Chicken bullies

[tonioesp]

Greetings All,

I'm relatively new to raising chickens and I have an issue that I'm not quite sure how to deal with. I've had a few incidents with chickens getting pecked in the head by other chickens (pulling out feathers and causing bleeding head wounds). One chicken I separated and put her in a small cage by herself so she could heal but every time I let her out to try to assimilate back with the others she starts running around scared and some of the other chickens chase her and peck her. And then this morning I found one of my babies dead in the corner of the pen with what looked like peck marks to the head. Her head was sunken in like she was trying to tuck her head in to protect herself so my question is 1) How can I get these bullies to stop picking on the other chickens and 2) How can I get that scared one to want to get back with the group or will I just have to keep her isolated?

 

[50-45-1]

Tell us about your set up, how many chickens total, the space they have avaliable, what you are feeding along with any other things that can help us figure this out. Pictures also help

 

[50-45-1]

Many times overcrowding and bordom is the culprit when problems like this occur.
Chickens thrive and have fewer problems when they have ample pasture and area to explore. They live to peck and scratch so an area with grass, bugs, and vegetation will keep them busy.
If you have limited area, you will need to limit your flock to the appropriate size.
Your traumatized girl may have to be re-homed to a much smaller (and friendlier) flock.

 

[nature_nerd]

Greetings All,

I'm relatively new to raising chickens and I have an issue that I'm not quite sure how to deal with. I've had a few incidents with chickens getting pecked in the head by other chickens (pulling out feathers and causing bleeding head wounds). One chicken I separated and put her in a small cage by herself so she could heal but every time I let her out to try to assimilate back with the others she starts running around scared and some of the other chickens chase her and peck her. And then this morning I found one of my babies dead in the corner of the pen with what looked like peck marks to the head. Her head was sunken in like she was trying to tuck her head in to protect herself so my question is 1) How can I get these bullies to stop picking on the other chickens and 2) How can I get that scared one to want to get back with the group or will I just have to keep her isolated?

I’m sort of dealing with this. I have six but with plenty of room. Unfortunately I found one of mine with her head pecked at so she’s recovering alone before I allow them into their grassy area all together.
I believe it’s only one bully so I may just quarantine her instead.

 

[50-45-1]

I have had problems like this in the past also with some "top hatters" that I tried to have. The standard breeds just love to pluck those top hat feathers for some reason. I no longer try to have top hat breeds anymore for this reason AND the top hat makes this breed more vunerable to aerial attacks, Because the feathers block their good vision of the sky.
Anyhow, sometimes it seems like one bird, sometimes a timid one, usually at the bottom of the pecking order, will be a target for everyone else. Unmerceliesly tormented, and excluded by everyone. It's seem cruel to watch. But introduce some younger newcomers to the flock....and see this tormented bird, will display the same behavior to the new ones! Like saying " WOW, finally here is some that I may be able to dominate"!
Chickens are truly little velosiraptor dinosaurs! The need to conserve resources and spaces for the strong, survival of the fittest and weakness means death.

I also find that Rhode Island Red breed chickens are more aggresive like this to more docile and peaceful breeds like dorkings and silkies.