Bullying

[lori511]

I have 8 hens. 3 RIR, 3 Barred Plymouth Rock, and 2 Americannas. For some strange reason one of my RIR is being attacked by all the other hens. Is this a normal thing that happens. They are all 2yrs old and have been raised together since chicks. They don't allow her to join them on the ground, they don't let her lay they don't allow her to eat and drink. When she does attempt to jump down, it seems that one of the Barred Rocks does the attacking and one of the Americannas will finish. The other hens do try to join in though. She does have some feathers that have been cracked off, and when they jump on her they really do a job sometimes drawing blood. What is it that i should do? Anyone have any ideas? I am in this for the eggs, and the comfort of having my own supply, and I really don't want to eat her. lol

 

[crittersitter]

How big is their coop and run? Do they get to free range? how long has this been going on? sounds like she needs to be separated but I'm sure someone will chime in with some ideas.

 

[lori511]

They have for sleeping eating nesting they have a 4ft X 4ft area, with a cage all together it is a 4ft X 9ft with a 6ft height and 3 perches. In addition there is another 12ft X 2ft with a 2ft height that I put them in. I call it the play pen. No they are not free roaming, however I do let the one that is being picked on roam around when I can be with her. I bought them from a friend who raised them from chicks. It looks like all her feathers on her wing have been snapped off, I have held her and looked to see if there are any parasites I don't see any. My husband thinks it is the pecking order, but she is not even trying to fight back, she just lets them all attack her. And she screams Bloody murder, hense the name Bloody Chicken.

 

[crittersitter]

She definatley needs to be separated in a nice dark, warm cozy space to recuperate. poor girl is probably traumatized and in need of some tlc. She could use some extra protein since you say they don't let her near the food. A nice chopped up hard boiled egg with some cooked oatmeal and crumbles/pellets makes my girls very happy.

I would move her or they will most likely kill her or seriously injure her. How is her energy/activity level? Poor girl

 

[lori511]

I really don't have another place with shelter to place her. I was thinking of making a temporary night space for her out of a covered litter pan. And when I am home i try to seperate her from the others. I am going to post some of my chicken pics on here if i can. Thank you for all your help, it is really appreciated. Since I have noticed it started like 3 or 4 days ago I have been doing my best to keep her separated from the others, but sometimes I just have to keep her with them. She is not scrawny or skinny it is just her feathers are still the downy and some are snapped. Like I said thank you.

 

[teach1rusl]

It sounds as if they are overcrowded, which often results in picking and bullying. For comfort and to discourage bad behavior, 4 sq. ft. per bird of housing, and 10 sq. ft. of run space (unless birds are freeranged, and then they have tons of space) is the minimum recommendation for LF birds, 2 sq. ft/5sq. ft. for bantams. That's 112 sq. ft total (run/housing) vs. the 36 sq. feet you have (or did I read that wrong???). You have a LOT of birds for your space. Some chickens can handle being cramped, but yours can't. I would definitely rehome the bird that is getting beat up. They could actually kill her if they drew blood and then kept pecking. It's happened before in overcrowding situations. I'd find a way to vastly expand your run too. I'd crate the hen that's getting hurt and find a new home for her.

 

[Karrie13]

Quote:
**GRUESOME DESCRIPTION***

I totally agree with teach1rusl. They need more space. I meet the minimum requirements in coop and have enough run for twice that many but still lost a laying hen in March to cannibalism. It is the saddest thing to go out and check on your birds and see others pecking at one that is so weak she barely lifts her head up to defend herself as they eat hear alive. Everyone was fine that morning with no signs of anybody getting picked on. That is a gruesome description and I am sorry for that but I don’t want you to learn your lesson the hard way. I have since replaced most of the birds that ganged up on my little EE girl and haven’t had any problems since.