Hen Suddenly Aggressive! What should I do?

[dalguiyeowang]

I adopted 5 baby chicks in early April. Three weeks ago, I moved them to the baby coop which I put inside the run such that my 3 hens could see but not touch the babies (and vice versa). My normally docile Australorp has suddenly turned into a psychotic beast. All she wants to do is to burst into the baby coop and harm the babies. My New Hampshire Red and Easter Egger don't mind the babies at all. In fact, since my Australorp has turned aggressive, neither hen wants to spend time with her--my Easter Egger in particular wants to hang out with the babies (2 Easter Eggers, 3 Cochins).

As soon as my Australorp catches wind that I am approaching, she puffs up and will lay low and growl at me. She'll stalk around the run looking like a flat, black turkey. If I pick her up and hold her, she'll begin screeching. She has now taken out her frustrations/anger issues on me and the other hens.

I know that the best solution would be to either dispatch her or to re-home her. However, dispatching is out of the question unless I give her to someone who can do it swiftly and accurately (my hens are egg layers and pets, not meat--though I have ZERO qualms about people who have meat birds).

Right now, the babies will only be let out of their coop while I let my Australorp free range. We have been trying to make slow integration by having adults equipped with brooms handy. As soon as my Australorp starts to attack, she gets stopped with a broom.

*I have video, it's just taking time to upload*

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I know that the best solution would be to either dispatch her or to re-home her.

I would give her a time out in chicken jail before anything else, a couple of days and then she will be low on the pecking order, then she will have more to worry about than the new chicks I am guessing.

Good luck

Gary

 

[dalguiyeowang]

I would give her a time out in chicken jail before anything else, a couple of days and then she will be low on the pecking order, then she will have more to worry about than the new chicks I am guessing.

Good luck

Gary

Thank you! I think we're going to try chicken jail first. I did have her in the main coop by herself while the others got along, and she tried to break through the coop window. However, I think the metal bars of the baby coop will be better.