Bully Hen

[Auntie Moose]

I have three chickens and they have lived together about 9 months. Things have been going well, each hen laying an egg every day or so. In the last two weeks or so one hen has decided to bully one other hen. It's gotten so bad that the one being pecked hides in the coop most of the day. If I roust her out and put her in the run, the bully heads for her and pecks at her beak or rump. The victim hen has not laid in this time, although she sits in the box every day. No other factors like insects, vermin, nor changes in food, coop, water---nothing. The third hen is unaffected by either.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

I would move the bully hen out of the area for about a week, it will give time for the other hens to decide they need to mutiny if they want to survive

 

[alexa009]

I agree! Definitely needs to be separated. It is your option but the bullying will keep going on if the bully is not separated from the flock. My buff Orpington would bully around the red chickens but it definitely wasn't that bad where they needed to be separated.

 

[Auntie Moose]

I have no place to keep one hen apart from the others.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

That... Could be a problem

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Get a dog crate (check the thrift store or craigslist) and use that.

 

[alexa009]

You can also check out chicken eyeglasses.
Here is a pic. Try ebay or any place you know might have them.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eye_Glasses_For_Chickens.png It prevents bullying.

 

[MasAhora]

All birds and other animals can cope with a few days of being "locked into" something. We never like the idea permanent but... from one perspective it could be nicer than culling or watching torment.

If you have a space eg laundry, bathroom, garage, tool shed that for just 72hours could be used.... might help.
Yep it is a hassle, my dog is NOT chicken friendly so my bathroom is always a challenge for a chick patient. Now I am learning how they do things in Paraguay, it is not uncommon for a chicken or rooster to be tied by one leg to a nice shady tree for a few days -maybe they want to break broodiness, or rooster aggression or have next days dinner on hand.
I am pretty sure something posted will spark an idea that might work for your own situation. It is just a temporary blockade from the group - enough to reconfigure her brain, she will get over it surprisingly quickly. Like my broody girls...scream murder at me as I move them to a broody break crate and then they revert to sweet hens after 2-4 days!

 

[Auntie Moose]

That... Could be a problem

I have a chicken jail (dog kennel), but I thought you were talking about keeping her permanently separated from the other two. I'm totally confused right now, because I let them free range together and they all very politely ate from my hand. No squabbles.

 

[Auntie Moose]

All birds and other animals can cope with a few days of being "locked into" something. We never like the idea permanent but... from one perspective it could be nicer than culling or watching torment.

If you have a space eg laundry, bathroom, garage, tool shed that for just 72hours could be used.... might help.
Yep it is a hassle, my dog is NOT chicken friendly so my bathroom is always a challenge for a chick patient. Now I am learning how they do things in Paraguay, it is not uncommon for a chicken or rooster to be tied by one leg to a nice shady tree for a few days -maybe they want to break broodiness, or rooster aggression or have next days dinner on hand.
I am pretty sure something posted will spark an idea that might work for your own situation. It is just a temporary blockade from the group - enough to reconfigure her brain, she will get over it surprisingly quickly. Like my broody girls...scream murder at me as I move them to a broody break crate and then they revert to sweet hens after 2-4 days!

I understand that she needs to be away from the other two hens. I have broken a broody in my chicken jail, so I'm clear on the process. I'm mostly confused now because the bullying isn't consistent. I will try chicken jail for a few days.