All Chickens bullying same hen - Suggestions?

[Feathers n Fur]

I have a flock of 12 birds. 6 were from my original flock and 6 were added a year ago. I know that there is a pecking order and I let them work it out. Willow is my beautiful slate blue Ameraucana and she is from the second flock. She is relentlessly picked on by all the other girls. I mean ALL the other girls. Her head is bald on one side from the pecking. She is chased down for reasons I am unaware - maybe she is just taking up space... I don't know. I've seen her standing alone then one or two of the girls will gang up on her and chase her. She always follows me and stays in the coop with me each morning when I clean it out. I feel for her but I know that if I show her too much attention she'll get picked on even more. Lately she stays in the coop away from the others. I happened to be in the run when Sadie, my evil bantam mix, took off after her for just standing by the water. She pecked her relentlessly. Sadie and I had a little come to Jesus meeting that morning and Sadie had a time out in the dog crate that I put within the pen while I finished cleaning. I took my time cleaning that day.

My run is big enough for her to escape from them (they have almost 20 sq ft per hen). I will be creating a separate coop and run for a group of 4 silkies that I will be getting in May. They will be 10 weeks old at that time. Should I try adding her to that flock or is there something I can do to help her out in her existing flock? I fear I may come home and find her dead or damaged.

 

[cackleberrycam]

Could it be cannibalsm? If so, then I would cover her wounds with some good ol' Bag balm- chickens hate the taste of the stuff, so it will stop them from picking on her. If it is not canibalism, then you may want to try giving her her own feeder- that is what I do with my silkie who gets picked on. It may be the pecking order, but it sounds a lot like cannibalism. Do they have bright lights in thier coop? Or lights in thier coop that stay on for longer than 16 hors a day? Do they get enough protien?

 

[Feathers n Fur]

Cackleberrycam - I only use red heat lamps overnight when the temps dip into the teens or lower. I haven't had them on in quite a while. They do get enough protein and I have two large feeders and two waterers. I figured that was enough for 12 hens but I could add another. When I toss scratch or other goodies in their run I usually put it in 4 different places so there is enough space for them to break into smaller groups for the fun stuff.

She is not one of my broody hens but yesterday and today she's been in the egg box. Not sure if she is turning broody or if she is just avoiding the flock. I'll have to keep checking on her.

She is not bleeding just bald but I can put something on her bald spot.

 

[cackleberrycam]

Cackleberrycam - I only use red heat lamps overnight when the temps dip into the teens or lower. I haven't had them on in quite a while. They do get enough protein and I have two large feeders and two waterers. I figured that was enough for 12 hens but I could add another. When I toss scratch or other goodies in their run I usually put it in 4 different places so there is enough space for them to break into smaller groups for the fun stuff.

She is not one of my broody hens but yesterday and today she's been in the egg box. Not sure if she is turning broody or if she is just avoiding the flock. I'll have to keep checking on her.

She is not bleeding just bald but I can put something on her bald spot.

Okay, then. Well, maybe she is broody. I don't know what else you should do...... you are doing everything that I would do.

 

[cackleberrycam]

I have a hen that all off my chickens bully too... She just stays clear of them and I give her her own chicken feed and feed her by hand.

 

[Feathers n Fur]

Thanks cackleberry. she is being broody at the moment but I had to kick her out yesterday so I could open the coops doors to do some work to the coop and sure enough.....she was being bullied. I let her back in and just kept an eye on her so she didn't run out and get chased by my dogs. I wish it was just one bully so I could deal with the bully but all 11 of them are mean to her.

Maybe she gave them the stink eye at one point and they hate her for it. Maybe she boasted because she lays the brightest blue eggs and taunted them that hers were the prettiest...Who knows. I'll do my best to keep her safe. I added an additional feeder and waterer so maybe she'll come out when she is over her broodiness.

 

[cackleberrycam]

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

If it were me and one chicken out of all of them was being bullied, I'd rehome the poor thing. For some reason the others don't like her, and that's a horrible life for a flock animal (or any animal). Sounds like she'd be happier in a different flock.

 

[Indigosands]

I had one like that, but it was being harassed endlessly by the rooster. I re-homed her.

 

[cary 1973]

My little bit was like that but with the help of me she is now head chicken but that cuz I was rootless with the other girls that picked on her I would step in and peck them when they went after her and when it was treat time she got all the treats first and bed time I would give her the top spot and not let anyone else touch her till lights where off. then the other girls started leaving her alone and little bit would be very brave when I was around and she slowly worked her way what I call head chicken or at least everyone knows not to mess with her or look at her when I am around. but if you cant do that its best for your little girl to go to a new home maybe smaller group if you were close to las vegas Nevada I would take her.