kinds of thoughts of gape worm etc but it wasn't. Just seems to be her 'thing' and a year later she is none the worse for it.

[Suechooks]

I have one who has an occasional neck twitch. She is an ex-batt who has quite a pendulous crop and I've found the twitch comes when her crop isn't emptying properly. I just massage it gently and make sure she has yoghurt to keep the gut flora ok

[Chuky cupcake]

Hi There, I'm wondering if it was my chuk you read about. Val was not quite right and my 2 browns pecked the life out of her. Our vet said it was a neurological problem and other hens will try to get rid of the weaker one. It's horrific I know to witness, but persever and it may well sort out. Seperate the bully for 48 hours and then put her back in and if another chuk takes over, visit the vet if you can. The amount of so called pro's who said it's just a chicken, wring it's neck. We don't feel that way but take pro advise as well.

[jersey bean]

Hi everyone
Thanks for your advice, I have now tried :-

walking bully round the garden
sin-binning bully (3 times now)
shoving poor hen in bully's face

When the bully is sin-binned the rest are fine together, when she's back it starts again. It always seems to start over food, whether its the mash, a grub or the corn. My poor hen is looking rather tatty and its such a shame, she is the friendliest.

Any other ideas? I am at a loss now what to do and its sad to see.

[Flummery]

I'd try putting out several food containers. Then there doesn't need to be competition for food. It might not make a difference but it's worth a try.

[CoraxAurata]

Also try putting out layers pellets that they can have adlib makes feeding time less specific and less exciting....

[Glutton4...]

How long are you sin-binning the bully? I know nothing about this except when I had to segregate 4 of mine through infection, it was for 4 weeks. When re-introduced, the 'Boss' and the 'new Boss' were at it like Cockerels for a couple of days. They are all fine now, so I suggest if you are only separating the bully for a few days, it may be worth trying a fortnight or more.

Sometimes you've got to be cruel to be kind!?...

Good luck!

[RichmondHens]

Are you able to keep a cock? They usually sort out the hens and step in between when the hens squabble.

[jersey bean]

Thanks so much everyone, I'll try everything (apart from the cockerel - the neighbours would complain, the hens are noisy enough on their own!).

Fingers crossed.

[jersey bean]

Hi everyone
Just an update -i sin-binned the bully for over 2 weeks and whilst poor hen was nervous around the bully for a while, they have all settled down happily again. Phew!

Thanks again for all the wise words!
jo