What do you do if a chicken is bullying the other chicken '?

Answer 1

Most of the time, the problem will resolve itself. Chickens have a pecking order, meaning each chicken has a rank. For example chicken #1 is 'higher up' in the pecking order than chicken #2, and so chicken #1 is the boss. But chicken #3 is higher up then both of them, and is the boss of both. Often, the chicken who is 'higher up' may give the 'lower' chicken a peck, especially if food is involved, but that's totally normal.

Sometimes, especially if you are introducing new chickens, they won't know who's boss over who, so they have to establish the pecking order. This usually involves fighting, although with hens, it's usually quite mild and doesn't last long. Roosters can severely hurt each other, so it doesn't always work to keep them together. Some roosters get along better than others.

If there is one or two fights between the chickens, then it should be fine. If there is serious injury occurring, then you may have to separate them, at least until a later date.

Sometimes, a hen will be at the bottom of the pecking order, and will get bullied. In that case, it's usually best to give her to someone with some smaller chickens that she can 'dominate', or get some chicks, which she will automatically be higher than in the pecking order. Sometimes they just need a confidence boost (no kidding!).

Another thing some people mistake for 'bullying', is roosters mating with hens. When the rooster is mating, he will sometimes aggressively approach the hen, then climb on her back and hold onto her neck feathers with his beak. This is normal, but some roosters are better about it than others (although they learn as they get older). You have to watch the hens for signs of severe stress, and bare backs, caused by the rooster treading on their backs and it eventually becoming bare of feathers. If there is actual abuse going on, you may have to separate the rooster, or get some 'hen savers', which are basically saddles for the hens' backs that keep them from being hurt.

Situations vary greatly, but in most cases, if there is a fight going on, it will resolve itself.