2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[chookingham]

Since my old lady Annie died a few weeks ago, Elsie has taken over as top chook. From the start of her reign of terror she has been a vicious bully, especially to the orps who last week took to staying in the coop and not coming out at all. We had to resort to putting an extra feed bowl in there to make sure they were getting enough to eat. Anyway, This weekend we decided enough was enough and after lights out on Friday, shuffled the 3 new girls from the eglu into the wooden coop, and elsie into the eglu, with a barrier across the end of the run - she can still stick her head through to the others but can't get at them. This has worked wonders for the other 8 chooks who are now living in harmony - no pecking or feather pulling to be seen since the weekend. Elsie is obviously not happy but hopefully is getting the message. So my question is - how long should we leave her separated and as she was so agressive, are we likley to have made things worse?

[Tweety]

You have done the right thing in removing the bully. I would keep her separate for a few days, perhaps until the weekend, then maybe try letting them all free range together and see if she behaves any better.

Others have had good results doing this, and I hope it works for you too

[chookingham]

Thanks Tweety. I don't want to put her back too soon in case she is even more vicious in trying to reassert herself, but the others are so happy and relaxed at the moment, hubby was trying to covince me to keep her separated permanently I would rather they all get along. Will aim for a weekend free range and see how it goes

[Tweety]

Good luck with it. You are right, you can't really keep her on her own permanently, and things will settle down sooner or later.

I have always found it to take about 3 weeks before peace breaks out, so stick with it and they will sort it out eventually!

Extra space and lots of food and water stations should help too.

[chookingham]

Trouble is, it is not just the new girls she is picking on. Amy (the orp that was mauled by a dog)has been getting the worst of it - each time her feathers start growing back, Elsie has them out again. Poor Amy is down to 3 tail feathers at the moment and a bald patch at the base of her tale about 5cm diameter. Even having her separated just for a few days has meant we can now see new feather spikes on Amy and she is much more able to stand her ground with the other chooks, despite being bottom of the order. If they get on free ranging, I might try putting the other two older hybrids in the run with Elsie for a couple of days before merging the whole flock again. They can stand up for themselves and it might give me a clue as to how agressive she will be with the others. B****y chickens. Bringing up teenagers is easier