When my hen 6 pack established their order, one was extremely aggressive. It got so bad, she pecked another one to the point of bleeding. I removed the injured bird first for two weeks to allow her to heal, but then I removed the aggressor and "The Infirmary" became "The Penitentiary" for two weeks. It worked. The killer chicken is now a few pegs down in the pecking order, much more social with myself and the others, and the whole flock is relaxed and happy as a result.

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Good for you! I’m so glad you did that. I hope everyone healed and learned a valuable lesson. 🤪✌🏼❤️🐓

@plantwhisperer9453

2 жыл бұрын

I want that result!

@inaslump

2 жыл бұрын

I'm gonna try this...I have a bully that needs a time out..lol

@pennyheisler7500

Жыл бұрын

I had to do the same. We put her in a large dog crate in the covered run. I gave her extra treats and made sure she was eating well. She was also in molt so she was pretty pitiful. After 2 weeks she laid her first egg! We called it protective custody and now her name is purgatory.

Thank you for this information. I just got home from vacation and my runt was attacked by the whole flock. Her neck is a bloody mess. Treated her and separated her. Trying to heal her. Because I wasn’t home, I’m not sure who started it. But I will be watching all of them closely. My heart hurts for her. 😢

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Oh no! Poor little thing. I’m so sorry you came home to that but I’m glad you caught her in time. I’d keep her separated for a good few weeks so she can heal and feathers can grow back. Keep the wound clean but if she’s quarantined she’ll get a break from the stress too. If you do have a bully problem, the bully will start looking for “who’s next to beat up” so you’re right, keep an eye out. And I’m here to help. ❤️🤞🏼

kind of a heartbreaking topic... you obviously want your birbs to do well... to people who give the "stick advice": have you been in school? have you ever seen bullying be resolved by teacher intervention? regardless off whether chickens have a pecking order in the wild, avoiding conflict ist always a good thing, so thanks for the insight! i dont know how having multiple roosting or foraging spots, semi-seperated coops would help, but there is no shame in relocating an overly dominant or victimized girl to a different flock. keep on caring!

Thank you darlin. Very helpful. Grateful to have found you

I think I have this problem starting right now. Thank you!

Your videos are the best and you reply to emails so quick thank you so much !

@realsimplemama

11 ай бұрын

You are so welcome! I’m here for you. ✌🏻❤️🐓

Thank you I am going to try it tomorrow ❤ God will bless you for what you doing

Thank you for explaining. I never knew why chickens do this. We've had chickens for decades, but now the city grew and nobody has chickens anymore... I'm gonna have to move and get some chickens again.

@realsimplemama

3 ай бұрын

Oh I hope that you can get some again! City laws have changed quite a bit in the last five years or so. Good luck to you! ✌🏻❤️🐓

Great advice! Thank you! I am currently having an issue...

As far as im concerned, Bully chickens go in the pot. I had a chicken that was pecking the crap out of any smaller chicken. She wounded four of them, one seriously and killed another. Eventually, i figured that the only way to keep the flock was to get rid of her. She went into the pot.

Great info 👍 thank you so much

Yup having to deal with some mild drama right now, I have a flock of six 10 week old chicks and I introduced two 16 week pullets. So far not too bad, I put a divider in their run with a hole big enough for the little ones to get away from the two older pullets if need be. Seems to be working out pretty good. They all sleep together pretty well though in the coop. They are all orpingtons so pretty mellow though to begin with.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes - but hey sounds like you have a great setup! They’ll figure it out usually without our intervention ❤️

Our girls get along, for the most part. It's hard to tell exactly who the leaders are for sure since we only have two breeds that are adults. They look so similar. The new flock is working on establishing the pecking order. They're all going nose-to-nose this week and doing some quick pecks. We'll bring the two groups together around Labor Day and all heck is going to break loose for that weekend! Holly and I are getting ready to referee!

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes take video! 😃 or place bets! Lol it can be a whooole experience. And honestly bringing together two groups (as opposed to adding one or two to a flock) is really smart, though it’s more work, since the two sides are more fairly matched.

i have the same issue.. and its with a sapphire gem too!! i'm in the process of integrating my older hens (3 years old) with my younger ones (hatched in March) and the one sapphire gem is a bully to all of them to the point they were screaming running away from her.. she was plucking their feathers she pecked so hard.. glad i found your video... i will be seperating her for a few days

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Oh my gosh I hope it helps. I’m so sorry I know that’s stressful for the flock (and for you!). I’m here to help if you need anything. ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

@carolynblack9897

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama thank you so much.. i appreciate that.. i'll keep u posted ;)

I have 2 new young chickens in my chicken flock with a rooster since Monday. 2 adult hens and a young rooster. My 2 new young chickens have at the moment a very difficult time. I've been looking up a lot of information about the best way to introduce them, to keep an eye on them as much as possible (but I need to work also) I feel sad for my 2 new young chickens but I've read that it can be like this for 2 a 3 weeks, so I need to be patient I guess.

@realsimplemama

Ай бұрын

Hi! You can certainly be patient and those odds are pretty good. But there’s a certain kind of normal pecking order and it can go too far. So keep an eye on them the best you can and make sure no one ends up bloody. I can try to help more too. ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

@ARMYforLIFE_BillyBabefan

Ай бұрын

@@realsimplemama we are 2 weeks further and everything seems to be going alright. I'm very happy everything worked out fine 🙂

I’m quarantining my chicken now. This video has been helpful!

