Why are all my usually sweet chicks suddenly being the meanest birds I’ve ever met?

[Rowanh16]

I have 9 chicks/hens (got them end of April as day olds) and 3 are laying so far 2 olive ethers and one copper maran. I also have 3 3year olds 3 4 year olds and 1 9 year old. All of my birds except for one of the 3 year olds know that my 9 year old is the boss. Although she doesn’t usually peck they know she’s the favourite and I will peck for her. She’s always been a runt but with her age and eating less she’s extra tiny. She was good with the chicks she would put them in their place but would also eat with them when the other birds wouldn’t. But all the chicks knew not to peck on her. But suddenly I started hearing more of those panic clucks but I thought it was just the chicks being picked on by hens so I left it so they’d learn to stick up for themselves but I realized it’s actually my baby making those noises. It started yesterday and today when I went out to let them out the second sweetest shyest chick was chasing around my oldest bird clementine and then mounting her. I let them out late so I thought maybe they were just hungry but only a few minutes later I heard it again so I went and I caught the chick and put her between my knees and pushed her head to the ground to try and fight back for clementine. But then the chick just runs back to her once I let her go. Clementine runs off but then I noticed another one this one is laying also mounted her. And of course the chicks are faster and becoming bigger so they’re rough with her and she’s frail and tiny. How do I teach the chicks to leave her alone and why are they suddenly being like this? When our mean white hen pecks on clementine we would do the same putting her between our knees and pushing her face down until she pushes her shoulders up so they’ve known since babies not to do this. I of course don’t want to cull the chicks but I hate seeing how panicked they make clementine. I had to separate her to eat but they’ve been chasing her all day so I separated her again and she just collapsed out of exhaustion.

 

[ddmcb]

I had a BCM that was a bully when we first got chicks. I had to really monitor her and put her in a wire crate inside the coop for a few days until she quit. When I did let her out, I placed her back on the ground, feet up towards me and held her back down while other chickens walked around her. I am not sure where I read to do that; I think it works for making a rooster submit, so I tried with her and she has been a peach ever since! She doesn't bully, lets babies be for the most part, and she has learned she can't be mean to the littles or she gets time out. Are you sure the birds mounting her aren't roosters? I also found 2 of the 3 she was bullying were young roos, so maybe she was protecting her flock from them? Either way, I would separate them and not let them pick on her. Also, if she is frail and sickly, the chickens will pick on her for that also, so watch that she's well and not just tiny. Best of luck!

 

[Yardmom]

Your older hen may or may not be ill, but she is past the peek of strength. The younger birds may just be looking to assert them selves in the pecking order. There is also the possibility that her health is declining, and chickens will occasionally attack birds who are sick.

I have noticed in my flock that older hens who roosters are ignoring will suddenly have roosters showing extreme interest. Then the next thing I know the hen shows signs of illness that I can see. Not sure if it is because the sickness is reproductive issues or just chickens treat weakness/illness harshly.

 

[Rowanh16]

I had a BCM that was a bully when we first got chicks. I had to really monitor her and put her in a wire crate inside the coop for a few days until she quit. When I did let her out, I placed her back on the ground, feet up towards me and held her back down while other chickens walked around her. I am not sure where I read to do that; I think it works for making a rooster submit, so I tried with her and she has been a peach ever since! She doesn't bully, lets babies be for the most part, and she has learned she can't be mean to the littles or she gets time out. Are you sure the birds mounting her aren't roosters? I also found 2 of the 3 she was bullying were young roos, so maybe she was protecting her flock from them? Either way, I would separate them and not let them pick on her. Also, if she is frail and sickly, the chickens will pick on her for that also, so watch that she's well and not just tiny. Best of luck!

