Boss Hen has hit the absolute bottom of the pecking order…

[SarahMG]

I’ve had my Delaware hen since the beginning of my chicken adventure last year. She’s always been my boss girl, top of the pecking order, and keeps everyone in line. Lately she has been pushed to the absolute bottom of the pecking order. Like, even the 2 month old ducklings chase her off, and they are the bottom of the flock chain of command.

She’s not sick, is completely healthy other than looking rough from being beaten up.

I’ve tried separating her, separating the main bullies, everything. She does best free roaming at this point, but I can’t let her free roam when I’m not here, seeing as there are dogs that get loose in the are. Starting to run out of ideas……

 

[sourland]

Sadly, once they loose position they rarely regain their spot in the pecking order.

 

[azygous]

If you can rig a "jail" enclosure in your run for during the day and place this hen in it each day for around three weeks, she will get her mojo back. She will regain her self confidence and will be able to stand up for herself again, but she may not regain her title as head hen.

I describe the treatment protocol here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

 

[janiedoe]

Is she molting? Some of my "full of confidence & herself" hens are not themselves when they molt.

 

[SourRoses]

Is she molting? Some of my "full of confidence & herself" hens are not themselves when they molt.

That's what I was going to say

OP, you say she's "looking a little rough" and it is that time of year. Our older girls have been molting for a while, but just recently even the crankiest has lost her position and runs from the younger birds.
The jail is still a good idea.

 

[3KillerBs]

I also was going to ask if she was molting.

Also, how much space do you have and how much "clutter" do you have in that space? Molting birds often like to be off on their own and having plenty of room for them to hang out away from the main flock ruckus is helpful.