Chicken being picked on

[Jennifer Guerriero]

My chickens are picking on this poor girl. She keeps burying herself in a corner, and tucking her head, and the other chickens peck at her. She's usually a little weird, but she seems to be doing things that are a bit stranger than normal. I keep her in the coop, and she's usually off by herself ,but now the others won't leave her alone. I moved her to the top, and closed the door for now. I'm afraid to put her back in with the other chickens, but I don't know what else to do with her. Also, I put the others up where she is now at night to keep them safe from predators. I'm new to raising chickens. This is my first time. They are 5, almost 6 months old, and a couple of them just started laying eggs. Could that have anything to do with this "mean girl behavior? What can I do to keep this girl safe?

 

[chickenmama109]

my hen is the lowest in the pecking order in my flock shes a lavender D,uccle i feel so bad she is by her self most of the day wish there was some thing i could do for her

 

[chickenmama109]

My chickens are picking on this poor girl. She keeps burying herself in a corner, and tucking her head, and the other chickens peck at her. She's usually a little weird, but she seems to be doing things that are a bit stranger than normal. I keep her in the coop, and she's usually off by herself ,but now the others won't leave her alone. I moved her to the top, and closed the door for now. I'm afraid to put her back in with the other chickens, but I don't know what else to do with her. Also, I put the others up where she is now at night to keep them safe from predators. I'm new to raising chickens. This is my first time. They are 5, almost 6 months old, and a couple of them just started laying eggs. Could that have anything to do with this "mean girl behavior? What can I do to keep this girl safe?View attachment 1143049

that is a very pretty hen

 

[Kathy Golla]

How many other hens do you have?

 

[sourland]

Is she the only Polish ? Frequently they are picked on in mixed flocks. With their large crests they sometimes have problems seeing well and become 'targets' for the more aggressive flockmates. Sometimes trimming their crests so that they can see better helps.

 

[Jennifer Guerriero]

How many other hens do you have?

11

 

[Kathy Golla]

Is the space behind the hen in the pic the space you have for all of them? Do you think you have 3 square feet for each hen inside the coop and 10 square feet per hen outside the coop?

 

[Jennifer Guerriero]

Is she the only Polish ? Frequently they are picked on in mixed flocks. With their large crests they sometimes have problems seeing well and become 'targets' for the more aggressive flockmates. Sometimes trimming their crests so that they can see better helps.

She is the only one. I don't want the others to hurt her.

 

[Jennifer Guerriero]

Is the space behind the hen in the pic the space you have for all of them? Do you think you have 3 square feet for each hen inside the coop and 10 square feet per hen outside the coop?

Yes. Before we decided on how many to get, we measured the space to make sure it was large enough. We were a distance away, and the pic was taken from the end of the coop. Its about 5 feet wide. It's much longer than it is wide. They have plenty of room. I also let them out to run around the yard regularly.

 

[Jennifer Guerriero]

11

Actually It's 11 all together, so 10 others.