Chicken bully/chicken victim - a two-sided issue

Well written common sense solution for bully flock mates. The "look but don't touch" approach to a difficult behavioral modification procedure.

Loved it. Great advice.

One of my dear Aurucaunas is going through this. After being a very secluded Broody hen, she is having major trouble with the newest members of the flock.

I will definitely try these methods!!!

This is invaluable! I am introducing new chicks to my older hens soon and am so glad I read this!

Really good article. Had never considered putting the victim in time out. Very interesting. If the situation comes up again in my flock, I'll certainly give it a try! Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

Good info about a different way to help stop bullying in the flock.

The change from the standard bully point of view is nice. This information opens up new avenues for dealing with this type of behavior. Well put together and very informative. Great job.

This article takes on a different perspective in handling bullies. It also shares first hand knowledge to support the advice.

This article points out things we should all be looking out for in our own flocks. I'm glad there are solutions to bullying other than selling the chicken causing the trouble, or worse. Thanks for the wonderful article!

I think you are spot on. I removed the bully and got no results when she got back. But after removing the bullied she came back into the coop and things are going well. Sometimes punishment of the bullies is not the key but safe refuge for the victim is what it takes. I look forward to reading more info by you since I am a newbie to raising my backyard flock.

As I was reading this article I was thinking it was very observant and well written. Then I reached the part that said the azygous flock was peaceful again... I should have known it was her! Yet once again... great information! I recently had discovered the benefits of putting a bullying victim in a "refuge"... as I recently had a bunch of cockerels in lock down adjusting to their new living quarters and flock mates, did result in a couple of wonderful boys taking more than they could mentally deal with and staying in a corner or instantly retreating to a corner after handling. Even with extra feeders and such, I could tell a couple boys were hungry still. When put into refuge they ate up and relaxed a bit. Thank you for continuing to share your many insights!

I have yet to get chickens, but I'm glad I know what to watch for. I love your comment, "It's how chickens roll...."

A bully pen is not often mentioned in coop/ run construction, but it should be. Closing off the end of your run is invaluable. Great article , a little long for me , but I get the point

i also feel that after looking for issues a Bully chicken is not always at complete fault for bad / peace disrupting behavior.

You have a beautiful set up. I have a side pen for a Drake, I call it his apartment. Because jail sounds like punishment to me and visitors. He has an apartment for time to adjust his thinking, behavior or just let some extra hormones run their course. I will include either a condo or sanctuary in future coop projects as well

Great job!

We have our old(very small) coop just lying around, and I use it to introduce new hens. This is a new idea for it!

We have three coops now. Besides our main coop, we have a rabbit hutch as a retirement coop for our two oldest chickens who are bantams and eventually started getting picked on, and one is for anyone who needs chicken jail. I wish that we had this set up though! Then they are at least kind of together. I agree that it would be especially nice with hatching and integrating chicks into the flock. I wish I had thought of this when my husband was building my large coop!

Great article, may have to use this method. I have a Black Copper Marans and a Barnevelder that are smallest in my flock of 8 and they always hang on the outside, waiting for the others to finish eating. The others just give them a peck occasionally for no apparent reason, I feel bad for them, seems like they both have no confidence.

Can't wait to try it. I've removed the bully but never the victim since I was afraid they'd go lower on the pecking order. Back with the flock every night is a great idea, too.