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Let me know if I can help! theMama@realsimplemama.com

@plantwhisperer9453

2 жыл бұрын

My chicken that had been bullied died last night. I’ve never experienced this at this level before. We are going to enlarge the chicken coop and I’ve separated the bully chicken from the others. I’m going to keep her separate for five days and see what happens. She had already started on another chicken as soon as I removed the injured chicken. And by the way, I had a flopsy in my first batch of chickens.

@plantwhisperer9453

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you I will let you know how it turns out

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

I am so sorry. That’s so terrible and I know you were trying to help. Poor little thing. I agree, lock up the jerk. If it doesn’t get better I’d seriously consider rehoming - I had a bully who went from my little flock to a big flock with roosters and that fixed her up.

@plantwhisperer9453

2 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama One of my black chickens who kinda tried to protect the deceased chicken sometimes, searched for the both chickens yesterday, the whole time they were running free. She did not act like herself at all. The other chickens seemed more happy and relaxed when I removed the bully from the situation yesterday and no one could see her at all. They could only hear the bully chicken. However, today I made a mistake, I put the Bully’s cage in coop and the black chicken who had been looking for missing chicken( sounds crazy huh) got her comb through cage so bad she’s now bloody and her comb is tore up. All on one move that black one got her comb like that, and I had to remove bully chicken’s cage from the coop. Gosh I never meant for anything to happen to her. Someone has offered to take the bully chicken. They have a separate coop she can live in until she heals. This has been horrible to go through.

They even wake the other chickens up so they are tired and less able to I imagine do just about everything. Wild world.

I’ve got 8 hens, 6 black australorps and two new hampshire reds. When they were about 12 weeks old I was given a small 8 week old rooster. He is sweet but not aggressive at all. He was not welcomed by the hens at all. I had to put him the brooder inside the run. I keep trying to put him with the hens but they won’t accept him. He would stay up in the coup day and night. At night he would hide up in the rafters while the hens slept on their roost. Then it was time for the hens to start laying eggs and I didn’t want him in the coup while they were needing to use the nesting boxes. I put him in a dog cage and placed it up above the run next to the coup. I keep trying to put him down in the run but they still chase him and peck at him and he runs away and hides under the ladder. He gets so scared he shakes. I leave the door open on his cage and he has jumped down but flees up the the outer edge of the cage. I can’t get him to join the rest of them because he is too scared. I’m leaving the door open still but he still won’t come out. He sticks his head out but stays in the cage. I don’t know what to do. It’s been a few months now.

@realsimplemama

10 ай бұрын

Oh no. This sounds sad but I’d either rehome him, or get a few other chickens (hens are fine) to add in with him. Right now the odds are against him, 16 to 1. If he’s in the crate you can toss treats right at the edge of the crate so he’s venturing out and others are coming closer. You can email me too and I’ll try to help more. ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

You have a very beautiful area for your “girls” hang out! 👍✌️

Quarantine? Thank you

I currently have a bully in my flock. She is my first hen, backyard mix, who I got from my mom. She is now 1 1/2 years old. Then I added chicks which are now laying hens, eight 7 month old Easter Eggers, recently added four more chicks who are now 2 months old, one RIR pullet, one red sex link pullet, and two frizzled bantam Cochin cockerels. The bully stopped laying about two months ago, her comb and wattle paled and she started to incessantly mount my 7 month old girls pulling their head/neck feathers. To the little ones, she chases them around trying to peck them. I’ve tried “pecking” her head with my fingers and a stick, tried getting on top of her and pressing her head down in the dirt. I have her isolated in a baby chicken coop where the others can see her for about 3 weeks now but the moment I let her out she immediately runs around looking for her next victim, then the next and next. She never draws blood or causes any injuries but I want to nip this behavior in the bud before it can get to that. I don’t know what to try and I don’t want to get rid of her, I’m attached to her. If anyone has any advice please let me know. I’m at my wits end!

@vfabila21

27 күн бұрын

She started laying again 3 days ago.

@realsimplemama

27 күн бұрын

Hey there, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this! When you have her locked up, you do it without breaks right? So she stays in there all day and all night? I’d also consider doing some things like changing up the chicken run, adding new piles of leaves or moving around the furniture; getting treat blocks or something else that would take them a while; and when you do add her back in, do it at night when everyone is already up in bed. I’m here if you’d like to talk more! ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

@vfabila21

27 күн бұрын

Yes, she's in there day and night. Every few days I'll try letting her out but then I have to put her back in. I give her scratch grains to scratch around in her coop and mealworms for treats. She has access to free feed when she wants. This makes me so sad! I hate my flock being terrorized especially because the rest of the flock are so docile.

@vfabila21

27 күн бұрын

Thank you so much! Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Great vid.... New subscriber. Ndo u hv info on the plants ?

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Hi! I have two plant playlists - one is just for plants, and one is for Chickens in Your Garden. Check it out and comment back if you need something specific! 👍🏼

Hi, we have one of four hens starting to be a bully. Appreciate the idea of separating the bully. Do we need to protect the injured one from the other two hens?

