Chicken Coop Blues

GormetSkinTag | 21:03 Fri 23rd Apr 2021 | Animals & Nature

59 Answers

Hello we have 5 ornamental chickens. 2 fluffy ones black and white , 2 Poland birds oth white heads and 1 black 1 brown. Also we have 1 brown miniature hen like a bantam.

We bought then all at the same time yet the brown miniature hen , KFC, started to peck the poland hens all the time they are petrified of her. Because of the shape of their head I have read this is dangerous because part of the skull is exposed. Also when roosting time they all snuggle up and there is a lot of pecking. I put the 2 poland chickens high up and it seams the 2 oversized fluff balls bully the brown bantam.

So it looks like the brown bantam gets bullied then starts bullying the other 2 poland chickens. The 2 giant fluff balls don't bother the 2 poland chickens.

Anyway today I got a long stick and water pistol and every time KFC pecked the 2 poland ones I squirted or hit her.

The 2 poland chickens are like a puppy they always come running up to me and the others aren't scared of me. But the brown bantam is now really scared of me. I cornered her today and after a lot of struggling I held her down and tried to stroke her but there was no stopping struggling.

I will spend 1 more day with the stick and water pistol to make sure the bullying of the 2 poland ones has stopped. But then how do I start beguiling a relationship with the brown bantam? I guess she will now always be scared of me?

Mouse Deer

Guini Pig And Chucks

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AuntPollyGrey

// I cornered her today and after a lot of struggling I held her down//

Do you realise how much stress that would cause a hen?

Your attitude it typical of a Vegan. Animals have to be treated like animals not humans. You have introduced one hen into an already established coop and that will always cause problems. Hens have a very clear heirachy in the flock -some will be dominant and some submissive and there is nothing you can do about it.

Three things you can do:
Let them get on with it and hope they sort themselves out
Take away the bantam and put her on her own -she will not be happy on her own.
Buy another bird, put it in a seperate place with the bantam until they get used to one another, then introduce them both together back into your flock.

Why are you buying hens as pets if you are Vegan? What will you do with their eggs?

GormetSkinTag

Question Author

Auntpolly thatis honestly exactly what the people at the shop told me to do on a regular basis. Hold her down and then carry her about a bit stroking her. No pecking today and she is a little less scared of me so fingers crossed. Typical vegan indeed. So much judgment from meat eaters its unbelievable.

woofgang

You are teaching the bantam to freeze and tolerate whatever you choose to do to her. This is not stopping her fear, its stopping her expressing it and is immensely stressful. I have no idea where you bought from but they shouldn't be selling livestock.

ladybirder

Please please take note of what Aunt Polly and Woofy are telling you and do what they say. They know what they are talking about.

johnny.5

I like prodding birds with my stick

Oh Matron

emmie

you openly say you hit her, that's animal cruelty right there, best rehome the bird.

pastafreak

// So much judgment from meat eaters its unbelievable. //
Pot. Kettle. Black.

GormetSkinTag

Question Author

The pecking started again im afraid. So water pistolling her all day. So annoying she is the only one that attacks people. I think I will build her a small prison where she is close to but not be able to attack the others. How big outdoors should this prison be? Is 2m by 2m outside ok? I will keep her here then keep trying to return her every week. Or I will buy some pine less peepers. Which is the best way forward?

woofgang

what are pine less peepers

Mamyalynne

https://www.eggcartons.com/Pinless-Peepers-p/article-1.htm

woofgang

I take that back, I googled.....you are a real piece of work aren't you?

pixie374

He's on a wind-up.

woofgang

I hope so

GormetSkinTag

Question Author

If a dog was biting you then you would hit it right? Well what exactly is the difference with a chicken? You seam to think that because its with a stick its more severe well it isn't at all. I really don't get you people. You would rather 2 innocent loving birds potentially getting pecked to death as opposed to giving a chicken a prod with a stick. These painless peepers have been made for this aggressiveness and you are saying that's also cruel. I think its you winding me up lets be honest here.

calmck

If you hit a dog because it bites you I hope it would bite you again.
Hens like to be with their own kind.
Prison is possibly where you should be

pastafreak

Now I'm hoping this is a wind-up, but I fear it isn't. I also fear that an innocent bird will soon die of fright.
I'd like to know what kind of shop sold these birds.

windywillow

Good God, I thought I knew it all when it came to animal cruelty but Pinless Peepers are a new one on me. Beggars belief! Let's hope they are a wind-up too.