Are you walking out to your chicken coop only to find one poor hen getting pecked, bloodied, and bullied by the rest of your flock? Trust me, you’re not alone in this frustrating situation! As a chicken keeper for many years, I’ve had my fair share of flock drama that would put reality TV to shame.
When I first noticed my hens ganging up on my sweet Buff Orpington, I was shocked at how quickly these normally peaceful birds turned into feathered bullies. It’s enough to make you question if keeping chickens is really worth the drama! But don’t worry – there’s almost always a logical explanation for why your chickens are singling out one bird, and better yet, there are solutions.
Let’s dive into the 6 main reasons your chickens might be attacking one of their flock mates and what you can do to restore peace to your coop.
Understanding Normal Chicken Behavior vs. Bullying
Before we jump into why chickens attack each other, we need to understand the difference between normal chicken behavior and actual bullying.
The Pecking Order
Chickens establish what’s known as a “pecking order” – a social hierarchy that determines who gets first dibs on food, water, roosting spots, and other resources. This pecking order is natural and necessary for flock harmony.
When chickens are establishing their rank, you might see:
- Brief squabbles and pecks
- Short chases
- One chicken backing down quickly
- Minor confrontations that resolve themselves
This normal pecking order behavior usually settles down quickly once everyone knows their place in the hierarchy
When It’s Actually Bullying
Bullying, on the other hand, is more serious and requires your intervention. Signs of true bullying include:
- Persistent attacks on one chicken
- Blood or visible wounds
- A chicken being prevented from eating or drinking
- One chicken hiding or reluctant to enter the coop
- Significant feather loss on the victim
- Continuous harassment that doesn’t resolve itself
Now that we know the difference, let’s explore WHY chickens might single out one particular bird for attack
6 Reasons Chickens Attack One Flock Member
1. Your Chickens Are Stressed
Just like us humans, chickens can get cranky when they’re stressed! And when chickens get stressed, they often take it out on the weakest member of the flock.
Common stress factors for chickens include:
- Changes in their environment or routine
- Not enough light or too much light
- Cold or windy conditions
- Poor ventilation in the coop
- Changes to their regular feed
- Sexual maturity (especially for young pullets)
- Being transported to a new location
- Overcrowding in the coop
- Fear of predators or unfamiliar people
- Disease or infection in the flock
- New chickens joining the existing flock
- Death or illness of another flock member
Solution: Maintain a consistent routine for your chickens. Make sure they have adequate space, proper lighting, good ventilation, and protection from the elements. Introduce any changes gradually rather than all at once.
2. Boredom Is Making Your Chickens Aggressive
Would you believe chickens can get bored? Well, they absolutely can, and bored chickens can become bullies! This is especially common during winter months when chickens spend more time confined to the coop.
As one chicken keeper on BackYard Chickens forum shared: “All was well until 2 days ago. What happened, I will never know.” This sudden change in behavior is often related to boredom or another environmental factor.
Solution: Keep your chickens entertained with these boredom busters:
- Build an outdoor roost so they can observe their surroundings
- Create a pile of leaves, dirt, or pine needles for them to scratch through
- Hang mirrors in the coop (chickens actually love looking at themselves!)
- Let them free-range when possible, even for short periods in winter
- Provide hanging cabbage or other treat toys they can peck at
- Scatter treats in bedding for them to search for
3. Poor Living Conditions Are Creating Tension
Bad living conditions are probably the #1 cause of chickens turning on each other. Would you be happy living in an overcrowded, dirty, uncomfortable space? Neither are your chickens!
Signs of poor living conditions include:
- Overcrowding: Too many chickens in too small a space
- Inadequate coop size: Not enough square footage per bird
- Limited resources: Only one feeding or drinking station
- Improper lighting: Lights on too long or not enough natural light
- Poor bedding: Cold, wet, or dirty floor conditions
As one chicken owner noted in the forum, “Plenty of room, always enough food and water etc…. all was fine until 2 days ago.” Even with seemingly good conditions, there might be an issue you haven’t noticed.
Solution: Provide at least 4 square feet of coop space per chicken and 10 square feet of run space. Install multiple feeding and drinking stations. Keep the coop clean, dry, and well-ventilated. Ensure proper lighting (12 hours or less if using artificial light).
4. The Targeted Chicken Is Sick or Injured
Chickens have a built-in instinct to remove weak or sick members from the flock. This might seem cruel, but in the wild, this behavior helps prevent disease spread and protects the flock from predators who might be attracted to a weak or sick bird.
