Bully Chicken injuring the others!

[JoeInPA]

How old are these birds?

4-5 weeks.

 

[chickens really]

4-5 weeks.

Definitely ready to be outside and I'm thinking that's your issues. Bordom, over crowding.

 

[JoeInPA]

Definitely ready to be outside and I'm thinking that's your issues. Bordom, over crowding.

Good to know. I thought they may still need another week before they were ready to be outside. Should they be outside full time or just during the day?

I will probably only have the one hen after this week, should she be outside on her own?

 

[chickens really]

Good to know. I thought they may still need another week before they were ready to be outside. Should they be outside full time or just during the day?

I will probably only have the one hen after this week, should she be outside on her own?

Keep the Cockerel if you want but definitely get them outside today into the pen. They will be much more content.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all,

So I have found a home for all 4 of my Welsummer roosters and I will be rehoming them tomorrow am. In the meantime, the one rooster is picking on the others. I have him in a separate bin by himself right now, but he was pulling feathers out of the others and eating them. I put him in a separate bin for about 20 minutes and then put him back with the others, but he immediately began doing the same thing. The others were fleeing from him and screeching, so I removed him again, which is where I am now. He is screeching being by himself in the bin, but I don't want him being with the others. The other are much more content without him. Am I doing the right thing?

The 50 gal bin was maybe getting a little tight, but I am now down two birds so there are only two in a 50 gal bin. The third bully bird is in his own 25 gallon bin with food and water. Maybe with two less birds, he will be okay with the extra space. Still I'm worried to try putting him with the others for fear he's going to do the same thing.

Good to know. I thought they may still need another week before they were ready to be outside. Should they be outside full time or just during the day?

I will probably only have the one hen after this week, should she be outside on her own?

Why are you keeping only one? It will make it harder on her if you bring more in, she will be the odd one out then. I would consider keeping another pullet so she has a buddy now and when/if you bring in others. Integration can be a bit tricky at times, so introductions should be slow. You will also want to consider a quarantine period of any new birds you bring in, observing them for symptoms of respiratory disease, worms and external parasites.

How much outside space do you have - size of coop/run (sq ft of each)?

 

[JoeInPA]

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[JoeInPA]

Why are you keeping only one? It will make it harder on her if you bring more in, she will be the odd one out then. I would consider keeping another pullet so she has a buddy now and when/if you bring in others. Integration can be a bit tricky at times, so introductions should be slow. You will also want to consider a quarantine period of any new birds you bring in, observing them for symptoms of respiratory disease, worms and external parasites.

How much outside space do you have - size of coop/run (sq ft of each)?

Sorry if I haven't explained my situation well. I bought 5 birds. 4 turned out to be cockerels. I can only keep the one hen. I will be purchasing some more hens, but they will not be the same age as the one I have and will probably need to be raised separately for the first few weeks.

 

[chickens really]

Then do a look no touch pen for the one Pullet.

 

[JoeInPA]

I will look for a no touch pen. Im already at work so they will be in the pen until I get home. My enclosure isn't finished yet and I have hawks so I will have to get right on finishing it tomorrow so that they can be outside.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry if I haven't explained my situation well. I bought 5 birds. 4 turned out to be cockerels. I can only keep the one hen. I will be purchasing some more hens, but they will not be the same age as the one I have and will probably need to be raised separately for the first few weeks.

Gotcha! Well, that's a pickle isn't it

OK, so let's see your outside coop/run - how much space is there?
Photo of your pullet?
If she's fully feathered, I would go ahead and put her in the coop/run and let her get settled since that is going to be her home.
Hopefully you can find some more pullets around the same age, I think if I had a choice, of older/younger, I would get slightly younger than her. If you have room in your coop and/or run, temporarily section off a portion for the newbies so everyone can see one another.
Ime, chickens are clannish, they don't like change and at least mine don't like newbies. If you have several newbies, they likely will view your single pullet as the enemy (boy, I'm telling a lot about my stinkers aren't I). Your single pullet is still going to be odd one out, but if she's established herself a bit in her own territory they all may get on fine. Being fairly young, they can sometimes be more excepting.