Chicken behaving badly - I am so over it

[Eggcessive]

I have rehomed a few more aggressive hens when they were causing trouble in the flock. I have never used pinless peepers, although many people on BYC have used them successfully. I would use them on just a bully, since they only prevent the hen from taking aim to peck another. Otherwise they can eat and drink and live normally. A lot is up to you. Separating the bully for a week or two sometimes works, and the others can adjust their pecking order. @azygous has a good article on how to deal with bullies and how to restore confidence in an underdog. I will try to find it.

 

[azygous]

@Eggcessive mentioned pinless peepers. A situation in my own flock with an aggressive/flighty hen has me noticing things I haven't observed in nearly 20 years of keeping chickens, and pinless peepers have played a role.

I've used pinless peepers to good effect with aggressive chickens, but currently, I'm noticing that these tiny devices can actually calm a flighty and nervous hen. It's got me thinking that some of our chickens may have a disorder similar to autism in humans where they experience sensory overload. Being neuro divergent myself, I can tell you this sensory overload causes a response not unlike being physically assaulted. This response can look like aggression.

Violet is such a hen. She's nervous, flighty, is constantly pecking at the other chickens, and running away from me when I make any move in her direction. After installing the peepers on her, she has been a different chicken. Peepers remove everything from her vision except for things happening directly upward, downward and to each side with a corresponding reduction of sensory stimuli. She's been calm, relaxed, and seems so much more content. She doesn't try frantically to evade me every time she sees me. She is also leaving the other chickens alone.

I highly recommend giving the peepers a try.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Eggcessive mentioned pinless peepers. A situation in my own flock with an aggressive/flighty hen has me noticing things I haven't observed in nearly 20 years of keeping chickens, and pinless peepers have played a role.

I've used pinless peepers to good effect with aggressive chickens, but currently, I'm noticing that these tiny devices can actually calm a flighty and nervous hen. It's got me thinking that some of our chickens may have a disorder similar to autism in humans where they experience sensory overload. Being neuro divergent myself, I can tell you this sensory overload causes a response not unlike being physically assaulted. This response can look like aggression.

Violet is such a hen. She's nervous, flighty, is constantly pecking at the other chickens, and running away from me when I make any move in her direction. After installing the peepers on her, she has been a different chicken. Peepers remove everything from her vision except for things happening directly upward, downward and to each side with a corresponding reduction of sensory stimuli. She's been calm, relaxed, and seems so much more content. She doesn't try frantically to evade me every time she sees me. She is also leaving the other chickens alone.

I highly recommend giving the peepers a try.

Wow, @azygous, this is fascinating. Is there anything like this for a neurodivergent dog? My Sammy needs help!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I got your back

Here's my thread from 18 months ago when I was at my wit's end.

We re-homed the original flock with someone I met on Facebook that can free range (in 3 separate trips, no less). I just couldn't get my setup to work despite lots of effort.

Any chance your bully or feather picker is a Rhode Island Red mix? Both of my feather pickers were RIR hybrids (Golden Comets), but picked for different reasons.

We're restarting with cochin bantams, a d'uccle, and possible silkies next month. We expanded the run with more visual blocks, feeders, dig boxes, etc. We got a large coop. If all goes well, we will add a predator-safe outdoor area later this year.

If they start to bully or feather pick, I swear I will combine them all into a singular patty, grill it up with cheese, and enjoy them with a tall IPA.

All this to say I understand your pain. I love my chickens, but GAHHH!

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is the article by Azygous, and glad that she stopped by for more advice:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

 

[azygous]

After observing my chickens up close all this time, it's apparent that they and other animals share some of the same neurological issues we have. We've long understood dogs have complex feelings and perceptions. So we should be applying some of the same coping mechanisms to them as we do to humans.

One of them I incorporate in my technique to treat bullying in the article @Eggcessive just linked to. Basically, what we're doing is to reduce the size and amount of stimuli the animal must deal with. Temple Grandon did some amazing studies on cows being sent to slaughter to determine the stress they experience and how to reduce the amount of terrifying sounds and sights that get them into a terrified state, which releases stress hormones, souring the meat.

Therefore, a dog with a high strung nervous system would also benefit by reducing the size of their world, sounds, and environmental stimuli. I use a few of these myself - ear plugs and dark glasses when I need to shop at Walmart. It creates an emotional "pod" with more manageable stimuli. You would need to experiment to find what works for your sensitive animal as no two beings are the same.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you, @azygous.