[swift_half]

hi - am at wits end so any help would be appreciated.

I have a single hen which has been on its own for almost a year, and its become very aggressive. We tried introducing 1 more, and had to remove her after 48 hours as a death was looking likely.

We've now introduced another 3, but she manages to terrorise them all.

We've tried squirting each time she attacks, and a beak bar. We also kept the 1 separated from the 3 by wire for a couple of weeks, to get them used to each other. This has all failed.

[nnbreeder]

Are you trying to introduce birds that are colored like her or different? Chickens do not like outsiders and especially if they are different.

Are the other hens full grown? The hen may be using her size difference to her advantage.

 The main problem is that the newbies are being brought into the older hen's territory. I would keep them seperated for at least a week, penning the agressor and let the new hens establish their territory. Then after a week place the old hen on the roost with the others at night and see what the morning brings.

[woodside farm]

I had this happen once, I removed the hen and kept her in a large cage in the garage with food and water for a couple of days, then put her back in with the new hens, did the trick, I think she was just pleased to get her freedom back

[swift_half]

yes, different birds and just at PoL

have separated - might try a slightly more Guantanamo Bay style separation