pavo121 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Hi, I have three hens and one is a bit of a bully. Basically I can see she is pecking the other two around the tail. There is no blood but one is quite bald now and very red. I have been spraying antipecking spray but it doesn't seem to be working. She is now also starting on the other other one. The three of them are in a cube with the extension, luckily I have the old wooden coop with run in the garden still. Shall I move the bully into that for a bit? I am a bit concerned because she will be on her own though they will still see the others. I just think the others need a break from this. Also I have concerns when I have to introduce them all together again. Just wondered if anyone has had the same problems and whether they have done anything similar?? Cheers Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Hi Richard, I really sympathise, I had this problem for a long while. Betty would peck our other three hens’ feathers so that they all had various bald patches on their backs and bums. We sprayed the others, we put a bit on Betty, and we did try separating her for a while, but she got so agitated that we couldn’t stick with it. We were at our wits' end. The thing that seems to have worked – touch wood – is regular application of tar. We tarred the baldies every other day, which is a very messy, unpleasant and untidy process, and caused a lot of grumbling, but it did completely put Betty off pecking at them, and gave them a chance to regrow their feathers. After a couple of weeks the bald chickens each had a mini-moult, and now they’re fully feathered. We still give them a spray of Scarper as a preventative, but Betty generally seems to have lost interest in pecking them – which is great. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Separating the bully for a little while is pribably a good idea. The others will be able to get some relief and, when the bully is reintroduced, she won't necessarily be top in the pecking order. I'm not sure how long you'd need to keep her separate for - I'm sure someone else will be along shortly with more advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosey Supposey Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Hi Pavo121, I'm about to separate a bully from the other hens too! I'm nervous as anything about doing it (first time I've done this separation lark, but the hen she terrorizes is exhausted now). So hoping someone will post up here about how long they have to be separated for. I'm hoping it's only a day or so, as seeing bully on her own is really going play on my heartstrings. (She's not a bad hen, just desperate not to be bottom of the pecking order herself.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranberry Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Im not an expert, but the only time i separated a bully I put her with two others that she liked. I actually took them right away for a couple of months. When I put them back she ran around asserting herself until another told her off and now she's very quite. I have just separated out the cock and cockerels. One was perfectly happy one depressed and the other furious. They have settled down now, it took about 5 days. Its just a thought but do you have any boys? My understanding is that if you have more that 10 birds and no male one female will take on the role - To the point that she even crows! Once a male is introduced she reverts. Mind you depending on where you live this may not be very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavo121 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Thanks for all the replies. I can't have a cockeral as I live in an uran setting and my neighbours would be a bit cross. I think I am going to have to put her in the spare coop/run. Will do it at the weekend when I am at home! Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
