A shunned hen

[meggers38]

Hello there, it's been some time since I posted and since we have had a flock of chickens. We recently purchased a mixed flock of 15 hens, no roosters. They are all around 1 year to 2 years old and seemed absolutely fine when we first got them. Then we noticed there were two hens who were definitely at the bottom of the rank. They both seemed to be picked on by all the hens, however, the one at the way bottom is just too afraid to come out now. I have read plenty that you should remove the bully and not the hen, but there is more than one bully. What should I do with the lowly hen? She does have a buddy, should I remove them both and put them in their own coop? The hen way at the bottom is not as plump as the other girls and I am afraid that she will starve. Do you suppose she is coming out to eat and I am just not seeing it, or will they starve themselves because of fear of coming out with the bullies? We have over 250 sq ft of run space, and ample roosting spots in the coop, but I was wondering if I should put out hiding spots throughout the run to ensure that she can eat in peace. Lots of questions now that I am back at having a flock. Thanks in advance!

 

[Brooks_]

Multiple feed/water stations and lots of clutter to block line of sight would be the common first step recommendation.

 

[WIchickMama]

Multiple feed/water stations and lots of clutter to block line of sight would be the common first step recommendation.

Yep ×2, I have 11 chickens (5 1.5 yrs old, 3 13 weeks olds and 3 5 day olds) and I have 4 feeders and 5 waterers and lots of hiding spots

 

[alinas2010]

Here is a good article by @azygous about bullying.

I only have a small backyard flock of 4, so i know it’s maybe not the best comparison, but I had one I was beginning to worry about because she got picked on and scared off a lot. I started to give her some separate time away from the others, like the article said. Just for like an hour or so a day let her have the run to herself or the yard to herself and give her extra attention. Lift up rocks for her to find bugs, mushrooms and sprouts and whatnot without the others attacking and scaring her away. She really enjoyed her alone time and I found she did do better and got some confidence back. She is still the lowest and more shy than the others, but she doesn’t get picked on nearly as bad. She has confidence to try to get treats from my hand and actually stand next to the others now. I do think this method of separating the bullied has some credence to it - again we’re just a very small flock, so a lot less dynamic. Hope your flock straightens out for you, it’s always hard to watch someone be bullied.

 

[azygous]

Thank you @alinas2010 for recommending my article on treating the bully victim rather than the bully. It is a revelation to those who give this system a try that such a transformation can happen.

You might be interested in a current case in my own flock. It involved my two roosters, father and son. They've been very good buddies for many years now, only rarely was it the younger would get a put-down from the pop.

But a couple months ago, the younger one, Tootsie, injured his leg. It was very painful, and the treatment has been long, and it's still not healed. Tootsie has been in pain, feeling vulnerable, and therefore not very active. I've watched while the pop, Strawberry, picked up on Tootsie's sense of vulnerability, and he's been progressively more bullying toward him. This is the cycle. It really begins with a chicken feeling less than adequate, and the aggressive chickens in the flock pick up on it and get their aggression triggered.

What I've done with Tootsie is to let him spend time in the hens' run in the segregation enclosure. He was spending most of the day there girl watching and chatting with the hens and then going back to sleep with his pop in their bachelor coop at night.

Recently, I began reintegrating him with his pop. Tootsie would remain in his coop when Strawberry went out into the run. I gave Tootsie his breakfast in the coop and Strawberry ate his in the run. Then a few hours later, I would open the run and allow both roos to free range. They would get along fine out in the yard. Gradually, Tootsie has regained his self confidence. Today, for the first time, Tootsie had the courage to join Strawberry in the run, and all was peaceful.

I still am amazed at how well this system works to restore a very timid chicken's self confidence. The transformation has to be seen to be believed.

 

[Perris]

I can vouch for this approach too. Make time and space in your life for the bullied, show them some TLC and ensure they're eating properly, and they will bounce back (unless there's an underlying health issue of course, but that's a different issue).