I have two, 1 year old hens. After a slow, 3 week introduction of "Look don't touch" initiation - I have raised from day old chicks & added 10, nine week old pullets into the flock. Everyone's together (with safety zones for escape, for the chicks) and the Alpha hen is acting as I'd expected. Though she is stern in establishing & maintaining her position as head Alpha in the flock - she's not cruel or vicious to the chicks. She makes her stand, takes her prized food or treats first, and they totally respect her. Problem solved.
The 2nd hen however -(Lets just call her... "Attilla the Hen") is terrible. She is chasing the pullets unmercifully. Even when there's no food, or treats involved, she hounds them down, chases them and tears out their feathers. She is scaring the wits out of them... & it's awful. My enclosed run is 30' x 28'... with an additional run of 14' x 6' which is attached to the coop... so they have ample space.
The pullets are terrified of Attilla the Hen - and give her as much distance they can.
I set up an XL "time out" dog crate - inside the big run, and today I put Attilla the Hen - inside it, just to give the chicks a little peace. They all relaxed & fanned out (instead of staying in a tight band of chicks) & all was good. So after about 15 minutes, I released Attilla the Hen back into the run. Attilla the Hen was fine for about 5 minutes... but then went right back into terrorizing the chicks - and for no reason. She actually growls - & it sounds menacing. She also puffs up, and pecks them hard, tearing out their feathers.
They are all in the coop at night together now for the past 5 days, but the chicks are afraid to go on the roosts (which is MORE than large enough to easily handle 30+ chicks, but I only have 12 chickens.
Instead of going on the roost at night, the chicks all huddle on the floor, in the corner. Last night - I put Atilla the Hen OUT of the coop, to see what would happen, and all the chicks went up on the roost with the Alpha - and all was peaceful.
My question is... do you think Attilla the Hen should have a longer time out? Or - What should I do?!?!?! Will time out for longer... make it worse? There's no blood drawn, (yet) but it's just the viscous, nasty behavior that bothers me... It's beyond the 'normal' chicken pecking order establishment. What should I do?
The 2nd hen however -(Lets just call her... "Attilla the Hen") is terrible. She is chasing the pullets unmercifully. Even when there's no food, or treats involved, she hounds them down, chases them and tears out their feathers. She is scaring the wits out of them... & it's awful. My enclosed run is 30' x 28'... with an additional run of 14' x 6' which is attached to the coop... so they have ample space.
The pullets are terrified of Attilla the Hen - and give her as much distance they can.
I set up an XL "time out" dog crate - inside the big run, and today I put Attilla the Hen - inside it, just to give the chicks a little peace. They all relaxed & fanned out (instead of staying in a tight band of chicks) & all was good. So after about 15 minutes, I released Attilla the Hen back into the run. Attilla the Hen was fine for about 5 minutes... but then went right back into terrorizing the chicks - and for no reason. She actually growls - & it sounds menacing. She also puffs up, and pecks them hard, tearing out their feathers.
They are all in the coop at night together now for the past 5 days, but the chicks are afraid to go on the roosts (which is MORE than large enough to easily handle 30+ chicks, but I only have 12 chickens.
Instead of going on the roost at night, the chicks all huddle on the floor, in the corner. Last night - I put Atilla the Hen OUT of the coop, to see what would happen, and all the chicks went up on the roost with the Alpha - and all was peaceful.
My question is... do you think Attilla the Hen should have a longer time out? Or - What should I do?!?!?! Will time out for longer... make it worse? There's no blood drawn, (yet) but it's just the viscous, nasty behavior that bothers me... It's beyond the 'normal' chicken pecking order establishment. What should I do?