I’ll try that with the mean 3. We know two are hens for sure since they’ve laid eggs for us and we’re pretty certain the meanest is a hen she hasn’t started laying yet but her comb is very small and not bright red same with her waddles and there’s no signs of her doing this with other birds or any signs of crowing. I think they’ve started to just realize clementine is an easy target for them since she’s the only bird smaller than them now. It’s just so shocking the two chicks that are the meanest are named nervous Nellie and mouse because they’ve always just been quiet and nervous I would’ve never expected them to be bullies

 

[Mrs. K]

If I have the numbers right, you have more than doubled your flock of 7 when you added 9 chicks. And those chicks have become or are close to mature size. What was enough space when they were little might not be enough size, as they have grown. Some birds can handle a little over crowding, and some birds cannot.

The lowest, most timid birds are the most apt to attack any bird they find weaker than themselves to move up the order

No one lives in the coop. So behavior when you are there, does not transmit to behavior when you are gone. I really think the brain is pretty small, and reasoning not that great for chickens. I just am not a believer in the submissive training.

I would separate Clementine, let her live out her life in peace. Section off a space in the run, with feed, water and shade. I would not expect her to live much longer.

Or put pin less peepers on the bullies. Those are worn 24/7, and they often times help small flocks get along.

Mrs K

 

[AnniM]

Some breeds are just more aggressive by nature.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

The answer is because you have a complete change in flock dynamics happening. Hormones, not wanting to be at the bottom and being the new kids on the block are all coming into play. Its junior high chicken edition.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

second sweetest shyest chick was chasing around my oldest bird clementine and then mounting her

To climb the social ladder, your shyest, sweetest bird has to start with the bird on the bottom of the ladder and work her way up. So it makes sense (to me) that she would start by attacking to oldest, weakest bird. I could be wrong. So I would ask @Ridgerunner if he concurs.

If I am right, I think the best thing you can do is stay out of it. You're not a chicken. You trying to "help" is like Mom jumping in to the third grade playground to help her kid establish his place in the social order. You can't always be there. They'll work it out.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's an old thread but since someone asked I'll give my opinion. This happens a lot. It's more often observed with roosters since they are so obvious but it can happen with a hen too. The dominant one loses some of its spirit or strength. Or a stronger one comes along, even if the older did not lose anything. They fight for dominance and a new champion is crowned.

The deposed chicken may blend in with the rest of the flock but often they become outcasts. It's as if their spirit is broken. The others may kill them or run them out of the flock. I agree with Mrs K, the best thing you can do is to give that hen her own space. You can try putting a couple of really mild chickens in with her to keep her company but there is a risk associated with that. They may beat her up.

Hens mounting hens is not that unusual in an all-girl flock. It's a matter of dominance, the one on top is establishing dominance over the one on the bottom. I've seen it with a hen mounting a pullet that had started to lay, a cockerel mounting another cockerel. That's what drives a lot of the behavior with immature cockerels mounting immature pullets. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation or sexual confusion. It's one way to establish and show dominance. Nothing more complicated than that.

 

[ChickenChunnels]

I had a BCM that was a bully when we first got chicks. I had to really monitor her and put her in a wire crate inside the coop for a few days until she quit. When I did let her out, I placed her back on the ground, feet up towards me and held her back down while other chickens walked around her. I am not sure where I read to do that; I think it works for making a rooster submit, so I tried with her and she has been a peach ever since! She doesn't bully, lets babies be for the most part, and she has learned she can't be mean to the littles or she gets time out. Are you sure the birds mounting her aren't roosters? I also found 2 of the 3 she was bullying were young roos, so maybe she was protecting her flock from them? Either way, I would separate them and not let them pick on her. Also, if she is frail and sickly, the chickens will pick on her for that also, so watch that she's well and not just tiny. Best of luck!

So you put the chicken in the coop... 24 hours a day for a few days? Was the crate like a dog kennel type? And how big? Room for food and water i assume. Did you have a small perch in it? I'm prepping for the inevitable LOL. I wasent sure if a bully should be kept in site of the flock or not. I'm a newbie..