wendym7 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 I've had my 4 ex-batts since last April, when they were aged between 50 and 70 weeks old. I adopted them through Little Hen Rescue near Norwich. They've now pretty much stopped laying-I get one egg a day at best. I want to look at getting 1 or 2 more girls but in the past 2 weeks or so they've really been bullying Maggie so badly that she lives on top of the run most of the time! She's lost a good few feathers. I have an Eglu Classic with 3m run-in winter I close the coop door overnight but mostly let them freerange using the Omlet netting as a fence. They only get closed in the run if I'm away overnight, lots of farmland around with more attractive options to a fox so I've let them run around quite happily. I've tried letting Maggie free-range in the garden for a few days but that hasn't had any impact yet. I'm ordering some 'bumpa bits' which I'm hoping will stop the other girls attacking her- had to use purple spray this morning as she was bleeding. I'll also get some anti-peck spray. Even if these things do help, WHY have they started doing this? I want to get it sorted before I try introducing any newbies as I doubt they'd survive the same level of bullying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendym7 Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Update-I've tried putting in some new distractions for the girls-CDs, hanging up some food, and a bit of log to peck-and not much change in behaviour. My other half has physically lifted Maggie from the top of the run while she's sleeping and put her in the coop with the others again tonight but still worried about her getting enough food and water, despite putting extra feed in another bowl. All suggestions welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclonetog Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 It's not really the bullied one you need to take out, it is the bully. I know you said they are all having a go at her, but is there one that is most aggressive? Taking that one out may help re sort the hierarchy. Also is she getting weak? They can turn on a weak member of the flock (and because of this are quite good at hiding it from you). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendym7 Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 A couple of days of anti-pecking spray hasn't quite done the trick, though I was hoping all the new distractions of their enlarged pen would help. Managed to fit the bumpa-bits to the other 3 today with my OH's help, so hoping things will improve- though Maggie still jumps back up to the top of the run once she's had some time to eat and drink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 You might find that the pecking has turned into a habit, rather than just a 'pecking order' type peck. I had this problem and I had to separate the chickens. Firstly, I took out the two bullies - but another hen was also attacking one of the victims and she ended up having a wound so I immediately put her into her own coop and run to recover. As soon as you see blood you must separate that chicken as the other chickens can peck that area over and over. Chickens also like routine, so if you let them out to FR one day but not the next they can get frustrated and take it out on each other. This was my problem because sometimes I let them out and sometimes I didn't - routine has really helped (even giving them a handful of corn as a treat in the afternoons at a similar time!) Hope the bumpa bits work for you! Keep strong and hope your chickens stop the bullying soon, it can be heartbreaking to watch! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