@realsimplemama

7 ай бұрын

Hi! Without getting too complicated, I would not do it initially, because I think it ends up, hurting the victim, even more, if you baby them and pull them away. However, if they have any kind of bloody or open wound, you need to do it just so that they can heal. Chickens will actually attack raw flesh or a bloody injury even more, almost like a bull seeing red. I’m happy to help you more if you’d like to email me. ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

My hen is a total bully she has always been at the top of the order. She even attacks my young roo. I've added new hens to my flock...when will she accept them, if ever?

What is the spare tire for? I have a extra one. do chickens like playing or hiding in them?

@realsimplemama

20 күн бұрын

Hi! I use it as a makeshift dust bath. It holds in the material I put in there (wood ash, diatomaceous earth, sand, etc.) and allows water like rain to go through. ✌🏻❤️🐓 I have videos here about dust baths too!

I had 3 birds a. Bought 4 more . Well they all went at it,2 stayed up on coop an 1 wouldn't come down to eat so I got feed up . So I put the 3 attacking everyone in the enclosed run for like 15min . So when I let them out I put another feeder in there an they stopped all the fighting. But funny thing is they all came from the same chicken farm 🤔

I have a bully and i will follow your advice on isolating her . Thank you 🙏🏼

I have one that all the others bully. I have 5 chickens I purchased them at different times so I had 2 coops, 3 girls in one and 2 in the other. One day I went out to check on them and from the group of 3 one of them had been beaten up and had a broken beak. I took her out and nursed her back to health inside my house. Once she was all healed I tried to put her back in they attacked her again. So I tried putting her with the other girls in the other coop and same thing. I tried putting her with one girl at a time but one by one, they each did the same thing. So I have her in a coop by herself and the others are all together. It’s been this way for months. I’ve tried again recently and for the first time she tried to defend herself but gave up immediately. I’m working on building them a big run and making them a chicken garden and I’m hoping there’s a solution to the bullying so that they can all enjoy it. Do you have any suggestions?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hey! Yes I think so. Email me and let’s figure this out together. ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

I have 3 silkies and just introduced 4 polish to them but the polish keep chasing one of my silkie hens away from the food would this be considered bullying?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

That’s honestly up to you. You could make more than one food station and see how it goes - usually bullying would involve physical injury, but we also have to think about everyone’s quality of life. ✌🏻❤️🐓

Thank you for this video. I have a bossy barred rock who is in the middle of the pecking order but chases away those under her. Sometimes she goes up to them just to chase them away. I recently reintroduced my broody mama who was formerly the top hen with her 8 baby 3 week old chicks to the chicken run. She was in full view of my other chickens before that. The barred rock tried to peck the babies twice and my broody didn’t stop her. She did pull out feathers from my sweeter hens though if they came near her babies. I want to know if this barred rock is worth getting rid of. She lays lots of nice eggs but I’m starting to feel like it’s not worth it.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. My sapphire gem who’s the gray jerk in the video does the same thing - one of my best layers but she’s a b!tch and I’ve about had it. I am surprised that the broody didn’t intervene - maybe she’s just worn out or hoping her babies will learn to defend themselves. If it was me I’d quarantine the barred rock for a week to knock her down in the order as well as let the chicks grow up a little. Everyone will get a little break (and you’ll still get eggs, ha!). But if she continues after a week of lockup then yeah I’d rather lose a good later than she kill one of the babies or add high stress to the whole flock.

@cherokeepurple4480

3 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Thank you for the reply. I was actually about to put up an ad for her on Craigslist until I watched your video.😃 Mama is a dedicated broody and caretaker so I can understand if she’s worn out from those 8 babies. I have the cage ready that was supposed to be for mama and babies but I’ll try it out on bossy pants I guess. I’d give her up more easily if I didn’t go down in a couple of months from 5 hens laying to only 2 hens laying. One of her abuse victims died, the other went broody and one just decided to quit...spring molt maybe? But bossy pants will have to be rehomed if she continues to be a bully. Thanks again for the advice.😀

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Hey you’re so welcome! Of course if YOU feel like the quarantine would be too much work (separate food and water, etc.) then by all means kick her ass out! But if you try it - and remember it has to be at least 5 days of quarantine - then you might be able to fix the situation. I hope it works out for everyone! And I’m happy to help you so keep me posted! theMama@realsimplemama.com

@cherokeepurple4480

3 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Well, I did the quarantine for a couple of hours and she made a big mess knocking over the food and water and then I realized I don’t even want to bother with this for a week with a bird whose personality may or may not change though I’m leaning toward unlikely. She used to peck me and my kids too so there’s some bad blood between us and I think it’s best if we parted ways. I just hope someone adopts her.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Oh I hope so too. And I’m glad you’re being honest with yourself. I have a bad habit of catering to eeeeveryone else and ignoring what’s best for ME. Call your city/local animal shelters too and see what options you have, maybe they can take her.