If you notice one chicken being attacked, check for these signs of illness:
- Loss of appetite
- Sudden weight loss
- Lethargy or unusual quietness
- Hiding from the rest of the flock
- Difficulty walking (limping)
- Dull eyes or unusual appearance
- Stopped laying eggs
- Losing feathers or having fluffed-up feathers
- Any behavior that’s abnormal for that particular chicken
As one forum member described: “Noticed she was limping and hiding in the coop 2 days ago. I removed her and checked her all over. She was bleeding from the top of her head.”
Solution: Isolate any sick or injured chicken immediately. Consult a vet if necessary. Provide the separated chicken with plenty of water (consider adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar), nutritious food, and a clean, stress-free environment to recover. Only reintroduce the chicken when fully healed, and do so carefully.
5. Your Chickens Are Scared
When chickens feel threatened by a potential predator or something scary in their environment, they sometimes turn on each other – particularly the weakest member. It’s a survival instinct – basically throwing the weakest under the bus to save the rest!
Your chickens might be scared if:
- There are predators lurking nearby (foxes, raccoons, hawks)
- Children or pets are behaving wildly around them
- There are loud noises or disturbances near the coop
- They feel their coop is insecure or unsafe
Solution: Make your chickens feel safe and secure:
- Build a sturdy coop with good locks
- Install a chicken wire fence at least 6 feet high, buried 6 inches into the ground
- Add motion-sensor lights to deter nighttime predators
- Collect eggs and clean up food daily to avoid attracting predators
- Keep rowdy children and pets away from the chickens
- Consider having one rooster with your flock as a protector (if allowed in your area)
6. They See or Smell Blood
Here’s a disturbing fact about chickens – they’re attracted to blood! If one chicken has a wound or is bleeding, other chickens will peck at it, making the injury worse and potentially even causing death.
This cannibalistic behavior is instinctive and can spread quickly through the entire flock once it starts.
Solution: Check your chickens regularly for any signs of injury. At the first sign of blood, immediately separate the injured chicken. Clean the wound thoroughly and apply an anti-pecking spray or ointment (available at farm supply stores). Only reintroduce the chicken when fully healed, and watch carefully during reintroduction.
What to Do When You Find Your Chickens Attacking One Bird
If you discover your chickens ganging up on one individual, here’s what to do right away:
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Separate the victim immediately – Place the targeted chicken in a safe, comfortable area away from the flock.
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Assess for injuries – Clean any wounds and treat appropriately. Apply BluKote or another anti-pecking product to any injuries.
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Identify the cause – Review the six reasons above and try to determine why the chicken is being targeted.
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Address the underlying issue – Make necessary changes to the coop, flock size, enrichment, etc.
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Consider a “see but not touch” reintroduction – As one forum user suggested: “I would make a ‘see but not touch’ barrier and put one chick in with her for company. She’s still being with her flock, but just not getting harassed.”
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Reintroduce carefully – When reintroducing the chicken, do so at night when the others are sleeping, and watch carefully the next day.
In extreme cases where the bullying won’t stop, you may need to consider permanently separating the chicken or finding her a new home.
As one chicken keeper shared: “I have the ability to build a 2nd small coop on side of my big coop, and then separate a run. Maybe I can find her a nice buddy and she can have some peace in her lil chicken life.”
Preventing Future Attacks
To prevent your chickens from singling out and attacking one bird in the future:
- Provide adequate space – Don’t overcrowd your coop or run
- Offer enrichment activities – Keep those chicken brains busy!
- Maintain flock health – Regular health checks and prompt treatment of any issues
- Introduce new chickens carefully – Use the “see but not touch” method initially
- Consider color and size – One forum user noted that her yellow chicken was attacked by her darker birds, suggesting appearance differences might be a factor
- Keep stress to a minimum – Maintain a regular routine and peaceful environment
Finding one of your chickens being attacked by the rest of the flock is distressing, but now you understand the most common reasons this happens and how to address each situation.
Remember that chickens can be ruthless when they attack, as one forum member pointed out, so quick intervention is essential. By addressing the underlying cause and taking appropriate action, you can usually restore peace to your flock and prevent future episodes of bullying.
Have you experienced this problem with your chickens? What solutions worked for you? I’d love to hear your stories and solutions in the comments below!
Disclaimer: This article is based on personal experience and research. For serious injuries or illness in your chickens, please consult a veterinarian.
Defense # 2: Be Top Bird
Think like an alpha chicken. Chickens use pecking and aggressiveness to establish their social hierarchy. In her University of Kentucky Extension article, “Normal Behaviors of Chickens in Small and Backyard Poultry Flocks,” project extension manager Jacquie Jacob writes: “By 16 days of age, fighting to determine the pecking order begins.”
