Chicken bully/chicken victim - a two-sided issue

@Lacy Duckwing

@Lacy Duckwing -- I have used the method of isolating the timid bird from the flock and it does boost her confidence to where she's returned to the flock & doesn't pay attention to the bully. If a timid bird continues victim behavior other birds will join bullying. But once the timid bird is isolated for a few days she returns to the flock unafraid. I've noticed sometimes a broody bird gets picked on by others so I isolate broodies too till they break the broody behavior (I don't have a roo or raise chicks so when a hen goes broody we break her to keep her from getting picked on). Birds can be mean to each other -- just like mean bullies in a children's playground!

Awesome imput on this information! I am one of those chicken keepers who often look to stop the bully hen and overlook boosting the victim hen's confidence. This article was very eye-opening and I would like to try this myself.

Very interesting article - I have filed away in my memory banks should I have a bad case of bullying.

One of my favorite BYC articles. I come back to it again and again. Hoping to create a sectioned area of our run for exactly this purpose.

Solid common sense advice with real world examples to back it up. I just integrated a five month old pullet named Frida into my flock very easily by doing pretty much exactly what you recommend here. It only took 3 days of having her in an wide mesh screened area to eat and relax by herself -- while she could still see the flock around her and they could see her. Last night she walked into the coop to roost by herself and no one hassled her. It helps that my senior hen Cleo is too boss to be bothered with harassing her and pretty much signals to the others to leave her be.
I agree that having an enclosed area where newbies can get on their feet is essential. Good for birds who are injured or feeling a bit down as well.

This makes so much sense! Thank you for explaining and sharing what worked to find peace in your flock!

Excellent article with practical advice. I searched for help because my speckled sussex, Lucy is getting bullied on by an australorp and a barred rock. This is so helpful

More information for a beginner.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Actually she was in a different run while everyone was out foraging...eating, dusting and enjoying herself immensely. I shut the gate to protect her for awhile. I am a bit concerned still about putting her in the roost for the night.

Excellent advice, I'll be trying this with a langshan. Don't know if it's a breed thing but he's definitely timid. His cockerel flockmate seems to be going out of his way to harass him. Honestly, Im afraid the langshan will hurt himself trying to get away. I'm sure hormones are playing a role but it's worth a shot. The bully has overall improved since being added to this coop and separated from his brother. He just has it out for this poor lanshan

A really good article with lots of helpful information! I am guilty of just dealing with a bully, after reading this article I will take a totally different approach.

Excellent information. Very thoroughly explained.

I have a small coop (mass produced type) that I will incorporate into the larger run we are working on. Right now, I only have room for a large dog crate in the coop and I hate to leave a chicken confined in there for too long.

Had lots of great information, but many people don't have the room for a chicken "jail" and this is the only usable option listed in the article.

Great idea and written with clear tools/information for implementation. Thank you!

It looks like this approach was well explained and I hope I’ll be as successful. I have another day of customizing the new coop and run before I can give this poor hen a better life than hiding in the coop all day and still getting beat up when a couple of them hunt her down.

Thank you for this insightful article. I haven't experienced this in my young flock, yet. But, I do have a sweet, timid girl who I watch out for. She seems a bit unsure of herself

Only helpful if you don’t free range.
Coops without runs cannot use this advice.
Good advice if you have a run for your chickens otherwise won’t help out for those without runs.

I have a dog crate in my run right now because I was integrating chicks. But I left it in there as jail right now and I was looking forward to getting it out of there but now I might just leave it.

It is nice to see an article that focuses on the victim of chickens being bullied!

Easy to follow practical advice. Well written. This article gives hope and a new view on a very old problem.