Bullied chicken, where should she sleep?

[Jgrzyosbo]

My salmon faverolles Floof has always been at the bottom of the pecking order, but lately she really has been bullied. This morning I found her with a very bloody comb and lots of missing and broken feathers on her head. Turns out there is a hole right through her comb. She has been sleeping in the coop with the others, but for the last several days she has been separated during daytime in the closed off end section of the run, away from the bullies. Everyone can see each other. There is a small coop in this part of the run.

Previously I had segregated the 2 main bullies, and things were better. They were sleeping in the little coop. When I let them back in with the others, things were fine for a while, then it started again. I put pinless peepers on the main bully, which worked, but now others are bullying more. I couldn't get the peepers on the SLW with a big rose comb.

It will be pretty cold tonight, forecast is 18 degrees and snow. I don't think Floof would be warm enough alone in the little coop. I am afraid to put her back in with the bullies tonight. The injuries happened in the coop, in the early morning before I let them out. I hesitate to take her out of sight of the others, because reintroduction would probably be a nightmare. I would put the bullies back in the little coop, but I am not sure I know who to move, and the coop really only holds 2.

Help?

 

[STACEYH]

I would heal her up outside of being in the coop add one or two others that are low on the pecking order to help her stay warm.. Once she is better try to get her back in. I would remove the bullies again if they start up again.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

My salmon faverolles Floof has always been at the bottom of the pecking order, but lately she really has been bullied. This morning I found her with a very bloody comb and lots of missing and broken feathers on her head. Turns out there is a hole right through her comb. She has been sleeping in the coop with the others, but for the last several days she has been separated during daytime in the closed off end section of the run, away from the bullies. Everyone can see each other. There is a small coop in this part of the run.

Previously I had segregated the 2 main bullies, and things were better. They were sleeping in the little coop. When I let them back in with the others, things were fine for a while, then it started again. I put pinless peepers on the main bully, which worked, but now others are bullying more. I couldn't get the peepers on the SLW with a big rose comb.

It will be pretty cold tonight, forecast is 18 degrees and snow. I don't think Floof would be warm enough alone in the little coop. I am afraid to put her back in with the bullies tonight. The injuries happened in the coop, in the early morning before I let them out. I hesitate to take her out of sight of the others, because reintroduction would probably be a nightmare. I would put the bullies back in the little coop, but I am not sure I know who to move, and the coop really only holds 2.

Help?

Remove bullies in a smaller coop and let her go in the big one

 

[Jgrzyosbo]

I would heal her up outside of being in the coop add one or two others that are low on the pecking order to help her stay warm.. Once she is better try to get her back in. I would remove the bullies again if they start up again.

Thank you. She is currently in the basement, but will be back outside in her safe zone before the others come out. I think I will put the 2 gentlest ones in with her tomorrow during the day as a test. The I will decide about where everyone sleeps.

 

[Jgrzyosbo]

Remove bullies in a smaller coop and let her go in the big one

I will try this too, during the day, to see exactly who is bullying. I know of 2 for sure. Thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

salmon faverolles Floof has always been at the bottom of the pecking order, but lately she really has been bullied. This morning I found her with a very bloody comb and lots of missing and broken feathers on her head. Turns out there is a hole right through her comb. She has been sleeping in the coop with the others, but for the last several days she has been separated during daytime in the closed off end section of the run, away from the bullies.

I know some hens can just be so docile that they are targets, but it's a very good idea to look her over and consider that she may have something else going on.
Look for lice/mites, make sure her crop is emptying overnight, does she lay eggs/are they normal, you have her separated so you should be able to get a good look at her droppings as well.

Bullying is happening in the coop in the mornings before they are let out. How much space is there and when do you open up?

 

[Jgrzyosbo]

I know some hens can just be so docile that they are targets, but it's a very good idea to look her over and consider that she may have something else going on.
Look for lice/mites, make sure her crop is emptying overnight, does she lay eggs/are they normal, you have her separated so you should be able to get a good look at her droppings as well.

Bullying is happening in the coop in the mornings before they are let out. How much space is there and when do you open up?

Thank you for your input.

She is so docile that she is a target; after I got my mixed flock I learned that salmon faverolles don't do well alone in a mixed flock. She has always been a target, but since the bullying got worse she has victim mentality, she cowers when one goes after her, and that seems to make it worse.

She is otherwise healthy, but she doesn't lay regularly. Not at all right now, but she is molting. Hasn't ever laid regularly, though. No lice/mites, crop is fine, droppings are fine.

They have 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop, which used to be enough... I don't open up at the same time every day, or I haven't in the past, but after this I am planning to open up no later than sunrise. Plus I want to get an automatic door. But right now I am afraid they might corner her in the run, too, she doesn't get away, she just flattens herself to the ground.

All this really started at molting. I am hoping when that is done, and after she gets more confident on the other side of the hardware cloth, we might be ok. If not, I will try to split them to 2 flocks in the spring. Need to build a bigger 2nd coop.

Thanks again, your input is welcome and helpful.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was thinking that's what she might be doing, thank you for the info. Molting definitely is going to make her more timid. It's good that you have a way to separate her out and keep her safer.
Hopefully once she's feathered back out she will gain more confidence.