Bullied hen

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CluckerFamily said:
If you will be putting her on the roost with the rest and if you have a roost lower than the other, put her on the lower roost. Easy way to get away from the others and the others will most likely group together on the higher one.
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Okay. I guess maybe I'm still quite new to chickening, and am hopefully not making things worse, but my thought process was that if I put her on the top bar amid the others that she'd be more accepted. (Also to stay warm as we begin our descent into the 20s overnight after snowy/wet days not much warmer.) From your suggestions it seems that she would be fine, if not better off, by herself either at the far end of the top bar or alone on the bottom. Is that correct? Would she be warm enough on her own? Our coop is uninsulated and unheated. Thanks.

Re: the broodiness -- if she makes it through to spring and goes broody, I'm giving her eggs to build up a Pat-loving sub-flock 🥰
 
hagoesch said:
Okay. I guess maybe I'm still quite new to chickening, and am hopefully not making things worse, but my thought process was that if I put her on the top bar amid the others that she'd be more accepted. (Also to stay warm as we begin our descent into the 20s overnight after snowy/wet days not much warmer.) From your suggestions it seems that she would be fine, if not better off, by herself either at the far end of the top bar or alone on the bottom. Is that correct? Would she be warm enough on her own? Our coop is uninsulated and unheated. Thanks.

Re: the broodiness -- if she makes it through to spring and goes broody, I'm giving her eggs to build up a Pat-loving sub-flock 🥰
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The highest roost bars are normally used by the higher ups in the flock. They won't allow her to stay there, more than likely and will probably get pecked and pushed off.
 
ValerieLovesChickens said:
You said she is the smallest, and while the nest box is not an ideal place to sleep... my Uncle raised chickens in Kansas, we are talking 250+ in a metal barn in the middle of a pasture as they free ranged. Every single chicken had a nest box to sleep in if they chose to do so, and 2 long roosts down the middle, both at the same height. They all were healthy and happy, sure we had to wash a few eggs, change the hay monthly, but he was a farmer. She is small and probably cold, that's why she wants the nestbox. She feels safe there and is protected and warm. So long as she can eat, drink, sleep and isn't being bloodied or torn apart, let nature do its thing. :) 👍 We as humans tend to think, that all chicken behavior should be set in stone, one way or another. But, theres always that one odd chicken.... my favorite Rooster.... he sleeps in the nestbox after all his hens have roosted for the night. He will go into coop at dusk after he calls them, hop on the roost and wait until all are in and settled. Then he spruces up the nestbox and goes to sleep. LoL
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Chicken behavior is bizarre, to be certain! Pat is the sweetest, but not the smallest... though with her current hard molt and previous bullying from food that's being remedied she's quite a bit less stately than normal. Regularly she's the largest hen, an Easter Egger. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to let her have a box if that's where she feels safe. I only thought putting her in with the others might make them bring her back into the flock. It's so hard not to anthropomorphize! Thanks much for your story and suggestions.
 
hagoesch said:
Sure did that tonight when I was playing musical hens 😆 Kept my hands warm! So consensus then is to leave her be on her own rather than reintegration?
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She will be fine.
I don't think you want to reintegrate her, she is already integrated. If anything you may choose to reintegrate the others to make the pecking order change but that will involve a crate or separate enclosure for a little bit before reintegrating to the flock.
She is the bottom. Unfortunately, there will always be one on the bottom even if you choose to intervene and change the pecking order.
 
hagoesch said:
Chicken behavior is bizarre, to be certain! Pat is the sweetest, but not the smallest... though with her current hard molt and previous bullying from food that's being remedied she's quite a bit less stately than normal. Regularly she's the largest hen, an Easter Egger. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to let her have a box if that's where she feels safe. I only thought putting her in with the others might make them bring her back into the flock. It's so hard not to anthropomorphize! Thanks much for your story and suggestions.
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I think that I missed the part about her hard molt. Yup, she is probably chilly and a bit not so much herself right now. May I suggest giving her some water with Rooster Booster in it, and some cooked egg, and fresh leafy greens. That should help her out with the molt. :)
 
CluckerFamily said:
She will be fine.
I don't think you want to reintegrate her, she is already integrated. If anything you may choose to reintegrate the others to make the pecking order change but that will involve a crate or separate enclosure for a little bit before reintegrating to the flock.
She is the bottom. Unfortunately, there will always be one on the bottom even if you choose to intervene and change the pecking order.
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Thanks for all of your help. Despite fully understanding the pecking order, it is no less heartbreaking to watch her be tormented and terrified. I want her to be loved! But in the end, as long as she's safe. CHEERS
 

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