Unsecure chicken perches

[Burtie14]

Betty's been pecking and pulling from the other 3 chickens for two weeks, and they're all looking quite threadbare. Ukadex has helped a bit, but hasn't put her off completely, and Jim is starting to look as though he's not far off bleeding.

 

So we're going to seperate Betty for a while. We've got another ark to put inside the WIR, so she can see the other girls but not nip at them. She'll have her own little palace with food and drink and sleeping quarters all to herself.

 

How long do you think I should keep her apart for? I don't want her to be mentally scarred by loneliness but I also want the other girls to recover and for Betty to learn to play nicely!

 

Any tips on how to manage a chicken in solitary?

[Eggasperated]

When I had Pippa in solitary she didn't care one bit apart from calling the others over so that she could pull feathers through the wire . She spent 8 weeks separate but unfortunately just went straight back to feather pulling so I had to rehome her; hopefully you won't have that much trouble.

 

Have you tried a bumper bit? (mind you that didn't make any difference to Pippa).

 

Basically I think it depends on the chicken how they will react to being alone, some, like Pippa, won't give a hoot while others will feel sorry for themselves.

 

Hope you have success with Betty.

[sage]

Hi,

Had my 7 ex batts for 3 weeks, Betty & Hilda both attacked the little Mavis relentlessly. Betty & Hilda were in isolation for a week. Betty is now with the other 6; she still gives them the odd peck but nothing more. Hilda still attacks Mavis so is segregated. I let all 7 out into the garden last night and Hilda went straight to Mavis and pinned her down, needless to say she is back in isolation. I will try again this weekend. I don't know what else to do the others are so happy together it's such a shame one is such a bully.

 

Hope this helps a bit

Sage

7 ex batts 22/5/10

[jennydavies]

When we had our problem with Ginger bullying Blanche/Raymond we ended up rehoming her with our neighbour across the lane. He told us that since we gave her to him she has chosen to live a solitary life, she stays in the WIR all day and doesn't mix with the rest of his flock (he has about thirty hens) his son has made her his "pet chicken" and she is happy to be handled and petted, but just seems to enjoy her own company. We saw her yesterday and she still responds to my voice and is really happy & healthy. She took an instant dislike to B/R and it was quite clear from the beginning she was never going to be friends. B/R on the other hand turned out to be a definate Raymond and was rehomed with the same neighbour (you had to be there) and he is enjoying a wonderful life with all "his Ladies".

[Burtie14]

Thanks guys. Reading these replies it gives me a bit of hope that perhaps Betty isn't actually Satan's right-hand chicken and there might be hope of redemption.

 

Although she does pull lumps of feathers out of the others, it does seem to be more of a spontaneous snack than premeditated bullying. By that I mean she'll be happily socialising with the other three and getting on fine, when she'll suddenly look up, see a tail feather, and think to herself "that looks tasty!" and go in for a nip. She then looks shocked when I berate her.

 

I'll give her a fortnight of solitary and then let her back into society - see if she learns her lesson. Blooming chicken.