I am glad to hear that you also give the bullying victim special treatment. I have been doing that for a while, but was just kinda winging it (no pun intended.) My oldest & former #1 hen (Pistachio, Barred Rock) has gotten a little weaker with age & another hen (Veronica, Auricana) has taken to bullying her. V will pop everyone, but really seems to set her sights on Pistachio.
This past Friday, hubby came home to find that Pistachio had somehow gotten into a hole in the chicken yard & couldn't right herself. (Those girls dig to China, so it's a small wonder that P couldn't get outta the hole.) Apparently, someone (any guesses as to who?) pecked her hard enough above her eye to cause it to swell clised & it looked like someone had taken her by the comb & just pinched the absolute b'jeezus out of it, she was such a bruised & bloody mess! (I was out of town & Mr thought 'oh no...poor P is dead & mama hasn't even been gone 12 hours!' Fortunately, she came around when he called her name, he scooped her up, took her in the house, cleaned her up, gave her some eye ointment, put ointment on her comb, cuddled her, gave her special food, Pedialyte & let her stay in a box on the washer. (A great chicken Dad is worth his weight in gold!)
She chirped & chortled at him all weekend & was perky enough that he let her out to forage with her flock mates on Sat & Sun. By Sun night, she'd rejoined the flock on her own & decided that her Spa weekend was over.
They've been fine ever since. But I know that naughty bird Veronica & just as I was thinking about a jail cell, I drove by a large, wire dog crate for sale! Let's just say that there was total silence as I unloaded it from my car, explained that it was chicken jail & that if I had to use it, it was going to be for more than 1 day...VERonica!
Hopefully, I won't have to use jail, but I have that as an option, just like taking the victim to the Chicken Spa. Chicken Spa is peaceful, quiet place, full of delicious foods & water/drinks that are all for the guest...no sharing! I highly recommend both Chicken Jail for the bully & a stay at the Chicken Spa for anyone who needs to get back on her feet.
And I'm glad to know that I have been on the right track! Thanks for the great article.
