gavclojak Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Thank you. I have on her at the moment purple barrier spray, sudocrem and a massive spray of foul tasting anti peck. They got a mouthful of it and was Nasty as they would peck her the wipe their beaks but didn't stop them, BHWT thinks the way forward is to separate them within the same enclosure, I have hired a go for a few weeks and am collecting that later today and that will go in the enclosure so will be able to see each other. Hope I am doing the right thing but can only go on the advice given-((( poor hen solo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 thats the thing u have to go by the advice given i also didnt think much of anti pecking spray - didnt seem to put ours off - i wudnt buy it again she does need to get stronger but i wud imagine it will be hard to reintroduce just one hen back into 4 so hard xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 as i said before i consider myself a newbie still but if u think it wud be possible I wud seperate the 3 from the 2 that u think are being the bullies ? this way at least with re introductions it wud be 3 against 2 in her favour ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 (edited) Funny enough I thought that but am not sure what one to take out as they all seemed to have a go at her and am scared of upsetting that group....gosh the trauma If she was getting bullied I would leave then to it but with the bleeding and them targeting the same spot I think she needs time out, and it is hard to tell if all of them are getting her, from what I have seen I think they are all having a Ho at her with varying degrees of viciousness If the reintroduction doesn't go well I may have to look into rehoming her, something I really don't want to do, time will tell I guess:(( Edited November 8, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 i cant imagine u wud upset the group especially if they can all still see each other when seperated was easier for us as we knew exactly who was causing the trouble good luck - sure you know what to do in your heart xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Yes if it was only princess layer and the others were fine the bumpa bits would be straight on but from what I can make out they are all having a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 It is awful when this type of thing breaks out. I had the same with my girls where they all attacked on ex battery hen. The BHWT told me to remove the bully but they were all doing it, even the other ex-batts, so I was stuck. She now lives in a separate run attached to the main one so she can see the others, but they can't get her. She was at the bottom of the pecking order and this system seems to work with those girls whereas it wouldn't work with my others if you know what I mean. Let us know how you get on - it is so stressful - hope you are ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Stressful....your not not wrong, no sleep last night, upset tummy this morning, have not eaten today!!!crazy. Funny enough she was always the lowest ranking girl but she had never been attacked till this episode:((. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Sorry another question, would you put the 2 definite billies in the temp accommodation and see how that goes or completely separate her? Trying to make it as easy as possible for her and me!! What I don't want is two waring tribes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Personally i wud put 2 bullies seperate and keep her with the other 2. i wud make sure they can all see each other. it will make reintroductions easier as she will have 2 on her side (so 3 against 2 ) Depends though if u think she is strong enough. i would only seperate her totally if you dont think she is strong enough. (we had to seperate our one when it happened to us but that was because she was at deaths door anyway) We did a 3 ex bats to 2 POL introduction (not cos of problems just when we got the ex bats) and it does seem easier when they outnumber the others. Also when u do reintroduce - just do it gradually - theres no rush. Still let them FR together when u can watch and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 p.s also just to answer ur question - yes i wud put bullies in temp accomo - dont let them in their normal palace until they learn to behave ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 I have just let my most placid girl out with her to free rang, and she had just pecked her bum....looks like it's gonna be solo going solo for a while ;(( I have a eglu go on loan and have put solo to bed in it, would any of you recommend I take her out and pop her in the cube while they are asleep and make sure I let them Out early, I want to keep them together as much as possible but also want to keep her safe and give her wounds a chance to heal? Hells bells!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I think she may be away from them for a while anyway if she needs to chance to heal and they are all pecking her so I would keep her in the house by herself. Do you have a run she can use where she can still see the girls but they can't peck her? Hope you are holding up, really feel for you at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Thanks, yes she has a go and run and that is set up inside the other girls enclosure so they can all see each other and they are going to have supervised free ranging together so she still has some interaction and once she is healed I hope she will be accepted back otherwise in go the bumpa bits !