Help! I've got a flock of 6 birds and 4 of them were raised together but the smaller of the 4 hens got sick and had ben removed from the flock for about 2 months, Thankfully Nugget is better now and wants to go back with her sisters whom she gets along with pretty well, but, the 2 big older hens (not of her sisters) bully Nugget and my question is 2 fold. Do I separate both older hens or take the main instigator out? ** There's space in my run for 1 cage, then I have a smaller coop/run far away from the flock for when a girl gets sick. What's my best option for 2 bullies? Tahnk you so much for all your videos, they're wicked helpful :)

@realsimplemama

8 ай бұрын

Hi! You can try the worst bully in the cage within the run. Do that for three days and nights and see how it goes. Id also recommend adding in extra feeders or doing extra treats and things to keep everyone distracted. Good luck! ✌🏻❤️🐓

@infinitelyblessed359

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for that! I'm also making roost bars for the run as well so we'll see how it goes :) Thank you Thank you Thank you!!@@realsimplemama

Hello. I have a question. I've brought 2 new hens home. They are actually all from the same flock at my friend's house, but they came at 1 month intervals, 2 at a time over 2 months. These 2 have been quarantined for 8 days now. On day 7, I let them out to roam with the others and say hello. One of the new ones got out and went straight after my top hen, like she had a vendetta! I got them apart and back into the crate. Now what?! Ugh.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hmm I’m not sure. Remember that a little bit of pecking order is normal, they need to do that to establish themselves. But I personally wouldn’t do little visits as it might be more stressful for them. I’d let the new girls out at bedtime when everyone is going up to roost. Email me if I can help more! ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

What to use to get rid of spiders 🕷 in the coop.

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! I’m so sorry I didn’t reply. Somehow I missed this. Spiders are not a problem foe your chickens and actually eat a lot of the jerks who are more annoying in my opinion like flies and mosquitos. BUT spiders hate peppermint so either a spray with peppermint oil, or some fresh peppermint sprigs in the coop, will help a lot!

In our city, it is against ordinance to have a coop or enclosure for livestock of any kind. We started feeding a pullet who came into our yard, weeks ago. But, now, a rooster has found her, and she is now his. She sometimes seems afraid of him. He won't allow her to eat out of the bowls I serve her. I give two bowls so they each have one, but he pushes her out of her bowl, and tries to eat both. I have to hold the bowl for her to eat out of, and since he doesn't eat out of my hand, that works. However, she seems so nervous that she won't finish her pellets, like she used to do when he wasn't around. It seems she was happier when he wasn't there. She is still young. They are both feral chickens. I can't offer another hen to their twosome flock. I hope they do ok. I don't have much control to keep him away. At night, he goes back to his old neighborhood to roost in his tree, and she goes off down another way to roost in her tree. They're both back at dawn. It starts up again. I guess I have to just let go and let God.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Oh no I’m sorry to hear that. I’m proud of you for all you do and I know it hurts your heart to see her in that situation. Can you do 2-3 feed bowls but have them far apart? He’s not being a good rooster to her, he’s supposed to let her eat first. You could also call city animal control to catch him but that would probably not end well for him either. I’m sorry and I hope things get better. ✌🏼❤️🐓

@FlourishingLove

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Thank you. I considered having him trapped, but then they may trap her, too. They both stay in our yard from sunrise to sunset. A woman neighbor says the rooster is "her rooster" told me that she is upset that he now leaves in the morning and she didn't know where he was. She didn't know he had a girlfriend. I watch him go to his tree at night and he first visits the woman before going up into his tree to roost. He jumps to fence to go see her. I'm thinking that would break that woman's heart if he was taken away. As for the eating situation, yes, he will peck at the pullet and get between her and the bowl. Sometimes, she will go over to his bowl and push him out, though, too, while he is eating. Then, he will switch bowls to where she had been first. But he is a bit more bullyish when he does it. She isn't even old enough to lay eggs, so I am thinking she is not ready for mating, yet. She seems happy when he leaves to go to his tree at night. She spends a little time foraging in the next door neighbor's yard before going to her favorite tree, three houses down from ours. I so wish we were able to have a coop for her. I've gotten her to jump up in my lap for treats, so it is helpful for getting some food into her. Since he showed up, though, she is more hesitant to come over to me when I show her the treat bowl. She used to literally run to me when I called her name. Now, she looks at me like, "I can't right now, sorry." If I keep coaxing, she will come, but with some caution, like she is looking for permission from him. I'm not sure what to do. He doesn't seem to have any other hens. He sticks very, very close to her as she walks. I'm not sure she likes it. Or, maybe I just don't understand pecking order?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

I’m sorry, that is hard. And you’re sure you can’t have a coop for her? What about a little setup like a cat, with a small “tower” she could roost on? I hope as she gets older she will be bolder and put him in his place if he goes too far. But it’s also harder when he only has one hen to look after. ✌🏼❤️🐓

Another great video! I'm one year into chicken keeping. I'm now dealing with one hen that is pecking feathers off her fellow flockmates. I've caught her in the act many times. She doesn't seem to do it aggressively or to be mean, it looks more like "yum a snack'. They have a great quality feed with enough protein, plenty of run/coop space, no stressors that I'm aware of. I tried pinless peepers, but couldn't get them on right, or to even stay on her. I also tried that no peck lotion, doesn't work :( I'm ready to separate her. I've got a mini run/coop directly across from her main coop. She will still be able to see everyone. Do you think that would work? Should I let her out with the others during free range time? Or leave her in there completely? I did try it once, and caved like a big wuss the first night I tried it and let her out to go up and roost with her friends. I've got to do something because her pecking continues and I fear it will lead to stress for the other hens, and other problems. Any advice you have is much appreciated.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Hey! Ugh I’m so sorry. We love all our birds and don’t want to separate one, but youre right in that you have to look after the health and well-being of everyone. So - you should isolate her for sure. At least 4 days. And then let her back in at night. She’ll be safe and have all she needs. I also might look up “feather eater” to see if we are forgetting about any nutrient or supplement. That way you can really get up close and see what’s up with her! And if it was just behavioral, then that should be enough time to kick her of the habit (and give everyone else a break). Sound good? I’m here to help! theMama@realsimplemama.com

@yoliebean

3 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama thank you! I’m going to start tomorrow with isolation. Gotta be strong 😭 Wish me luck!

