Chicken being picked on - What can I do?

[Pennyandme]

Hello everyone, I am brand new to this site and wanted to ask if anyone can help me with a problem I have. I bought 18 chicks just before Easter. One got hurt after I put them in a dog kennel I bought for them. Everyone had gotten along fine until I tried to put Miss Penny (who still looses her balance when crowded) back in the pen with the others after being out for a month. The others pick on her and will not give her a moments peace. They have pulled her tail feathers out and try to peck her eyes out. Is there anything I can do to help her. Right now I have to leave her outside in the yard..free..again. Any suggestions would be appreciated! An e-mail reply would be appreciated since I don't know how to get back to find a reply. I will learn though!

 

[Blue_Myst]

Could you put a dog crate in their pen or construct a smaller pen next to the larger one? This way the other chickens will be able to see her but not touch her. If you keep it that way for about a week or two, they should be able to coexist much better.

Oh, and

!

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

How old are they, and what breed?

 

[SC_Hugh]

More details please...

Coop area? Attached run or yard area? How many feeders and waterers in each area?

They may be just picking on the weak one, but they may also be competing for resources (food and space).

--Hugh

 

[Pennyandme]

I bought several kinds of straight run chicks and a few bantams. I wasn't sure if I was getting roosters or pullets... Miss Penny is grey and white. I'm not sure of the breed but I will send a picture asap. My kennel is 7' x 13' that is 6' high and I have a roof over half of it. It is next to a red storage shed. Yes, I have a dog house, but it has no door and is sloped so I can't figure how to close her in. I also have a small black wire dog cage that I have hanging with S hooks on the kennel fence next to the roost. I put her in there at night so nothing can get to her. In the a.m. I put her in with the others...several times...but they wouldn't accept her. I have a 3 gal. feeder (from Tractor Supply) hanging with plenty of food in it and also a hanging waterer. No competition for food. I also have 5 pullets that are suppose to lay blue and green eggs and a rooster.....
WE LIVE IN BETHLEHEM, NC WHICH IS A PART OF HICKORY, NC.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

first of all, its a barred rock. id keep her separated from your flock untill she can fully recooperate try giving her extra food. youve probally got a bunch of roosters that want to bully her

 

[threehorses]

Take her back out and put her with a couple of other chickens in a new place to the other two chickens. Then reintroduce the three of them after a week or so, more likely until she gains her balance please.

Putting the new buddies in a new place will dissolve their pecking order again. They'll bond and putting more than one chicken in a flock makes it more confusing to those who want to pick on them.

There'll be some squabbles, but much fewer.

 

[patyrdz]

Quote:
My thoughts exactly!

 

[Pennyandme]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your suggestions. I will keep Penny separate from the main flock and will let 2 or 3 in a closure with her. Maybe they will become friendly and won't pick on her too much while getting her balance back!