3 hens drawing blood from a newish Barred Rock

[adcockfarm]

Hi! we have six hens/pullets, and a younger egg laying barred rock is getting pecked like crazy! We thought the integration of the chickens was going OK(ish) until the three hens (mostly just 2) started picking on (more than usual/chasing a bit) JUST the one barred rock. she is the oldest of the three new ones and is very sweet. She does a submission squat to them a LOT and that is causing her a lot of pain, as they stand on her and peck. It gets better and worse, for example there hasn't been any new blood lately, but i feel REALLY bad for her. She has a scab AND Missing feathers on her head! hey are drawing her away from the food and water, and she has a hard time running away from them in the smallish coop, so she camps out in the nesting boxes. Is there anyway to help? thanks P.S she seems kinda small for a barred rock...

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Sorry to hear this is happening. It is so awful to watch how mean they can be. I would recommend setting up a second food and water station for the barred rock. It sounds like space might be an issue, too. Do they have access to a run or can they free range? The more they can spread out the better I find they get along. The good news is that it sounds as though there hasn't been new blood recently and once they work out the pecking order, the violence usually stops.

 

[Stephine]

You can try isolating the bullies for a few days and see if their attitude improves after that. Extra feeding stations and waterers and as much space as possible.

 

[adcockfarm]

Sorry to hear this is happening. It is so awful to watch how mean they can be. I would recommend setting up a second food and water station for the barred rock. It sounds like space might be an issue, too. Do they have access to a run or can they free range? The more they can spread out the better I find they get along. The good news is that it sounds as though there hasn't been new blood recently and once they work out the pecking order, the violence usually stops.

i know... she gets so scared, she runs away makes nervous little chirping noises around them... no, there isn't a run, because, i know this sounds weird, but we keep them in the garage because neighbors complained. but it is still 4sqft a chicken... but no run. thanks!

You can try isolating the bullies for a few days and see if their attitude improves after that. Extra feeding stations and waterers and as much space as possible.

yea... i might try that a next week after we get home from vacation, we leave for a week... um... saturday? one of the bullies is the top dog, would that method still work? thanks!


And in response to both ur posts i will put multiple waters/food before we leave, would it still help even if she camps out in the raised nesting boxes? THANKS so much!

 

[IZZYBELLA]

She is likely eating once the other birds are roosted at night. If you put another feeder it might draw her out of the nest boxes. Another thing to try is adding distractions for them... new poles/toys they can hop up on, a box full of dirt for bathing, treats that take time for them to pick apart, etc. They like being busy and will focus on that instead of picking on the BR (hopefully).

Finally, sorry to hear about your neighbor... what is there to complain about hens? A rooster is loud, but hens?!

 

[adcockfarm]

the "egg song" i guess...?

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Oh geeze... I love the egg song! It doesn't last very long.

 

[adcockfarm]

we came back from our trip and now more of her head feathers are gone!

 

[lazy gardener]

Your space is too crowded. While the recommendation is for 4 s/f in the coop, that is also assuming that they have a run available to them. Are you allowed to have chickens where you live? If your zoning allows you to have them, then go ahead and let them be outdoors where they can have the space and the light that they require. If your zoning does not allow chickens, you need to assess whether the needs of your birds are being met under the current set up.

 

[getaclue]

Definitely set up a second food, and water area. Another thing, I've used that has helped, is hay bales. Place 2 or more of them, so the newcomer can escape, and hide behind them. You may want to isolate the head hen, and maybe even the second in command for a few days, but so they can see the newcomer.