Bullied Bird Please help!

[szwr197]

Noticed blood on my RIR today. She has been an outcast ever since she molted in September. I kept hoping the behavior would naturally resolve but it is getting worse. It has been manageable because they free range so she can escape but now it is 0 degree weather and they are not leaving the run.

I put her in the basement to clean up the blood. What do I do with her? I know never to separate the weak bird from the flock, always take away the bully. In this case there are three that are ganging up on her. Under normal circumstances I would put her with the nicer two and take away all three of the mean ones, putting them back one at a time. But I don't have another winter safe setup for that.

If I leave her in the basement till warmer temps on Sunday it will be worse when I put her back, right? But then again, I don't see how it could get much worse. They won't let her anywhere near them right now except they do let her roost with them at night.

I have to make a decision soon as much more time in the basement and she won't be able to go back out into the cold as she won't be acclimated.

PS It is not a space issue. They have multiple runs and they are all large with a lot of hiding places. I also have separate food and water stations set up.

Please help!

 

[chickens really]

Run a heat lamp for red light ..Up the protein in the diet to 18%.

 

[Jemma Rider]

Noticed blood on my RIR today. She has been an outcast ever since she molted in September. I kept hoping the behavior would naturally resolve but it is getting worse. It has been manageable because they free range so she can escape but now it is 0 degree weather and they are not leaving the run.

I put her in the basement to clean up the blood. What do I do with her? I know never to separate the weak bird from the flock, always take away the bully. In this case there are three that are ganging up on her. Under normal circumstances I would put her with the nicer two and take away all three of the mean ones, putting them back one at a time. But I don't have another winter safe setup for that.

If I leave her in the basement till warmer temps on Sunday it will be worse when I put her back, right? But then again, I don't see how it could get much worse. They won't let her anywhere near them right now except they do let her roost with them at night.

I have to make a decision soon as much more time in the basement and she won't be able to go back out into the cold as she won't be acclimated.

PS It is not a space issue. They have multiple runs and they are all large with a lot of hiding places. I also have separate food and water stations set up.

Please help!

Could you separate the bullies into one of the runs but still allow them to roost together? My hen was bullied a few weeks ago and i actually fenced off half of my run and put her in there with the top hen in my pecking order since that hen wasn't messing with her. I let her roost with the others and just went out every day and put her in her little fenced off area. It's purpose was so that she could gain some weight and heal but still be with the flock so they wouldn't forget her, I haven't had any issues since.

 

[szwr197]

Could you separate the bullies into one of the runs but still allow them to roost together? My hen was bullied a few weeks ago and i actually fenced off half of my run and put her in there with the top hen in my pecking order since that hen wasn't messing with her. I let her roost with the others and just went out every day and put her in her little fenced off area. It's purpose was so that she could gain some weight and heal but still be with the flock so they wouldn't forget her, I haven't had any issues since.

Ok I will try that. She's one of my biggest birds! No weight issues so far because I have been sure to keep food in her little safe area. I wish she would fight back.