Like a Chihuahua fronting up to a pit bull, aggressive chickens have no inkling that attacking people to show them who’s the boss is not going to put them on top—unless, of course, you back down. Backing down from a chicken is not a good thing to do any more than letting a dog, horse or other animal establish dominance over you. You, or some other less suspecting person or child, could get hurt.
Jacob says that while male and female chickens can attack, roosters tend to be more violent, and by use of spurs, as well as the beak, they can draw blood on unprotected skin. They can be bullies. Hens can also adopt unpleasant behaviors. Sometimes, in a roosterless flock, a hen might adopt a rooster’s protective role, becoming aggressive to people though docile with the other hens.
In my last bunch of backyard hens, I had an escape artist, a homebody and a hen named Kristy, which you had to look at continuously or she would attack with beak, wings and claws every single time. A fox ate her for dinner one night, and we didn’t mourn her. In retrospect, I wondered whether Kristy had appointed herself the token rooster in the group and was just doing her job, protecting her flock.
Defense # 4: Go On The Offensive
Regardless of the method, establishing yourself at the top of the pecking order seems to be the best way to deal with aggressive chickens. Perhaps the most humane way to do this is to show dominance similarly to how you’d train a dog.
For chicken domination, at first sign of attack, reach down, grab the bird by the feet, turn it upside down—ignore the squawking—and tuck it under your arm like a football. If it’s clear that you’ll have this type of showdown, you can wear gloves and clothing you don’t mind bringing in contact with chicken feet and feathers. Then go about your business, holding it until it acknowledges your dominance by ceasing to struggle and holler, which typically takes less than a minute.
Once it does, release it, but watch out. At first, it might come right back at you. Every time it attacks, give it more of the same. Ultimately, the aggressive bird might learn to leave you alone, though some just never give up.
Why Some Chickens are BULLIES & how to CHANGE THEM
FAQ
Why do chickens attack each other?
AVOID OVERCROWDING Overcrowding is one of the most common reasons that chickens attack each other. Not only does overcrowding cause your flock to be stressed, which can lead to many other issues, but overcrowding literally puts your chickens in survival mode.
Why are my chickens so aggressive?
Chickens are creatures of habit, and they do not like changes to their routine. Even minor switch-ups can cause your chickens to become unhappy. While they might start off being quiet and not laying as many eggs, they can quickly become revved up with aggression due to the changes. It could be only one chicken who becomes aggressive or all of them.
Why do chickens turn on their own flock?
Here are the top ten reasons that your chickens might turn on their own flock. Chickens need a minimum of four square feet per bird if they’re locked up in a chicken coop around the clock. That’s a simple 2′ X 2′ space per bird at minimum. Limiting space for your chickens to a coop means they’re competing for their own space.
Why do chickens turn on each other?
Overcrowding. Perhaps the biggest reason why chickens will turn on one another is that there are simply too many chickens in the coop. No chicken wants to spend their entire day in a small area with an overload of other chickens. There isn’t enough room to relax and walk around, which means they are likely to get fed up.
Why does my hen pick on the other chickens?
When a hen wants to assert herself in the pecking order, they will begin to demand dominance over the others. She might start picking on the other chickens to show that she is, indeed, the top bird. This can happen at any time, but it’s most likely to occur when a new chicken joins the coop.
Can a chicken attack a rooster?
You, or some other less suspecting person or child, could get hurt. Jacob says that while male and female chickens can attack, roosters tend to be more violent, and by use of spurs, as well as the beak, they can draw blood on unprotected skin. They can be bullies. Hens can also adopt unpleasant behaviors.
How do I stop my chickens from attacking other chickens?
Here are some effective methods: Provide Adequate Space: Ensure that your chickens have enough space to roam and establish their own pecking order. Overcrowding can lead to stress and aggression. Create Multiple Feeding Areas: Establish several feeding and watering stations to prevent competition for resources.
Will chickens attack a sick chicken?
Yes, chickens will often attack a sick or injured flock member, especially if they notice signs of illness like a change in comb color or the sight of blood, which can make the chicken a target. This behavior is partly due to the establishment of the flock’s pecking order and a natural instinct to remove weak members to protect the rest of the group. To prevent severe injury or death, a sick chicken should be separated from the flock and cared for in a separate, safe space until they recover.
Why are my chickens pecking one chicken?
How to stop chickens pecking new chickens?
It has also been found that introducing new chickens to a flock at night-time can help to minimize the fighting that occurs. Grab a torch and place the newest additions amongst the older chickens on the perches. At night-time the chickens are less likely to start a fight to establish the pecking order.