Bullying

[FloridaChook]

So everything was fine until about two weeks ago when the rest of my flock decided they didn't like my White Leghorn anymore, so we quarantined her. she doesn't seem sick and isn't molting, we let her back out last night and they chased her off again. any thoughts? do they see something I don't or are they just being jerks? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

How old are the birds involved?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Age is a decent question. Are they all girls?

Different things could be going on. If one is sick or injured (even if you can't see it) the rest may run them out of the flock. That is an instinct, a sick or injured bird could attract a predator to the flock.

There may have been a change in pecking order. Flock dynamics can be pretty intense.

Is it mainly one that initiates the chasing or several?

When you quarantined her I assume she was separated from the flock. Out of sight. You may need to do an integration.

 

[FloridaChook]

How old are the birds involved?

the white leghorn is muuuuch older than everyone else. the rest of the flock is less than a year and

 

[FloridaChook]

Age is a decent question. Are they all girls?

Different things could be going on. If one is sick or injured (even if you can't see it) the rest may run them out of the flock. That is an instinct, a sick or injured bird could attract a predator to the flock.

There may have been a change in pecking order. Flock dynamics can be pretty intense.

Is it mainly one that initiates the chasing or several?

When you quarantined her I assume she was separated from the flock. Out of sight. You may need to do an integration.

The Flock is no more than 8mo old and the hen being bullied I'd say is over a year old. I have 15 hens and 1 roo and once they see here, some of them, including the roo, chase her away. I took her inside cause I thought she was sick but nothing came of it, she didn't molt, was still laying eggs. so I'm not sure...she's back in the house rn

 

[Ridgerunner]

The Flock is no more than 8mo old and the hen being bullied I'd say is over a year old.

Thanks for the information. It's only a guess but I think she was flock master but when the others matured enough she was knocked down in the pecking order. It is possibly one or some of the pullets but I think it is mainly the cockerel. The ages are about right.

I had a flock with some mature hens, one of them the dominant hen. I also has a cockerel and some pullets growing up with the flock. When that cockerel matured enough he stood up to the dominant hen and defeated her. For two days he would not let her near the rest of the flock. The other hens and pullets were not involved. It was pretty vicious for a couple of days but no one was injured so I left them alone to work it out. After a couple of days they did and became best buddies. But I did watch closely. They were fighting, one of them could have been easily injured.

Not every scenario is exactly the same. Sometimes chickens get injured. Sometimes this changeover is so peaceful you don't even notice it happening. Most of the times I have a cockerel take over I don't see anything going on until one day I notice he is in charge.

Since you say some pullets are involved I think it is possible that not only is he taking over the dominant flockmaster role one or more pullets are trying to take over the dominant hen role. They are adolescents becoming adults. There are growing pains. Keep an eye on them to take action if anyone is injured, but otherwise I'd let them work it out.

Good luck!

 

[FloridaChook]

Thanks for the information. It's only a guess but I think she was flock master but when the others matured enough she was knocked down in the pecking order. It is possibly one or some of the pullets but I think it is mainly the cockerel. The ages are about right.

I had a flock with some mature hens, one of them the dominant hen. I also has a cockerel and some pullets growing up with the flock. When that cockerel matured enough he stood up to the dominant hen and defeated her. For two days he would not let her near the rest of the flock. The other hens and pullets were not involved. It was pretty vicious for a couple of days but no one was injured so I left them alone to work it out. After a couple of days they did and became best buddies. But I did watch closely. They were fighting, one of them could have been easily injured.

Not every scenario is exactly the same. Sometimes chickens get injured. Sometimes this changeover is so peaceful you don't even notice it happening. Most of the times I have a cockerel take over I don't see anything going on until one day I notice he is in charge.

Since you say some pullets are involved I think it is possible that not only is he taking over the dominant flockmaster role one or more pullets are trying to take over the dominant hen role. They are adolescents becoming adults. There are growing pains. Keep an eye on them to take action if anyone is injured, but otherwise I'd let them work it out.

Good luck!

this all makes sense now!! she was my only hen that was laying eggs for the longest time (she wandered into my yard and joined the flock) and now half of my pullets are laying eggs and my cockrels spurs are finally growing, this makes 110% sense!