Chick got pecked

[Wyorp Rock]

The run is 12 x 12 and the coop is raised up in that space and is 4 x 12. The go out in the yard pretty much everyday for 2-6 hours. They usually go out even in the rain. Any suggestions on what to put in the run to offer hiding spaces? There is deep litter in the run and deep bedding in the coop. I have been throwing extra scratch out there to keep them busy. There are a few roosts in the run and several in the coop. The ramp coming out of the coop is somewhat in the middle of the run, so the run is broken up by that. And, I am sorry to say, that our little Lexi died tonight. She was pecked more severely than we realized and grew weaker and weaker. She had been walking around earlier today. She would drink but would hardly eat anything. It's been quite traumatic for us.

I'm so sorry to hear you lost her

How many chickens in that space?
Pecking order can be quite brutal at times. Chicks may need something to get up on to get away from the adults, perches sometimes work, which you have.

Are the chicks still trying to "connect" with her?

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Thanks for you reply. We have 11 adults and the 3 chicks. The chicks don't seem to be trying to interact with her. They have formed their own little group and stay together when they forage out in the yard but don't stay together as much when in the run. Unfortunately, Mara the mama, is the smallest and nastiest chicken we have. She probably isn't a super nasty chicken, but we see very little pecking between our chickens except for roosting time. We are going to try to place some straw bales and other obstacles so that the little ones have more coverage if needed. They have a crate to go in that the adults can't get into and there's a little tunnel alongside the crate where it is up against the wall and a bag of pine shavings in there that gives them some hiding places.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for you reply. We have 11 adults and the 3 chicks. The chicks don't seem to be trying to interact with her. They have formed their own little group and stay together when they forage out in the yard but don't stay together as much when in the run. Unfortunately, Mara the mama, is the smallest and nastiest chicken we have. She probably isn't a super nasty chicken, but we see very little pecking between our chickens except for roosting time. We are going to try to place some straw bales and other obstacles so that the little ones have more coverage if needed. They have a crate to go in that the adults can't get into and there's a little tunnel alongside the crate where it is up against the wall and a bag of pine shavings in there that gives them some hiding places.

The obstacles may help.