How long to give chicken a chance?

[bunnochick]

Rehabbed a chicken with a severe case of scaley leg mites this winter, and she's been integrated with my two EEs for about 2 months. She has become head hen.
All has been fine until a week and a half ago when a hawk landed in my yard. She got my attention by squawking and I was able to scare off the hawk.
Since then, she squawks at the top of her lungs when I'm not outside or when the other two are in the coop laying. She clearly wants everyone together. When I put her in the coop with the other two, she attacks them while they are trying to lay eggs. She then leaves the coop and squawks at the top of her lungs until the other two are done laying, usually a few hours. Once the other two are in the run for the day, all is quiet. Prior to the hawk encounter, she was perfectly quiet while alone in the run.

I live in an urban area and have the permit for up to 6 chickens. She has just become so loud I don't know what to do. I have been keeping them in the coop for longer in the morning but during that time she just attacks the other two chickens. So even though it is quiet I feel bad that they are being attacked.

Wondering if anyone has had a similar situation. I'm not sure how long to wait this out. She laid her first egg with us this week, so I'm not sure if the squawking is also due to spring and hormones.

I'd hate to rehome but I do want her and my other girls to have the best quality of life they can. Advice appreciated.

 

[bunnochick]

She was squawking like crazy again this morning so I put her in a crate in my garage. Hoping to train that squawking = time out. Maybe that will help?

 

[FrostRanger]

Unfortunately you can't really train a chicken to be quiet. Either they are or they aren't. You can attempt to bribe your neighbors with eggs but if it is going to be an issue, you may have to rehome her

 

[bunnochick]

Unfortunately you can't really train a chicken to be quiet. Either they are or they aren't. You can attempt to bribe your neighbors with eggs but if it is going to be an issue, you may have to rehome her

She was not loud before the hawk encounter, and her previous caretaker said she was quiet as well.

My thought is that she learned that squawking = me coming outside because she quiets down when I come out and stays quiet as long as I'm outside, so maybe she will associate the attacking/squawking with being put in solitary? lol

 

[FrostRanger]

She was not loud before the hawk encounter, and her previous caretaker said she was quiet as well.

My thought is that she learned that squawking = me coming outside because she quiets down when I come out and stays quiet as long as I'm outside, so maybe she will associate the attacking/squawking with being put in solitary? lol

If you think it's a learned attention seeking behavior it's better to ignore her

 

[townchicks]

I have had better luck isolating a bully where they can see the rest of the flock and vice versa. Try putting the crate in the run. As for the squawking, was she quiet before the attack? If so, she may need more time to feel safe. It may also be related to egg laying. I too have a squawker, and I have found that if I go out and spend a few minutes talking to her, she is usually quiet after. You might find some insight in the article The egg song, it's not about the egg, it's an escort call, by Shadrach. If she is bothering you,, rehoming may be the right thing. If you're just worried about the neighbors, a little chat and a few eggs may be all you need. I would certainly tell them her sad tale, about the mites and the attack, a little sympathy can go a long way. Either way, good on you for helping her on to a better life.

 

[bunnochick]

If you think it's a learned attention seeking behavior it's better to ignore her

Thank you!

 

[bunnochick]

I have had better luck isolating a bully where they can see the rest of the flock and vice versa. Try putting the crate in the run. As for the squawking, was she quiet before the attack? If so, she may need more time to feel safe. It may also be related to egg laying. I too have a squawker, and I have found that if I go out and spend a few minutes talking to her, she is usually quiet after. You might find some insight in the article The egg song, it's not about the egg, it's an escort call, by Shadrach. If she is bothering you,, rehoming may be the right thing. If you're just worried about the neighbors, a little chat and a few eggs may be all you need. I would certainly tell them her sad tale, about the mites and the attack, a little sympathy can go a long way. Either way, good on you for helping her on to a better life.

Thanks so much for the insight. I will try out the crate in the run idea and talking with her. I was just worried about reinforcing bad habits with her squawking but realistically they can't get much worse thanks for the article too! I appreciate your help a lot!!

 

[Twilia]

She was not loud before the hawk encounter, and her previous caretaker said she was quiet as well.

My thought is that she learned that squawking = me coming outside because she quiets down when I come out and stays quiet as long as I'm outside, so maybe she will associate the attacking/squawking with being put in solitary? lol

How old is she? Sounds like she does not feel safe without you. Since you said she is the matriarch, perhaps she is attacking the lower hens when they are laying because there is lack of nest boxes? Since she is just started laying, perhaps the noise is her "egg song" and it is chance that she began the habit after the hawk scare. In some hens, they developed these habits of being aggressive &/or loud after they mature.
The advice given so far appears sound.

I suppose your idea of learned behavior is probable; please update later of her reactions to the squawk=solitary method.

-twilia ; )