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

She’s safe and it’ll be worth it! If you do it right it’ll be the last time you ever have to worry about any of this mess. You can do it and so can she!

@FlourishingLove

Жыл бұрын

How did your situation with her work out? Thank you.

What do you recommend if it’s a new rooster that’s bullying one of the hens and the rest of the flock follow him and attack her as well? We had to separate her from them so she could heal but after a week we put her back in and the rooster and hens jumped on her again☹️ husband is wanting to maybe get rid of the rooster? But I want to try to find a solution. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, Thank you.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hmmm - I say lock up the rooster for a week. We always mean well when we want to isolate the bird who is injured so that they can heal, but I feel it when it comes to bullying that it exacerbates the problem. Almost like it makes them weaker within the flock and everybody else stronger. does that make sense? I’d isolate the rooster and let the hen back in, making sure she’s fully healed (no bloody/raw flesh). I think the situation might be salvageable! Email me and let’s talk more. ✌🏼❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

@richmondsplace

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Thank you for the advice😊 I started leaving him in and letting the girls out. I hope it works. I Have noticed already that they are not picking on Snow White (The battered chicken) when the rooster is locked up. Plus Snow White is not afraid to be around the other hens right now. So I’m glad to see her hanging with the other girls again. Thank you 🙏

I have 4hens 1.5yrs and 2 hens 5mnths and tried to introduce separate runs next to each other for several weeks now tried to introduce free range and all 4 jumped on one several times what should i do? As soon as they see them out of the run they go for them

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hey I’m sorry to hear this. A bit of pecking order is normal but in that case I would make sure you have plenty of food and water out, enough total space for the two additional birds, and consider throwing some treats out or giving another distraction. I also would put them together at bedtime when they’re already roosting. Literally grab the new girls and put them on the roost bars when the other four are asleep. ✌🏻❤️🐓

I have about 9 of my 16 Rhode Island Red hens which are missing feathers, after I separated them from the others, it worked for a time then got worse. I don't think my hens are old enough to molt, they are about 12 months old. Eggs production has not slowed, no signs of sickness, impacted crops or eggs bound. We don't have roosters. This has been going on for at least 3 months. I have placed a band on one hen because she is a bully and think here are more bullies. I never hear hens scream, however I will listen more and sit with them.

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

I’m so sorry. It’s terrible and we want to do what’s best for our flock. I’d start with the three who aren’t missing feathers. When you quarantine the bullies you must do it for at least five days, let them get bumped down on the pecking order (and give the victims a break). You can also add multiple treat stations, multiple food/water stations, or another hideout spot. Let me know if I can help you more - theMama@realsimplemama.com

I have a poor chicken that's deff been bullied and she has exposed butt and others think it's vent gleet. So she's isolated. Have idea how long it'll take her to heal because she's isolated and being cleaned. She looks like her skins growing back. But I'm worried about introducing her back to the flock without feathers regrowing yet

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

I understand. In my opinion, don’t rush it. Let her heal and get strong again, and then put her back on a roost bar at night. They’ll all wake up together the next morning and it’ll be a lot gentler transition. ✌🏻❤️🐓

@akimacase

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Yeah, first time hen mama. About 3months

I am presently built a new coop and added some old layers with new layers. Its been a month and ever night i have to go in and place them to sleep cuz the queens wont allow the to perch. Its so frustrating cuz the new girls suppose to begin laying and out of 4 only 2 are and its very tiny. I believe they are stressed but its 7 of them in a coop with enough space. To keep them alive i hv to let them out in the yard every day and hope no one swipes them😢😢. Any advice

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hey I’m sorry I know that’s frustrating. Feel free to email me but my guess is you didn’t integrate the new girls slowly so they didn’t get accepted into the flock. If you have just one bully you can quarantine her or we can try to discuss something else. I have videos here too about those terms eg quarantine, integrate, etc. ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

I’ve got a chicken at the bottom of the pecking order who is much smaller and hardly comes out of the coop. We have gotten rid of the roosters but that hasn’t stopped the bullying. I have been closing her in the coop in the morning with her own food and water for 10 minutes in the morning (just long enough for her to get food) and then opening the coop back up. Is there any way to “raise her rank” in the hierarchy? When she gets big enough will she learn to defend herself? We have 30 layers. Thanks.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi! That really depends on how many bullies you have. Can you tell if it’s just 1-2? Or is it a lot? The best thing would be to lock up the bullies for a week or so, and let her get her confidence back since she’d know she’s safe. But you’re welcome to email me and I can help further too. ✌🏼❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

Hello, I’m raising 4 cornish cross hens for FFA and i just got them today, they are chicks, maybe 2 to 3 days old, i have a easter egger who is about a week old and a rhode island red who is a little over two weeks old. I currently have them sharing a brooder because i don’t want my rhode island red to be lonely but i had to separate her from the others because she’s very mean to all of them, she pecks them, kicks them and chases them around the brooder. Do you have any advice?

