Broody Hen target of bullying

[GardenJen77]

I have a hen who is known to go Broody. We tried to let her hatch eggs but must have started too late in her cycle.

Anyways, since she had spent so much time in the coop, in the nesting boxes, when she did come out, she was bullied. So bad she is pretty light on feathering, and petrified. We have her isolated now.

Is there any hope on reintegration for her?

 

[azygous]

If you can put her with the others and let them work through the shifting ranks that happens in the absence and return of a single individual, it would be over in seconds.

However, in the event the others are hard on this hen and her self confidence seems to be damaged by the absence, you may need to let her re-enter the flock gradually over a period of several days, increasing her time with the others as her confidence builds.

Read my article on bullying. It shows how this will work. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

 

[Mrs. K]

Or pick a middle of the flock bird, let them duke it out one on one, away from everyone else. When they are friends - introduce the pair.

But I am questioning if she is broody or sick? Sometimes birds isolate themselves and the flock attacks a bird that is close to dying.

MRs K

 

[GardenJen77]

Or pick a middle of the flock bird, let them duke it out one on one, away from everyone else. When they are friends - introduce the pair.

But I am questioning if she is broody or sick? Sometimes birds isolate themselves and the flock attacks a bird that is close to dying.

MRs K

She was definitely Broody. Missing her underside feathers, attacked anyone that messed with the clutch, and would tuck any disturbed eggs back under her.

 

[GardenJen77]

The

If you can put her with the others and let them work through the shifting ranks that happens in the absence and return of a single individual, it would be over in seconds.

However, in the event the others are hard on this hen and her self confidence seems to be damaged by the absence, you may need to let her re-enter the flock gradually over a period of several days, increasing her time with the others as her confidence builds.

Read my article on bullying. It shows how this will work. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

The over in seconds part isn't working. She had been left alone (by us) for days as her Broody cycle was ending to see if she would reintegrate. However, quite a few of our newest hens to the flock are relentless on bullying. They peck her and chase her away from any food or water or anytime she is out in the open. If she is tucked away hiding, she's ok.

I will look at your article and try to glean something from it.

 

[azygous]

Keep in mind that a flock can get very irritated with a broody. However, if a hen has a timid temperament and the bullying is relentless, she can lose her self confidence and that tends to aggravate the entire scene, and it can render the hen into a chronic victim. That would need the sort of intervention I present in my article.

 

[GardenJen77]

Keep in mind that a flock can get very irritated with a broody. However, if a hen has a timid temperament and the bullying is relentless, she can lose her self confidence and that tends to aggravate the entire scene, and it can render the hen into a chronic victim. That would need the sort of intervention I present in my article.

I loved your article! Yes Mable has a very mild temperament. Kind of hilarious how she was a very good ( very protective) Broody. It was like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde. I will be implementing the ideas you suggested.

 

[lazy gardener]

Also, look at your coop/run set up. Is it large enough? 4 s.f. in coop/10 s.f. in run per bird as an absolute minimum with lots of multi level and out of sight areas, multiple feed and water stations.

 

[GardenJen77]

Also, look at your coop/run set up. Is it large enough? 4 s.f. in coop/10 s.f. in run per bird as an absolute minimum with lots of multi level and out of sight areas, multiple feed and water stations.

Run is large enough, yes, coop is a tad shy of the minimum, but I do have two "separate" coops, so that helps. Lots of levels, not a lot of "hiding" areas. Plenty of feeding and water stations.

 

[GardenJen77]

UPDATE: We had separated Mable into the "solitary confinement" area, that we use for quarantine and brooding chicks. It is just a partitioned off part of the larger run with it's own small coop. However, we noticed Mable kept getting out (of the run completely) and were finding that two of our Isa's kept breaking in and chasing her out, so they could lay their eggs in THAT coop. No matter how we made sure there was "no way in", in 4 tries, they were always in, and Mable had been chased out.

Our duck run butts up right against the chicken run, and Mable, most of the time would end up in there. We tried putting her back in her own pen, but she would end up right back with the ducks. After examining her thoroughly, and watching how her and the ducks interacted (since it is known that drakes kill chickens ??), we decided to leave her in with the ducks.

They have accepted her and even let her eat and drink first before they come up and join. She is getting her confidence back and is no longer hiding, because she isn't being constantly attacked.

Do to the injuries she had sustained under the bullies (which we found were quite extensive) She will most likely remain here, and never be put back with the chickens.

Now then: What to do with the bullies?? We found that two (as mentioned above) are notorious for it. With Mable gone, mostly all is well, but the bullies are finding other victims to pick on now. Should we cull these birds out of the flock all together?