Bully chicken

[Presnell5]

Hi everyone. I haven’t been on in quite some time so I hope I’m posting to the correct spot. So we were given 1 hen and we introduced slowly and everything seemed fine. But for the past few months the new hen is being picked on by just 1 other hen. The bully even MATES her to the point of rubbing her back feathers off. Any suggestions?

 

[aart]

How long has the new bird been integrated?
How exactly did you integrate?
Adding single bird is tough.
How big is coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Mounting is a dominance move, not always about mating tho it might look like that.

 

[Mrs. K]

What does your run look like? Can chickens get out of sight of each other?

 

[Folly's place]

Agree, and also what breeds do you have/ Who's dominant, and who is the new bird?
More space, more feeders and waterers, and out of sight places all help.
Mary

 

[Presnell5]

]hhhhhm a little bit but not as much as I’d like. I feel like it’s plenty big... 20x12 and I only have 7 hens. They have perches everywhere and a compost that they can scratch in and I let them out just about every day. Any suggestions on how to add hiding features?
What does your run look like? Can chickens get out of sight of each other?
[/QUOTE]

Agree, and also what breeds do you have/ Who's dominant, and who is the new bird?
More space, more feeders and waterers, and out of sight places all help.
Mary

How long has the new bird been integrated?
How exactly did you integrate?
Adding single bird is tough.
How big is coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Mounting is a dominance move, not always about mating tho it might look like that.

 

[Presnell5]

Agree, and also what breeds do you have/ Who's dominant, and who is the new bird?
More space, more feeders and waterers, and out of sight places all help.
Mary

So the run is 20x12 and they get out most of the day. The aggressor is a Rhoad island white and the newcomer is an Easter Egger. I only have 7 birds so I honestly feel it’s not a space issue.they are all different breeds. I have 5 feeders. All the other girls are totally fine with the new girl. She came in January. I kept her separate for 2 weeks and then let them mingle in the yard at first. Then again the next day etc. until they were comfort with each other. I will add more out of site spaces Any suggestions on how to do that? I

 

[Presnell5]

How long has the new bird been integrated?
How exactly did you integrate?
Adding single bird is tough.
How big is coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Mounting is a dominance move, not always about mating tho it might look like that.

Well you’re right about that! It’s for sure a dominance thing lol. The run is 20x12. 7 hens all different breeds. The aggressor is a Rhode Island white and the new one is an Easter Egger. I knew it would be hard to add one chicken but she came from a home where she was all alone so I took her in . I kept them separate but visible for two weeks. Then when I felt it was time I let them all freerange together for 10 min or so. Then the next day same thing until everyone seemed ok. And there was a little pecking first thing but nothing crazy. But this white hen just won’t stop!
I will add some privacy areas if we can call them that but I’m not really sure how. Just low walls? Any ideas?

 

[aart]

Well you’re right about that! It’s for sure a dominance thing lol. The run is 20x12. 7 hens all different breeds. The aggressor is a Rhode Island white and the new one is an Easter Egger. I knew it would be hard to add one chicken but she came from a home where she was all alone so I took her in . I kept them separate but visible for two weeks. Then when I felt it was time I let them all freerange together for 10 min or so. Then the next day same thing until everyone seemed ok. And there was a little pecking first thing but nothing crazy. But this white hen just won’t stop!
I will add some privacy areas if we can call them that but I’m not really sure how. Just low walls? Any ideas?

Ehhh....2 weeks might not have been long enough.
How big is the coop?
Pics of both coop and run would help garner some viable suggestions/solutions.

Here's some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Presnell5]

Thanks aart. I’ll try some of these tips. I do have a big jade plant in there as well as a couple stumps and numerous perches and an old chair. But maybe something leaned against the wall that they can walk through would help. Thanks again!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I will add more out of site spaces Any suggestions on how to do that?

Here's a thread with some good info on that front:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/