Broody hen getting picked on by others

[Jquigs76]

Please help, I don't know what to do anymore.. I have a broody hen that I know needs to be broken of her broodiness. I have done the whole taking her out of the nest and putting her in water to bring her body temp down to try and break the broodiness. {There are no eggs in the box with her.}
So the other day I sat and watched and I think I know why she is staying the nest box. Whenever I take her out and do the whole "cool down routine" She sits in the corner and complains. I have started locking her out with the others so that no one can get back into where the nest boxes are. Well the other day I realized that some of the other hens are picking on her and trying to attack her. I broke them up and then walked away for a couple minutes cause things seemed to have calmed down. When I came back the same broody hen had baried herself in the corner of the coop trying to get away from them and was literally not moving and I'm not even sure that she was breathing she was basically smothering herself. I got all the rest of the hens away from her, locking them all back in the coop and leaving her out. Honestly thinking I was dealing with a dead chicken since she wasn't moving when I touched her. After taking her out and rubbing on her for a little bit she popped back up and seemed to be alright.

Any ideas of what's going on? There is no blood on her or anything that they would be attracted to. If she is in the nest box they don't continue to go after her it's just when she is on the ground. I don't want to continue to kick her out of the box and then have her have to defend herself. I feel bad for her and she is very freaked out about it all. Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[rungirl]

I've seen chickens play dead when they are being picked on so that the bully will leave them alone. You can try taking the bully out and isolating her for a few days in a "time out" pen. A dog cage will work. When you let her free, the others may have to reestablish the pecking order again and it could distract them enough to leave the broody hen alone. I'm assuming that your hens are not overcrowded.

My broody hen used to be low on the pecking order also until she hatched some eggs. I isolated her with them during incubation, but when she came out with her chicks she was a different hen. She stood her ground because she was protecting her chicks. She's not the bottom of the pecking order anymore.

Oh, the drama when raising a bunch of girls!

Lisa

 

[Jquigs76]

It sure seemed like she was playing dead, but playing or not she scared me 1/2 to death. These girls have become part of the family. I don't like seein unrest in the coop. No they aren't over crowded, they have plenty of room both inside and out! Before the broodiness started this girl was the top dog and now I think some of the others are trying to push her out of that spot.. There unforatunely are multiples that are picking on her but I'll see if there is 1 specific instigator of the bunch

Thank you for your help and advice!

 

[Den in Penn]

If you can identify the the ring leader you could isolate her, the ring leader, for a week to shake up the pecking order.

 

[Mortey]

I have the same thing going on here - the broody hen gets attacked when I place her out of her nest for some exercise and food. I wonder if she is being attacked because according to the pecking order it is her job to be on the eggs to hatch them and the chickens are giving her crap for not doing her job?

 

[Shirlthewhirl]

I have the same thing going on here - the broody hen gets attacked when I place her out of her nest for some exercise and food. I wonder if she is being attacked because according to the pecking order it is her job to be on the eggs to hatch them and the chickens are giving her crap for not doing her job?

 

[Barceloc86]

It sure seemed like she was playing dead, but playing or not she scared me 1/2 to death. These girls have become part of the family. I don't like seein unrest in the coop. No they aren't over crowded, they have plenty of room both inside and out! Before the broodiness started this girl was the top dog and now I think some of the others are trying to push her out of that spot.. There unforatunely are multiples that are picking on her but I'll see if there is 1 specific instigator of the bunch

Thank you for your help and advice!

I’m in the same situation here. Did the flock go back to normal once she stopped being broody? Did you remove her or let her go through the process?