bullying or normal chicken behavior?

[Zwillingsmama]

I have 5 chicken (BCM, SS, BR, EE and OE, they were all hatched the same day and I got them on day 3 of their lives - they are now just under 40 weeks. Until recently they all got along great. The OE was always on the bottom of the pecking order, but things got settled with a glance rather than pecking. Things changed when my OE got an impacted crop 3 weeks ago. I noticed she wasn't feeling well and that the others were pecking her, but only a slight peck. I solved the impacted crop, had her in a dog wire crate within the coop, so she was with them, but I was able to control the food and kept an eye on her. Within 4 days she was running with the others again. I have 2 hens who in particular will peck at her for no reason other than being there. They will not pick on any other, just her. Today I saw the BCM mounting her and pecking her back - no blood or anything and OE seems to shrug it off. So my question is - is this normal chicken pecking order/dominance or should I be concerned. My OE is the smallest of my girls and BCM the biggest probably twice the size. Any insight? They have plenty of room about 500sqft during the day, so there is room to get away but sometimes they follow her.

 

[HomeHatcher22]

To be honest I believe that the chicken will solve it on their own but if things get too serious just separate her from the others for a few days GOOD LUCK!!

 

[aart]

Hard to say...she may be low bird and she was 'different' even tho you treated her in the coop. Did you figure out why she had crop trouble, might it be because she has an illness downstream and may still have it? They may sense her 'weakness' and want to drum her out of the flock.

I'd let them work it out unless there is copious bloodletting and/or OE is obviously stressed.
Does your big run have places to 'hide', climb on and under, break lines of sight...
....and just plain enrichment/diversion for them all?

 

[jackie binder]

I have two Hyline brown chickens remaining from my original flock of 7. They were all rescued from a chicken farm and we raised them as chicks. 5 of them passed away for various reasons this past summer and the last two, Miss America and Lucille are all that are left. About 4 months ago, Miss America starting acting like a rooster bully and coming after me when I went to the hen house to collect eggs. My girls free range on about an acre of fenced in property. Then she began to peck at my feet, so I began to pick her up and carry her around the yard, talking to her and telling her what a mean thing she was doing - yes, I was hoping she would understand...however, she did not and the behavior continued. she went after my 9 year old daughter and then it became a REAL problem. I've taught my daughter to not be afraid of her (after all, she is BIGGER than Miss A, and all seemed well for awhile. this past 2 or so weeks she's been taking to pecking at me if I pet Lucille and come after me. I of course don't flinch, but it's becoming bothersome. what's going on? Is it because we only have 2 chickens? Lonely or what? I'm getting 3 Blue Cochins in the spring and am hoping that if my flock increases the behavior will decrease.....any advice would be helpful.....