Bullied chicken

[Danyander]

I feel really bad for Lucy. She is constantly picked on. She is much smaller than the other birds. Idk what to do. We have more than enough room in the run and we even let them out in our yard during the day. She is ALWAYS on high alert. I checked on them last night and she was on the bottom roost. We have 3 total. What can I do to help her be picked on less? We have 3 black sex links and 1 other barred rock. She is laying but eggs are tiny.

 

[JanetS]

We rehomed our bully.

If that's not possible, you may have to rehome Lucy. For her health and safety. Sorry. Good luck.

 

[Danyander]

I separated the main bully for a couple days. But now all of the black sex links pick on her. The other barred rock is ok with her being around and pecks her occasionally if she is annoyed. I just feel so bad she is always so anxious.

 

[JanetS]

A couple of days isn't long enough. A couple of weeks at least. You want to change the pecking order. What about putting Lucy and your barred rock in a separate coop?

 

[the poppster]

Here's some ideas.....have more than one feeder available..access to more then one waterer...give her places to get away from the bullys...put all the roosts at the same level....add "furniture" to your run....a new log or old chair....a hollow stump...stuff like that will distract the others...spread the scratch or feed out so no one can hog it all...and she can feed without being cornered.

 

[aart]

There will always be a low hen on the pecking order....and they will be pecked at regularly.
It's just how chickens roll.
Most low birds get lots of pecks (and even some feathers grabbed or plucked out) throughout the day, but if you observe closely and calmly.....
......you'll see they take the peck(s), maybe with a squawk, then move away and proceed with their chickeny activities.

As long as there's no serious blood drawn or pinning down/trapping and beating upon, let them be.

How old are these birds and how big is their coop and run (feet by feet)?
Small spaces can be a big issue if there's no where for the picked on bird to retreat.

 

[Danyander]

One of the black sex links (Ariel) follows her around sometimes and pecks. I put treat out yesterday and Flower (BSL) jumped on her! Their run is HUGE. 6x6 or 8x8. And there is even more room because I asked him to make it go under the coop too. I can't remember what my hubby used. But it's big! We put hay down to keep them entertained and even a hay bale. I have heard barred rocks can hold their own and that's why we got them to integrated with the BSL we had already.

 

[Danyander]

They are all 5 months old. BSL are like 2 weeks older than the barred rocks.

 

[wmgatorfan08]

Would adding a rooster to the flock help put the hens in their place??

 

[carlsaSC]

I had a problem with my rooster picking on two of the 3 buff Orpingtons. I finally moved them into a separated run area. One was so beaten, she was just lying on the ground. But they have flourished in the separate run. I have six new pullets in a fenced off area of the 'exiles' run. They, in turn, peck at the newbies when they fly out of their restricted section (the youngsters can get out, but the buffies can't get in.) So, even though they are thriving while sectioned off, the roo will make a run at them with all the resulting fluttering around when he feels so moved. So, I don't think they can ever be reunited, or, at least that's what I'm planning on.