Bullying

[milbert]

Hello,
I'm new to this and to chicken keeping generally. I have 2 light sussex, 1 Black rock and 1 red rock. I got them all at the same time from the same place, about 3 months ago.They all seemed fine and were getting along when one of the LS clearly became head of the pack, which I know is fine, but she turned against the BR really nastily and then made open wounds in both the RR and the BR. I separated the two wounded to let them heal but kept the two houses/runs next to each other. This has been the case for about a month while we built a new really big walk in run (5metres by 2 metres, plenty big enough for 4?). They all went in it on Sunday and were mooching about happily apart from a bit of grumbling and pushing out of BR as usual, then yesterday the two horrible LS killed the RR! I was so upset, she was my favourite. I have had enough of their bullying ways and the dealer has said she will take the two LS back this weekend and give me some more of the same age, I have asked for a BR and a RR (and will prob buy another RRso back to 4) as have been put off the LS. BR is at the moment back in her recovery house until they leave. Do you think it will go okay introducing 3 new hens to my one original? I know the reverse can be stressful! any advice would be great :?

P.s at all times in all housing situations they have had hanging CD's, Cabbages, plenty of everything!

 

[wendywoggles]

I am so sorry to hear about your chook, I'm new to this too, had my girls a bit over 3 months but I've seen how awful the bullying can be. It's all about food in the end really, making sure that some-one else isn't going to get a bigger share, or any at all sometimes.

I've had a poorly chook and isolated her for a week and they the others treated her like a new interloper and have hardly left her alone. Each day it is a little better though. The one thing I found that has helped is anti-peck spray. It stinks like coal tar and they don't like the taste of it at all.

I'm thinking that if you get some more girls it's going to be them against the 'oldie' coz there'll be more of them. So put the spray all over her, not near the eyes or beak though. (I put on a pair of rubber gloves and gave them a good cover of it and wiped them all over my girl, I made sure she got a really good dose of it), and just to make sure she doesn't smell different to them give them a quick squirt of it too.

Try and put down more feeding stations and watering places even if you have to use your best pyrex dishes for a couple of weeks :shock: Apple Cider Vinegar in the water is said to calm them a bit too. But hopefully it isn't going to get so bad as last time for you.

I hope this helps but some-one with a lot more experience than me will be along soon with more ideas.

Best of luck

 

[Chuck]

Quite a problem and you are lucky the seller will take them back. It's a great pity when this happens as in theory they shoud have all settled down together. Basically it's the old survival instinct coming through making sure there is enough for themselves although it's illogical as clearly there is.

Hopefully the wound has cleared up on your last bird or she might get attacked by the new ones, as even if she has the upper hand they make take sneaky chunks out of her. As with all animals and birds, some do seem to be victims.

I haven't found any perfume works but many people say it does. The last person who bought POL hens off me said she puts Vick on all the birds when new ones are introduced and it always woks for her. Also put the new ones in at night but be sure to be up early to let them out as if there is a fight, they need to be able to get away.

I'm afraid it'd going to be trial and error. Just be watchful, as you have been, and be prepared to seperate them if it gets too rough. Another couple of feeders/drinkers around is good advice from above.

In theory, your original hen should have the upper hand but it may not work out that way.

It's best if you can keep them seperate for a week to mkae sure the new ones don't bring any infection with them.

 

[chrismahon]

Light Sussex appear to be a problem as are Rhode Island Reds (in my experience). Guess they are trying to ensure enough food for next eggs which may be a top end performing Utility Breed problem. They need a lot of run space each which gives the attacked bird room to get away as well.
We use lavender spray on all the hens in the coop when introducing new ones at night. 1% lavender oil in water well shaken in a perfume sprayer. Seems to work but I get there early morning when they are woken just to make sure.

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

Light Sussex appear to be a problem as are Rhode Island Reds (in my experience). Guess they are trying to ensure enough food for next eggs which may be a top end performing Utility Breed problem. They need a lot of run space each which gives the attacked bird room to get away as well.
We use lavender spray on all the hens in the coop when introducing new ones at night. 1% lavender oil in water well shaken in a perfume sprayer. Seems to work but I get there early morning when they are woken just to make sure.

Normal quarantine(away from view) and night introduction instead of through a fence is usually what i do. So they wake up together. Usually they don't know any better but I've had two hens go for each other through a fence before and made each other a bloody mess! but they did both have chicks and were in separate runs because of this reason.

 

[jubilee]

I also introduce any new birds at night when they have gone to bed, it works for me, but then orpingtons are far more laid back than the breeds you have! There is always a bit of a scuffle to get the pecking order right, but never anything too harsh. I was always lead to believe putting them in adjoining pens where they can see eachother but not get to one another was just prelonging it. But having never had a major problem to deal with, i may be wrong, The only time i wouldn't advise adding new birds is cockerels, mine are horrendously nasty and will fight through the wire, so males have to be kept separate.
As mentioned above, quarantine for 7-10 days any new birds as a matter of routine. You don't want the new ones bringing any nasties with them. Your set-up will have it's own set of pathogens and they may pick something up from your bird who is immune and vice-versa. Also ask the woman where you get them from if they have actually been together before she sends them, so they have already a pecking order within the group. You'll be ready for it then with no horrible supprises between the new lot.

JubesX

 

[cuwiar]

There is so much to be said for the personality of individual birds rather than just breeds (a bit like dogs, and all other animals for that matter) as we have a Light Sussex who is a little darling and our Black Rock (Rhode Rock) is top hen although not really nasty, just bossy!

 

[Marigold]

There is so much to be said for the personality of individual birds rather than just breeds (a bit like dogs, and all other animals for that matter) as we have a Light Sussex who is a little darling and our Black Rock (Rhode Rock) is top hen although not really nasty, just bossy!

I agree, you never quite know what will happen. i had a Speckledy who was a real wuss, bottom of the pecking order, not included at all, but when I got 2 new POLs she puffed up to twice her size, looked like a turkey, made the most extraordinary terrifying noises and really went for them. Luckily they were separated but I had to put smaller-gauge mesh along to stop her chewing them up through the barrier. Things just didn't settle down and in the end my friend kindly rehomed her in his flock, where once again she became bottom hen and mild as milk. However the new ones were white, and all the others at the time were brown or black and I have a feeling they were reacting to what they saw as abnormal colouring.
Apart from that incident. I've always found that housing them alongside each other does help them to get to know each other, although I know it's not full quarantine. But lots of us with garden hens just don't have the space to do more than just divide our runs, and so far, by buying well-reared birds from a known and trusted breeder where i know there will be good backup, i've had no medical problems.

 

[milbert]

Thank you for all your replies and advice, so over the weekend returned my horrible LS's and brought home a new BR and RR, I put my original one BR in last night once they were all sleepy and watched them for a while this morning upon them waking up and being out in the run, my meek little BR has now decided she'll become bossy boots of the new friends but so far has only been grumbling and fluffing her self up quite a lot (quite amusing considering she wouldn't say boo to a goose before!) I have covered them all in the same scent and now have fingers crossed! They seem to be ok, just working out the hierarchy for now, as ling as thats all they do that's fine, I can't be that unlucky twice in a row!
Thanks again! 17