@realsimplemama

Ай бұрын

Hey- I’m sorry this happened. You may have to put a divider in the brooder since they are so different in size. ✌🏻❤️🐓

I have twochickens right now. A hen and a rooster. The hen is chasing away our 15 week olds when they are near a feeder. I have put extra feeders for them to eat but she’ll still do it sometime. Not sure what to do. The younger ones tend to hide in the coop.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

It’s up to you but it might be a good idea to quarantine her for a week. I have videos on how to do so. It’ll give the younger ones a chance to roam around and get more confident and the bully will lose her status. ✌🏼❤️🐓

@boltPoke

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama ok thanks. My rooster walks around them sometimes and they seem a little scared but he doesn’t chase them.

I know it might be a long shot but… Do you know how to tell if it’s a male or female at about 4 to 5ish weeks old. He or she is being rather aggressive towards the others (picking fights). Think I need to rehome the little guy. 😢 Ashamed it’s the friendliest one in the bunch.

@realsimplemama

16 күн бұрын

Aw man! It does depend on the breed but you’d probably be looking at the secondary flight feathers. If they have one shape it’s female, and another it’s male. I would Google how to sex a chick for whatever breed you have and you should get an image that’s easy to tell. ✌🏻❤️🐓

Hi i just started keeping chickens i have two roosters one young and one older rooster (4 hens ) my problem is the whole flock (hens and older rooster including) is not allowing the young rooster to eat at all so i sit with them and feed him a lit bit on the side and then give all of them a little bit out the same food container (but they have already eaten out there own container and its not finished) but the rooster still try and run after the young rooster but no blood or missing feathers so far and non of them scream. I see he is starting to eat with the older hens a lit bit but he gets scared and very skittish so the slitest movement or other chickens coming towards him and he gets a fright and jump away run a bit but come back to me too eat the senior rooster still run after him or aiming to run towards the junior rooster but i just put my foot out towards the senior Rooster and he backs off a bit am i doing the right thing or what advice do you have regarding this problem ?(all of them australorps)

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi there - in my opinion you should only have one rooster with four hens. The two will always be fighting for the females. I recommend only one rooster for up to six hens. So the easiest thing would be to sell one or get more hens!

What do you do if you have two equal bullies? My chicken is in the vets needing £350 treatment because my girls who used to be at the bottom of the pecking order are now bullies

@realsimplemama

11 ай бұрын

Oh no! How many chickens total do you have? I say lock them both up, together. But I’m here if you’d like to chat more. ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

I have 4 pullets, and I can clearly see their order of who is top bird and who is at the bottom. The bottom bird, a Cinnamon queen, that particularly is so scared from the Number one pullet who is a barred rock. I havent seen any bad fights to where she screams but she constantly hides in the same spot every day between the garage and the coop. I sometimes even think that she isnt allowed to go near the water or roam around. I feel really bad for her, I dont want her being so fearful that she wont do normal chicken things. Id like to somehow knock the top bird down a few notches so they can all live normally together. Do you recommend quarantining the bully?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Yep! I would do it. For me, if the bottom birds’ quality of life is being affected (eg can’t eat or drink or roam around at all), I need to do something - my job as Chicken Tender is to care for all my flock. So I’d lock up the bully for a week or so. Your cinnamon queen will start to relax and come out more, and then the bully is reintegrated she will probably be 2-3 in the order.

@Shelzbells

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Great!!! Thank you so much. Im going to do that because this girl is not having fun at all hiding constantly. I dearly love all of my chickens and I just want them to be happy and coexist in a more comfortable manner.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Yes you’re exactly right. The quality of that one girl should be preserved and the bully won’t be in danger or anything. She will just be disgruntled. 😆 but that’s ok! We are their providers and their protectors. ✌🏼❤️🐓

@Shelzbells

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Ok so will this scenario work as for separating the bully from the others. I have a small coop, but the chickens are let out into a larger area to roam all day. Can I lock the bully in the small coop which has a small run in it, during the day all by herself, and then at night I allow the other hens to go in and roost first. Once they are roosted I then let the bully into roost with them? Or are you saying the bully chicken needs to be in its own "dog kennel" pen day and night by itself?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

I haven’t tried it that way. Honestly when I lock mine up (and I’ve had two different hens over the years who needed this “therapy”), I did it 24/7 for at least 3-4 days. That means no breaks, no roosting with everyone else. That’s ideal. But if you have to use the little coop and run, try that. ✌🏼❤️🐓

Do have flies. How do handle that.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Keep everything as clean as possible, no standing water, hang vanilla car fresheners around, lots of aromatic herbs like mint and lemongrass and lavender.

