Bullied chicken

[Dallas seymour]

I have a small flock of mixed breeds...4 buffs..2 specs a polish rooster and polish hen. They've been together since chicks. I noticed my polish hen had an injury from the rooster mounting her. Then other hens kept pecking at it...i put blue kite on her. Then a day later our rooster escaped. The first day he was gone all he'll broke loose. Every chicken started pecking herd and chasing the polish hen. Untill the rooster disappeared all the chickens got along great..all of a sudden the polish hen is being tormented. I removed her from the flock to an introductory pen unroll she heals. Will the flock ever except her again? All the hens are large but she's a small crested polish hen. Any suggestion will be appreciated. I've never had this problem and I'm so upset.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would never put her back with others. They will peck her skull open and kill her. Polish are best kept with other polish. The rooster was probably protecting her for easy mating rights. When he's gone she has no protection from the other hens.

 

[Dallas seymour]

I would never put her back with others. They will peck her skull open and kill her. Polish are best kept with other polish. The rooster was probably protecting her for easy mating rights. When he's gone she has no protection from the other hens.

 

[Dallas seymour]

Thank you so much. My husband suggested getting another polish female so she's not alone. I hope that will make her happy. She's my favorite chick. If i have to I'll buy a new coop for her. Thank you again.

 

[cmom]

It can be tricky re-establishing them into a flock. I like your idea of her own coop with a pal. I have one special bird that has her own coop. She has had pals in the past but now she is alone but doing fine. She does go around to the different coops to visit but always back to her coop. Good luck and have fun...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you so much. My husband suggested getting another polish female so she's not alone. I hope that will make her happy. She's my favorite chick. If i have to I'll buy a new coop for her. Thank you again.

I enjoy my polish too, but they are tricky to keep in a mixed breed flock. Getting her a friend is a good idea. Polish are goofy little chickens that need a bit of help at times.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and sorry for your problem. Polish in mixed flocks frequently are picked upon. The rooster while there was some protection for her. She is no longer safe in the flock.

 

[Dallas seymour]

Thank you for all the help with my bullied chicken..i now have a new ussue..the flock has now pecked a bald spot on a buff..i have 4 buffs 2 wynadottes...do my chickens now have a taste for blood? I now have pulled her out for her safety ..i have 3 coops now...i can't keep this up..im an emotional wreck.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Aggression generally is because of lack of space, boredom or diet. Sharing more information about what you feed and how big your set ups are will help. Ages of birds too. Often chicks get along fine until they sexually mature. Than they need more space and exercise.

 

[TinyUrbanFlock]

I am having this same problem. 1 Buff Oprington (top hen), 2 Black Australorps and 1 cochin bantam. They were all raised together since day old chicks and got along fine until about 3 months ago they started picking the bantam bald on her head. It got to the point that she started to scab up from the pecking. I think they have started preventing her from accessing the food and water during the day. Last night I brought her and the main bully (2nd in rank) inside and kept them in a large dog cage side by side. The bully was not able to get to the little one, and the little one was able to rest without being pecked.

My question is this: Should I be keeping the two main aggressors away/inside so that the little one and the Buff Orp can re-establish a new pecking order (if they even will?)

OR

Should I keep the victim and the main aggressor together, but separate so the aggressor learns she can't pick on the little one?

My coop/run area is small which where they spend the day while I'm at work. They free range for several hours once I am home from work, but it seems the damage is done by then. Working on getting a larger set up for this summer.

Any suggestions would be awesome. thanks!