Any advice appreciated.

[Gigirat]

Hello all,

I have a question and some advice would be appreciated. I have two flocks one my big girls have all been together for almost 2 years my bantam girls and 4 ermine Americanas for about 10 months. Both sets have their own coops and runs but their runs are separated with a fencing (the big one tractor supply sells for chickens) so they see each other daily also when I let them out they free range together.

So my issue is my big girls have suddenly started picking on my smallest big girl who is much smaller than the others. I am thinking should I put her in with the bantam group? She is very gentle I don’t see her even being top hen with them but I don’t want to cause her any unnecessary stress by being separated from her original flock even though she will still see them.

Thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[StinkyAcres]

You can always try and if it doesn't work out just put her back with the big girls.

But I'd give the picked-on hen a thorough examination since chickens might suddenly start picking on a hen if she is sick. Check her weight, her crop to make sure it is filling during the day and emptying overnight, make sure she is eating and drinking, make sure her poop and eggs are normal, check for mites/lice and other diseases such as water belly, etc.

 

[Gigirat]

Thank you she seems healthy. She’s always been petite but I will give her a thorough check.

 

[Mrs. K]

There is a fallacy that if they are raised together, they will be best friends forever. That often is not true. What was working, stops working.

This is a try and see. It may work, or it may not. But really, while chickens hate change, they do get over it.

Pin less Peepers might be an idea too.

The important thing is to do something, before the attacks get much worse. It is hard on the bird, and it just ruins my pleasure of the flock.

Mrs K