Mean, mean "Attilla the Hen"

[FiddleChics]

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?

 

[moniquem]

Re-home, one chicken is not worth an entire flock of nervous wrecks. Do it before she really starts hurting them.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I think Attila needs a longer time out. I would leave her in the dog crate for at least 3 days, let her out and if she returns to the bad behavior, put her back right away for another 3 days. She will eventually get the point. Act like a meany, go to the dog crate. Good luck with how ever you think is the best way to handle the situation.

 

[DobieLover]

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?

Pinless Peepers.

 

[Willowspirit]

I have no specific advice for you, just another vote for separation temporarily or permanently. It is smart to recognize how it affects all of the chicks. With them huddled in a corner they are probably very stressed and not getting adequate nutrition. They also lacking the opportunity to scratch or dust bathe or rest after eating.

Besides the time i spend sitting on my couch reading or thinking about animal behavior i do have the experience of integrating a two year old hen with five 12 week old pullets. Big Mama did a fair amount of pecking the pullets when they were first let together. When out their run she would sneak up on the bigger birds and then bite at them. They'd jump and squawk. But she did not pull feathers or injure them. I hated every second of watching this. After a few days she stopped stalking and just nipped pullets who got in the way...which for Big Mama was anywhere she wanted to be.

Then we snuck her into the coop at night and put her on a roost. I got up early, let them out and put food everywhere so nobody could guard all of the food. We also have multiple waterers and when i can't let them out i throw in stacks of hay for them to scratch in. The next night she went into the coop with the others, claimed the highest bar and peace. They've been integrated fully for a week and they're doing okay.

I want to mention that this only went smoothly thanks to what I've learned here. I've only had chickens since early March.

When Big Mama was after the pullets I believed that she was really trying to claim all of the resources. As a result as i mentioned we added feeders and waterers. I also sprinkle a bunch of food in small piles everywhere in the runs. I do the same with treats. They seem to get benefit from finding their own food. Gale Damerow suggests some picking and fighting occurs from boredom.

So that's my experience and my ideas about it. For some reason i think it would be great to save Attila. Maybe she's not a bad hen. Maybe she's just drawn that way. But don't put her above your chooks.

 

[FiddleChics]

I think Attila needs a longer time out. I would leave her in the dog crate for at least 3 days, let her out and if she returns to the bad behavior, put her back right away for another 3 days. She will eventually get the point. Act like a meany, go to the dog crate. Good luck with how ever you think is the best way to handle the situation.

4 hours have elapsed since 'Attilla the Hen' went into the crate - she's got fresh water & food. Tomorrow I'll have to add a milk crate for a nesting box in case she wants to lay.

When I went to check just now, everyone was running and playing, eating, swinging on the swing, hopping up on benches, flapping and chirping happily! (vs huddled in the corner in a tight group).

So... I think tonight, I'll tarp the crate so she has a little shelter - and leave her in the crate as you suggested for the next 3 days. The difference in the flock is amazing just within these 4 hours though.
I also ordered the "Pinless Peepers" (chicken blinders) that @DobieLover suggested, and found some pretty informative videos on Youtube on their application, use and effectiveness. They seem humane, and relatively painless - and they can adapt quickly to them - for a week or 2 - as need be -while being released in with the others - to hopefully BEHAVE! Thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions! Idk what I'd do without all of you!

 

[DobieLover]

Doesn't anyone cull anymore?

Sure!
Others love their chickens and want to try all behavior modification tactics before resorting to that. It's a personal decision. The OP is trying to work things out.
It's also not completely unheard of for people to work on learning how to properly behave in chicken society so as to establish or maintain a harmonious relationship with their rooster vs. eating him. It's a personal decision.

 

[MomJones]

4 hours have elapsed since 'Attilla the Hen' went into the crate - she's got fresh water & food. Tomorrow I'll have to add a milk crate for a nesting box in case she wants to lay.

When I went to check just now, everyone was running and playing, eating, swinging on the swing, hopping up on benches, flapping and chirping happily! (vs huddled in the corner in a tight group).

So... I think tonight, I'll tarp the crate so she has a little shelter - and leave her in the crate as you suggested for the next 3 days. The difference in the flock is amazing just within these 4 hours though.
I also ordered the "Pinless Peepers" (chicken blinders) that @DobieLover suggested, and found some pretty informative videos on Youtube on their application, use and effectiveness. They seem humane, and relatively painless - and they can adapt quickly to them - for a week or 2 - as need be -while being released in with the others - to hopefully BEHAVE! Thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions! Idk what I'd do without all of you!

This is all marvelous and clearly you're a wonderful, compassionate chicken mommy. I've calmed down greatly and am now seeing things rationally. BUT if Attila the Hen has any more violent outbursts I think you should call the police immediately and have her arrested! (pant pant)...wait, we're talking about chickens here... Gonna go find my valium.

 

[aart]

I wonder if part of her problem is she's still 'feeling broody'.

 

[Mvan42]

She definitely needs to learn she can’t bully the little ones. Separate her and try the above suggestion of a few days to maybe even a week at a time. If she begins to bully as soon as she is out to as soon as she starts bullying again put her back in “jail”. If she doesn’t eventually get it you may have to rehome or keep her separated all together(which no one wants to have to do). I would do the “jail” thing for a month or two then make a farther decision if she doesn’t learn her lesson. I say she will learn.