My hen moved to a flock a month ago. She is a mix of Maran + more and the gang is dwarf kochin (spelling). So she is much bigger than them but significantly younger (born in April 2022). The hen in the gang that was lowest in rank is very stupid to her. Chasing her and being really mean. So much so that mine is afraid of her. Can the mean hen stop if you isolate her like this?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Yes! In my experience it works almost every time (and in my opinion, if you try it and it doesn’t work, then I would rehome the bully or trade her with somebody). I’d lock her up for at least five days, don’t let her out at night or anything. The Maran mix will get to relax and heal, and the bully should get the point. Feel free to email me too and I’m happy to help. ✌🏼❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

@Dubbelmums

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama . thank you for the answer and advice. Will talk to the one who has "my hen" and show her your video and answer. My heart cries every time she tells me that the sour hen chased my hen. We both want the whole herd to live in harmony and be happy.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Yea i understand, same here ❤️ we care about all of our flock! You could also consider putting in some diversions to keep the chickens busy, different treats throughout the day, things like that to help distract them as well. ✌🏼❤️🐓 Here for you!

I’m building a flock I’m starting with six different chickens this month I’ve hatched about 30 all of a sudden out of every clutch there’s one bird that picks the eyes out or the other one what the heck

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Oh no! Make sure there is plenty of food and water, and that everyone has enough space. ✌🏼❤️🐓

I have one hen that goes after one of my other hens. She's is not bleeding and she runs away is this normal?

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

It’s normal-ish. Sometimes two individuals just don’t get along. I’d look to see if there’s a way to distract the bully, or quarantine her temporarily. You could also rehome one (though I know that can be difficult) or add more birds! theMama@realsimplemama.com I’m here to help ✌🏼❤️🐓

My chicks are only one month old and one of the chicks has a bloody rump caused by the other chicks. What do I do?

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Oh I’m sorry. Chicks and chickens will attack red/bloody flesh so separate the injured chick. Clean the wound with soap and water and keep them warm.

Good video..I also have a hen who is bullied by 1 of my roosters..He sneaks up on her while she is eating or drinking..My chicks are only 13 weeks old..I got unlucky & got 2 roosters out of 6...I'm close to getting rid of him..Do you think he will stop bullying her?He doesn't do it with any of the others,just her..Maybe I'll try the qaurenteen him..

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

You can certainly try quarantining him but if it’s started this young, he probably has a fixation and it would be best to rehome him. ✌🏼❤️🐓

@inaslump

2 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama which is strange cause they are Brahmas,which are supposedly lovers & not fighters..I didn't want any roosters as they are not allowed in the state .people have them until someone calls on you..then they just set them free & become fox food..which is mean..I'd rather eat him...

I have a few that have bald spots. I thought it was the rooster doing it to them. I also have another rooster, lil guy. He's being beaten up by everyone. I wish I knew what to do. I don't see any bullying going on, except with him.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

I would say that if you have a flock smaller than about 15, two roosters is probably too many. So the guys will be battling it out and the hens might join in too. In this case I’d say to just be out and observe what’s going on with everyone. ✌🏻❤️🐓

@sv2943

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama thank you! Yeah, it seems we may have overdone done it with the roosters, I think you're right. Both seemed so close when we got them. So, we found a good home for one of them. I'm still trying to figure out what's happening to 6 out of 8, they're all looking beat up. Could it be the rooster?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi! It’s possible that it’s just the rooster, yes. It’s also possible that it started with the rooster, but as the hens got bald, and they could see reddish skin on each other, the hens now join in to continue what the rooster started. Chickens will “see red” and make a bad situation worse by picking more at red or bloody flesh. And maybe the rooster was stressed due to the other and was being rougher than he should have been. Email me if I can help more! ✌🏻❤️🐓 theMama@realsimplemama.com

@sv2943

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama I sure appreciate you! We took the beat up guy to a new home this morning, he is the first one there, so I'm hoping he will get established and beautiful again, before he gets his own flock. Now, I wait and see how everyone else does.

See I'm not having problems with my little barred rocks being bullies, they just straight up pull feathers out my other hens back end and all the other hens just take it and I'm not sure why. I feed them, give them water and plenty of garden treats and scraps but yet they will still pull feathers out while the others are laying down

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Do you have a way to change things up or give them more space? My guess is that it’s not a nutritional deficiency but behavioral - either they’re too cramped or they could have their environment changed. Even something easy like bags of leaves, new plants, new furniture or rearranging the run. ✌🏻❤️🐓

@FeedingMyFloridaSoul

Жыл бұрын

@real simple mama you know, compared to most chicken coops I've seen around my area, I'd think my chickens have it made pretty good in the big area I have them in. I'll try and get something set up in there that's fun for them and see if that changes. I know I had seen that barred rocks are like one the most gental breeds but when I started watching videos I've heard it come up that they really like only being with other barred rocks. Which would make sense as well because they are only pulling the feathers out on the amerucanas and Rhode island reds but not the 3rd barred rock I have.

I think my rooster mounts my hens to much. They have went through moting and now a lot of my hens have no feathers on there backs. Could it be the rooster or something else.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

I bet it’s the rooster. The girls need a break! There are “saddles” you can buy that the hens wear to protect their bare skin. Or you could quarantine the rooster for a week or two.

@tanroj3252

3 жыл бұрын

Good idea to remove the rooster. 🙋‍♀️ I'm dealing with the same thing my husband said we cant buy saddles for all 12 I have two rooster's and I know it's not enough for them I just got 5 new full grown chicken's we rescued and hopefully that helps a little. I'm also planning on getting rid of one of the roos🐔

@tanroj3252

3 жыл бұрын

I also tried a no peck cream and has not worked. I believe it's the rooster. One hen went broody and now she is in the nursery. Her wings are coming back

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a great plan! This isn’t my area of expertise but I’ve heard to have at least 8 hens per rooster so no hen (or hens) get too much attention. 🤦🏻‍♀️

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

I’m proud of you for helping her. I have not ever heard of that cream but I’m sorry it didn’t help.

