The Poultry Keeper

annie · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 155 Location: costa del cambs

is there an anti-bullying policy code of ethics for chickens? For the last week whilst spending hours watching and learning a bully has emerged amongst our girls although she picks consistently on the smallest and the smallest definately knows her place. Tonite they are all in and on the perch but the smallest is sleeping in the nest box also when i let them out today the smallest stayed in the nest box on top of six eggs,we have two nest boxes between 6 of them but no one uses the other.Any ideas on how to make life better for the little one?

Bhindi · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:19 pm Post subject:

Hi Annie,

I think you will find we all have one hen who's at the bottom of the pecking order... As there is always a pecking order (except huge establishments that have so many chickens that they rarely bump into a familiar hen). You probably only need to worry if its getting to the point that they are inflicting injury or preventing her from eating. If it is a big issue there could be a few distractions you could create like hanging a cabbage up to peck (my minds gone blank for others)

As far as encouraging use of both your nest boxes, I find as long as I keep a clay egg in each box they will occupy them.

hope this helps

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

annie, it could be that as well as being bottom of the pecking order she has also decided to go broody ~ hence sitting on the eggs.
My little buttercup a buff columbian pekin is bottom of the pecking order I think and she has also decided to go broody .......safety in the nest box........and has been sitting for about 3 weeks now.
Sometimes if there is a lot of vicious bullying you may have to take out the bully into a run of her own for a while, in sight of the other chickens. The theory being that when she comes back she isn't top chicken any more and will therefore, possibly leave the bottom one alone being too busy sorting out her own position.
I've also seen it suggested to put more than one feeder in the run and more than one drinker, so there isn't the same friction when geting food and the runty can still manage to eat and drink

annie · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 155 Location: costa del cambs

thanx for the tips bhindi and summayah with my children my favourite was distraction when things got fractious closely followed by time out for the one causing the problem which usually worked. Ididn't think i would need the same tactics to keep the chooks in order but will try hanging some greens in run today little one still in nest box don't you jus feel so sorry for her she looks so glum and fragile compared to the others and as they won't let me pick them up yet can't even give her a cuddle.

nigel · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 8:04 am Post subject:

It does sound like you have two things happening at the same time, a little bit of bullying and a broody hen.

Unless the bullying gets physical I wouldn't worry too much. I know with my lot most of it is just posturing and confirming where in the pecking order they are. Just try to ensure they is enough space around the feeders and drinkers for all. I have two feeders and two waterers for mine, just so they can all get to eat. Distraction works well too. You could try hanging CD's for them to peck or the peck-a-blocks.

As for the broodiness, that really depends on what you want to do. If you would like to hatch your own, this is an ideal opportunity to put fertile eggs under her. If this isn't part of your plans you'd be best to try to stop the broodiness. This can be difficult. When my Bovans went broody last year she sat on an empty nest box for three weeks! The only things I can recommend is: collect the eggs as soon as possible, keep evicting the offender from the nest. If these don't work there are more drastic measures. You can place the broody in a cat cage with just the wire floor, and give her wheat and water. This usually stops the broodiness. I know this sounds very cruel. I didn't do this to my Bovans because it I thought it so inhumane. I think now though that I would consider it if faced with the same situation. The Bovans lost about 50% of her body weight sat in the nest box for three weeks, she was so scrawny that this can't have been good for her either.

annie · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 155 Location: costa del cambs

nigel Thanx for the advice but unless she loses a lot of weight i cannot for the life of me confine her to a cage with only wheat and water(although i could consider putting the big fat bully in isolation i think....)Surely at 26 weeks the hen is not old enuf to be broody? I know us women get it at any age but somehow expected they would need to be older to do the broody thing and is it me and my inexperience or please tell me how to go about picking up these chooks as they will eat from my hand and get up close and personal but any attempt to lift them and they are quick to about turn.You all seem to pick them up wiv no probs but i originate from the concrete jungle(LONDON) and never saw a chicken in the flesh with feathers and all prior to these babies.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Hi Annie,

Most animals will shy away from being picked up as it isn't natural for them, as I hatched all mine from eggs they are a little bit easier, but even so most of the time they don't want to be picked up

annie · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 155 Location: costa del cambs

george i have seen some great pics of even children holding their favourite chook on the net and was beginning to fink it was my inability in understanding but you say its ok thanx I feel so passionately about the bullying sitch I've decided to name and shame Florrie is the bully and Baby Pom the victim.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

annie, they can get broody at any time ~ I've had a number of them go broody on me and they all came into lay about a couple of months ago for the first time, so they're all youngsters. You have to decide what you want to do ~ babies or try to break her out of it. As an aside to this you might find that she will let you pick her up whilst she is broody. They cling to the nest box, but it does mean that to get them out you have to pick them up, talk to her the whole time and you might make a friend.
I always think I'm hopeless at the holding thing, but as Nigel says it's not natural for them. I've just got mine used to me by sitting with them and giving them corn or whatever else, but there are still a number who if I move will run off at break neck speed. They all have different personalities and some are more pickupable (is that a real word?) than others.

annie · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 155 Location: costa del cambs

Summayah I tried your suggestion opened the nest box all the others were out foraging thought I'd approach gently and talk to her but didn't get to picking her up as she made the most awful noise which was definately to tell me to back off tried to stroke her but she's very moody today,maybe try againin the morning are you putting eggs under your brooders?

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Annie, I have found that I wear a leather glove for some of my broodies. I stroke them on their backs, until I can get their feathers to lay back down and they settle down some. I do it every day, whether I am letting them sit or not. Eventually they catch on that they can be miffed that you are there, but they will not do you harm. Wink

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 7:57 pm Post subject:

I have one I call Attilla the Hen when she goes broody - I slip my jacket sleeve over my hand when I go near her!

NannyP · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 8:15 pm Post subject:

I have 2 broodies and despite the noise they make, which I agree is horrible, I do pick them up, I slide my hand in underneath them and lift them. They then sit for a bit til they come out of their semi hypnotic state Confused

debcat · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject:

Have found that the hybrids that go broody turn nasty while the pure breeds become a lot more docile and easier to pick up. They still make a noise though.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

annie, I have two broodies sitting on 3 'hatching' eggs each and the third would be broody is just sitting on 3 pekin eggs, just in case she stays and I want to put something under her.
Yours sounds definitely in the mood, and look at it from her point of view she gets to sit in the nest box, no hard work involved in producing eggs and stays away from the bully. In her position I think I might go for it. They all make a terrible noise when you go to them when they're broody, my 'would be' does it to all the other girls if they dare to go in her house ~ but she doesn't attack me just screams and I have lifted her. You could probably just stroke her feathers back down like Deb said.
Or you could put eggs under her and let her get on with what she wants to do.
Let us know what you decide