I have a real problem in my flock. Bill the Cinnamon Queen rooster absolutely HATES sweet Ginger the little red mixed breed hen and I don't know why.
I normally let my birds Free Range on our land for a few hours in the evenings. They never miss going back into their house at night but... A few weeks ago, Ginger took off and didn't come back till the next afternoon. We were surprised as we figured she'd been gotten by a predator.
Basically she was in good shape...just dehydrated a little. Some days later. I noticed that no matter how hot it got, Ginger refused to leave her roost in the coop. Came to find out that she'd been totally ostracized...not by her fellow hens and pullets but by Bill, He's just been a ******** to her.
I had Ginger separated from the flock for about 2 weeks as she'd had an injury to her comb and one eye was completely closed. She healed up so last night I returned her to free ranging with the flock. Bill immediately started chasing Ginger off and bearing up on her.
This morning again, Ginger refused to leave the coop and when I picked her up and carried her outside to the pen...Bill started in on her again and sent her running back to the coop. So, I picked her up and took her back to the isolation pen.
Why does Bill do this to poor Ginger ?? She is such a sweet hen and has gotten very used to me picking her up and petting her since she'd been in isolation. Ginger was always a good layer until this happened...now she's not laid a single egg.
I normally let my birds Free Range on our land for a few hours in the evenings. They never miss going back into their house at night but... A few weeks ago, Ginger took off and didn't come back till the next afternoon. We were surprised as we figured she'd been gotten by a predator.
Basically she was in good shape...just dehydrated a little. Some days later. I noticed that no matter how hot it got, Ginger refused to leave her roost in the coop. Came to find out that she'd been totally ostracized...not by her fellow hens and pullets but by Bill, He's just been a ******** to her.
I had Ginger separated from the flock for about 2 weeks as she'd had an injury to her comb and one eye was completely closed. She healed up so last night I returned her to free ranging with the flock. Bill immediately started chasing Ginger off and bearing up on her.
This morning again, Ginger refused to leave the coop and when I picked her up and carried her outside to the pen...Bill started in on her again and sent her running back to the coop. So, I picked her up and took her back to the isolation pen.
Why does Bill do this to poor Ginger ?? She is such a sweet hen and has gotten very used to me picking her up and petting her since she'd been in isolation. Ginger was always a good layer until this happened...now she's not laid a single egg.