I had my dorking get bloodied from being pecked (I have no rooster) so I cleaned her up and put no peck (which smells lilke grape koolaid) and after a few days all was good once in a while I will see a chicken peck a chicken and it walks away and sometimes I think the pusher thinks it is not fast enough and will chase her out of the run, my sussex would chase some chickens while on the roost bars all around in stead of just pushing the chicken away she followed along to keep pecking her feet. she doesnt do that much anymore. right now she is broody and sitting on eggs (remember no roo) I figure she can do what she wants as long as she goes broody in the coop. I lost two hens last year due to broodiness outside of the coop. I literallycould not find where they were I looked and looked in weeds and heavy brush areas all over my yard. (3 acres) I tried to watch where they go when they come out to eat but theywaited until I went into the house. I also found out if I take the eggs and get them out off the nest box, they will lay somewhere else, so I let her keep the eggs to avoid them seeking out a area where the predator (me) cant get the eggs.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Aaaah! Lots of craziness. And I’m so sorry for the hens you lost last year. Was it exposure, predator? Dehydration? I’m so sorry. In your situation I think you’re right too - at least they’re brooding safely!

@rosesmith6208

3 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama predators, found feathers of the rir in the back and my astroplop on the driveway;. we have predators galore, two robins and a wren made nests close to each other by our coop and in the run and on the run all got hit by predators and whas was sad is the one on the garage by the door the babies had their feathers and were ready to fledge. my chickens are probably why they are here. they cant get them in the coop but surly the birds attracted to the coop run garage area think they are safe due to my dog, me always being around. but not at night.

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I bet you’re right. I’m so sorry. Poor things. Maybe consider feral cats? Or borrowing a game camera so you can see what kind of animal it is, and make a plan from there? Only if you think it’s necessary. I’m here to help ❤️

@rosesmith6208

3 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama I have a bad camara they are replacing it is night vision color recording the whole nine yards wehn I get it I will hopfully get the night time view of what is coming around a cat is not unlikly. I see them around some are strays, they do a good job with the mice tho. my hubby seen a possum in the barn a couple of days ago. we have mice inthe barn too. he has seen them. so I think possum is getting stuff. they have babies to feed perhaps? they look like giant rats to me. but are benefical they eat alot of mice.

I just had a 1.5-2 month old chick die today . I introduced 3 chicks about a week ago to the flock (7 hens 1 rooster and yesterday morning my husband came in with one of the chicks that was missing flesh from her head and neck. She didn’t make it. The two other chicks are missing feathers too so I took them out

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Oh no. I’m sorry that’s so sad. I would be very careful integrating chicks in with full grown birds especially roosters. I personally wouldn’t put the babies in until they’re fully feathered, and even then do it gradually like I do with my quarantine and integration videos. ✌🏻❤️🐓

My sapphire gems are the softies. Actually hawk just grabbed one of sapphire gems 😡.. my rooster is bantam he grabs the big girls

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

I’m so sorry about the gem. They are so beautiful and I know you didn’t get them to be someone’s lunch! ✌🏼❤️🐓

I have 5 new chickens i add to my flock at night and the ones i had befre them wont stop chasing and pecking them they stay in corner and wouldnt eat or nothing so i build a new pen for them and now they doing one of thier own she was born with them but there is 1 bully in pen so i should lock her in jail for a week in the chicken area right im still new at farming and farm animals

@realsimplemama

11 ай бұрын

Hi! Yea I would lock the bully up. Integration should really take a few weeks when adding new birds in my opinion but you can still work it all out! ✌🏻❤️🐓

@catladyhomestead23meow58

11 ай бұрын

@@realsimplemama ty hun i really love my chickens and dont want none hurt im a animal lover and have a rescue farm i started up

Why do you say they need to establish pecking order?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Chickens need to know where everyone stands as far as the social hierarchy. ✌🏻❤️🐓

What do you do if you have several bloody chickens.

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

If you know who the bully is, lock them up for a week or rehome them. That to me is extreme and you have a responsibility to protect the ones getting hurt. :(

I watched mine for a few "bed times". I had 1 leghorn that was snatching my polish hen off the roost by her head. The 1 leghorn got some greese on her wing so she was easy to id from the other 2. She would also peck at the other 2 leghorns. I got queen bitch locked in a dog crate for now. Ill keep her locked up long enough to loose her top spot, then ill let her back in. I put a zip tie around her leg for future id. she'll loose the greassy feathers sooner or later

@realsimplemama

2 жыл бұрын

Yes that all sounds good! I’d keep her locked up for a good week, in sight/sound of the flock. So she can see what she’s missing and she knows full well that she’s being replaced. 😎 Hopefully that resolves everything, and your poor little Polish can relax. ✌🏼❤️🐓

@stanmondzelewski9253

2 жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama heres a short of how shes acting towards the polish. She goes out poof her way to get him kzread.info7vjuc5LP0Gs?feature=share

Blinders for 2-5 months