Big girls hate bantam - is there hope?

[DebbieA57]

I was just given an adorable silkie mix bantam. I keep her separated in a coop within my larger run so everyone sees each other! The problem is whenever I let her out, three of my four girls will attack her viciously (one likes her). They corner her and two will gang up on her and jump on her back and peck her. I think my Plymouth Rock was going for her eyes! My run is 8x12 feet. It has perches and if the little one doesn’t get caught by surprise, she uses them. Free ranging she just stays off by herself. My question is, is there any hope? Should I just let them attack her and see if they work it out? I’m afraid she might get hurt. FYI, my big girls have accepted other chickens before to the flock, but she’s the littlest! I’m thinking I might have to rehome her.

 

[nuthatched]

How long were they separated?

 

[DebbieA57]

Ive had the new one since mid April. She is still living/separated in her own coop except when I can supervise. They always go right after her whenever they see her.

 

[nuthatched]

Ive had the new one since mid April. She is still living/separated in her own coop except when I can supervise. They always go right after her whenever they see her.

She may be "too different", birds of a feather flock together but oddballs will be treated as threats.

 

[Pukkits]

The only time I've successfully had silkies or other "weird" (to chickens) looking birds with others, there had to start day old together to be ok. We have a slightly different orpington, and though raised with a group of others, they tried to kill her at adulthood (holding down and going to the back of the neck, trying to reach the spine) twice. I'm vindictive, so we rehomed any bird that couldn't be nice to that hen. We still have her and her friends five years later, no regrets.

From what you describe, they aren't going to work it out. They are going to kill her. I'd suggest rehoming her or set up a second coop and get her some friends.