Bullied Hen Molting or Ill?

[Bethanys82]

Looking for some advice. I have 7 hens that are 17 months old, 4 Golden Comets and 3 RIR. A few started molting mid-summer (I wasn't sure it was molting but no signs of mites or lice and I can see pin feathers coming in). One of the Comets lost her big tail feathers and looking quite shabby with disheveled feathers. I've been hearing alot more squabbles and checked the camera and sure enough she's being bullied by the 3 other Comets . She was hiding all day in the coop and when she'd try and go out for food and water they would chase her. After I realized what was going on I noticed her comb was kind of pail. I separated her into the small coop and run and put it next to the main one and gave her electrolyte in her water, scrambled eggs and poultry cell. She seems in better health but petrified of the Comets. I tried letting them all free range the next day while I was there and they went after her again and she just isolates herself. Is this normal for them to pick on each other when molting? Could it be something else going on with her?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

In my limited experience with higher production breeds like comets I found they need a higher protein ration due to all the eggs they produce. If they don't get enough protein they can become aggressive, or egg eaters, or even start to cannibalize each other. You will see it more at the vent where others will pick until they make a hole.

What are feeding? And how much room do they have? I personally would put pinless peepers on the bullies and make sure you are feeding 18-22% protein in the ration. Aggression can turn bad quickly.

It's also possible she's starting to molting and feels a bit under the weather which can cause others to go after her.

 

[thecatumbrella]

In my limited experience with higher production breeds like comets I found they need a higher protein ration due to all the eggs they produce. If they don't get enough protein they can become aggressive, or egg eaters, or even start to cannibalize each other. You will see it more at the vent where others will pick until they make a hole.

Yep, this is exactly what happened to me. My Golden Comet started getting bumped off the feeder a bit by a more dominant bird, and she almost immediately went to eating feathers from around their vents. Unraveled my whole flock.

I'm not a pinless pepper fan, but if your entire flock is Comets and Reds, I'd 100% go for that option. The alternative is basically culling.

 

[Bethanys82]

In my limited experience with higher production breeds like comets I found they need a higher protein ration due to all the eggs they produce. If they don't get enough protein they can become aggressive, or egg eaters, or even start to cannibalize each other. You will see it more at the vent where others will pick until they make a hole.

What are feeding? And how much room do they have? I personally would put pinless peepers on the bullies and make sure you are feeding 18-22% protein in the ration. Aggression can turn bad quickly.

It's also possible she's starting to molting and feels a bit under the weather which can cause others to go after her.

Thanks for the suggestions. Definitely string layers, they lay everyday, even through winter. There's 7 hens in a 10x8 coop and 16×8 run. I'm feeding them Pouilin Premium Layer Pellet with 16.5% Protein. I had read they need additional protein while molting so I've been giving them some scrambled eggs every few days and mealworms in-between. She's not even the most lost feathered bird, but she lost her big tail feathers and she was already the smallest. Hoping to just keep her separated until they come back in. I might have to do a readjustment of the pecking order and pull the 3 Comets out and bring one back every few days.

 

[Eggcessive]

This article about Azygous about how to restore a bullied hen’s confidence is worth reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/