Baldy Bird

[svalentine]

That is my poor hens name because her head has been picked clean. She is definitely at the bottome of the pecking order. She used to give it back sometimes but now she chooses to run instead. Lately she is never with the others. During the day she stays completely away from the flock. She is so scared she doesn't even come around for snack time. And now she doesn't go in the hen house at night. But instead gets up on the back of the hen house on the egg hatch door.
So I have to put her in each night where she sleeps in a nesting box.
This morning in about 5 minutes time, 3 others chased her.
If chickens have feelings I know she must be unhappy.
Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Judy]

Well, I'll tell you my experience. I have one in a similar situation, except not bald, just with bare spots. I had kept her in a separate area of the coop, about 5'x5', separated only by chicken wire, for several weeks after an injury. She still walks with a severe limp. After some weeks, she obviously wanted to be with the flock, so I let her out. She did (and does) as yours does, spends her time hiding under a corner or outside under a bush or in a nest box.

For a few weeks I had another one with an injury so I put both of them in the separate area. When there were two of them in there, they were content to stay in that area. Then the second one healed, and wanted out, so now the flock is all together again. I hate that she is harassed, but I hate worse confining her against her will.

I've read that if you can figure out who is the main bully, and remove that one (out of sight and hearing of the flock) for a full week, when you return her she will be at the bottom of the pecking order.

I do keep the bare areas purple with Blu-Kote. This does seem to at least slow the pecking down, I suppose because it makes them hard to see. It's messy to use, turns everything purple.

 

[svalentine]

I believe she would be completely content to be by herself all the time rather than be with the flock. During the day she can get away and usually does. But at night she is a captive. So I'm thinking of making a seperate, very small, single bird hen house for her. Seems like a lot of trouble for one chicken. It does seem I am continually needing a "quarantine" area for one reason or another. Either for a health issue or a time out situation.
She's always been a bit of a loner even from a very young age. And has had some weird habits. It's like the other chickens think she is unacceptable for some reason.
Awhile ago I had an injured chicken that I kept away from the rest for 2 weeks. I too was afraid she'd be picked on when I put her back. But she went right back to the middle of the pecking order. No problems at all.
I had no idea chickens would be so frustrating. I just want them to all get along.