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Last night hen solo spent her first night alone in he loan Go, I let them all out in the same enclosure and sat and watched with 2 cups of tea and apart from the odd peck from princess layer (the main aggressor) and in the same place as the covered wounds they are largely getting on with it. They are all out free ranging at this minute and she is up by the cube so I suspect she wants to lay an egg after her stressful day yesterday. My plan...let them free range together as much as possible with very close supervision. When I am unable to watch constantly ie work days they will go in the enclosure and her in the Go and run within the enclosure so they are still basically in the same area. I have a week off work in two weeks so plan to get her back completely that week,,,, I hope they will forget about attacking her and it will give her time to heal. Between now and then?? I welcome any suggestions if anyone thinks this isn't the right way I won't be offended:)) I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 If you have bullying the consensus seems to be that it's best to remove the bully, rather than the victim. Taking the victim out just puts them at the bottom of the pecking order (where they may have been anyway, of course) and doesn't help their confidence. Taking the aggressor(s) out helps the victim to establish a place with the rest of the flock and dehabituates any pecking. Worth a go? (others following an aggressor's lead will often behave once the ringleader is out of action) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 If you have bullying the consensus seems to be that it's best to remove the bully, rather than the victim. Taking the victim out just puts them at the bottom of the pecking order (where they may have been anyway, of course) and doesn't help their confidence. Taking the aggressor(s) out helps the victim to establish a place with the rest of the flock and dehabituates any pecking. Worth a go? (others following an aggressor's lead will often behave once the ringleader is out of action) I agree with this . It worked for us . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Thanks, the problem is although one is the big bully today it was a different one yesterday, they were all having a go at her yesterday ( I have just caught another one of them having a go at her while she was trying to get out if the cube after laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I would normally agree with removing the bully, but when this happened with my girls often one would peck, the little one would really scream in terror and the others would come running to join in! They all thought it was great I think the plan you have is a really good one. Getting to see and hear the flock but not being hurt by them should start to build her confidence and I think by the time her wounds have healed she may be happier to take them on a bit rather than suffering at their beaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 A combination of the two plans may be worth a try; separate her until her injuries have scabbed over and no longer freshly bleeding (and to build herself up if she's not been allowed to feed), then separate the top bully/bullies to try and break the behaviour. I would also cover her with anti peck spray before re-introduction. It's a difficult situation; you want her to stop being injured but you need to keep the pecking order In my flock it's usually the middle-to-bottom ranking hens that cause the trouble, while Top Hen & 2nd In Command are quite assured of their rank and just give quick 'stay in your place' pecks, and Bottom Hen just runs away or cowers and submits to everyone. I have had 'picked on hen' and 2nd In Command (who had a broken beak at the time) in together but fenced off from the rest of the flock for a few days; both knew their place so no pecking, but it gave them each some company and time to heal. It may also have given 'picked on hen' a high ranking ally at reintroduction time. Chicken psychology You know your own hens best, go with what you feel is right at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Ok here we go.....princess layer is in the sin bin as she was actively hunting solo down.....the other bully is leaving her alone at the moment so they are all together, she is being allowed to eat and potter only Betty is giving her head a peck and she is ducking out the way. When they were under the cube Barbara was pecking her bottom but not continuously I feel sorry for her, all the girls are under the cube and she is outside looking in. Should layer stay in the sin bin alone or should I put her cohort in with her even if shy is not being aggressive, also should I let them all sleep together tonight? I don't want to cause more problems for the girls and at the moment it looks like I have created three splinter groups....slo....Betty and her cohorts and layer.....and what I am really worried about is when I have to leave them alone for the day when I go to work on Monday PS I sat outside in the rain and mud for four hours just watching them this morning to make sure she wasn't injured....can't carry on like this...OH threatening to leave me!!!! Or re home them!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 like I said yesterday - in my own opinion of course - I wud remove 2 top bullies and keep other 3 together. (as long as solo can heal safely with the 3 ) will put the 2 bullies in their place - and retros will be 3 against 2. Would also bumpa bit the bullies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I would certainly bumpa bit them all before the victim goes back in. It will give the bullies time to get used to it, and realise they can't feather peck any more. However, do remember they can use other intimidating behaviour so the suggestion of isolating them for a while to change the pecking order would also help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Thank you, I have put the two main bullies in the sin bin and I Hope the others are kind to her, they don't seem very connected but I hope that will calm down.one is Giving her tho odd peck but from what I can see they are not attacking her How long shall I keep them apart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I ud keep them apart until u think she is healed enough and then do slow intros when u can watch. wud also try and let them FR all together when u can watch - even if its only 10 mins here and there good luck huni xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
