Bully brahma

[BrahmaBabe84]

I have an old hen Brahma 6 years old that has been pecking my young hens as they try to lay eggs in the nest boxes. I have 9 nest boxes & 21 hens. but my barred rocks love to use the nest boxes right as you walk in and my older Brahma will relentlessly peck at them and make their combs bleed. Especially if she wants that specific box. Now I keep my nest boxes pretty close to the ground because my Brahmas are old and I worry about them being able to get in them if I raise them up. Should I add more boxes or maybe try raising the nest boxes higher? No issues other than her bullying when they nest. There are always open nest boxes so I don’t know if adding more would make a difference. I’ll post a pic of the coop but I have added two more nesting units of 3 since this pic was taken. Any advice appreciated

 

[azygous]

Adding more nests won't solve this. You didn't mention if this bully hen is still laying. Age has its benefits. She will get first crack. Let her. You can't really change chicken rules they've set for themselves.

If she isn't laying, then I would place her in a "jail" enclosure in the mornings until after the others have finished laying.

Every run should have a jail enclosure. If you don't have one, you need to set one up.

 

[BrahmaBabe84]

Adding more nests won't solve this. You didn't mention if this bully hen is still laying. Age has its benefits. She will get first crack. Let her. You can't really change chicken rules they've set for themselves.

If she isn't laying, then I would place her in a "jail" enclosure in the mornings until after the others have finished laying.

Every run should have a jail enclosure. If you don't have one, you need to set one up.

She is still laying my issue is now my two shy birds splash Ameracaunas are finding other places to lay as they are scared of her and with as much as I pay and put into them I can’t be searching 20 acres for her eggs. But I hate keeping them in the run

 

[rosemarythyme]

I haven't had this issue, but one thing you could possibly try would be nest box curtains to partially block her view of the inside of the nests, which may help curtail her policing the boxes.

 

[BrahmaBabe84]

I haven't had this issue, but one thing you could possibly try would be nest box curtains to partially block her view of the inside of the nests, which may help curtail her policing the boxes.

That’s a good idea!

 

[Mrs. K]

You might try blocking off this favored nests from everyone.

 

[BrahmaBabe84]

Good idea

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

I have an old hen Brahma 6 years old that has been pecking my young hens as they try to lay eggs in the nest boxes. I have 9 nest boxes & 21 hens. but my barred rocks love to use the nest boxes right as you walk in and my older Brahma will relentlessly peck at them and make their combs bleed. Especially if she wants that specific box. Now I keep my nest boxes pretty close to the ground because my Brahmas are old and I worry about them being able to get in them if I raise them up. Should I add more boxes or maybe try raising the nest boxes higher? No issues other than her bullying when they nest. There are always open nest boxes so I don’t know if adding more would make a difference. I’ll post a pic of the coop but I have added two more nesting units of 3 since this pic was taken. Any advice appreciated

You could try pinless peepers on the offender hen. I have had great success with this. In multiple situations, the offender(s) only had to wear them a short while and issues were resolved. Good luck!