Chicken Eviction. Help?

[Laodicia]

She is the oldest hen in the coop though, she`s been here longer than anyone else :/ Or I would do that.

Sounds like there was a pecking order change, and the other hens realized she wasn't the boss anymore. It'll likely be hard to get her back closer to the top. Check her really well for sickness, make sure she's getting food and water, a sectioned off area in the coop might be the best idea for now, so that she isn't completely separated from them.

 

[RiverStorm]

Winter boredom? Maybe she's sick?

What I would try for myself is give her a friend, wait for them to get along and then give them another friend wait a while again until they're all getting along.

I'm not sure how many you have total, but once you think she has enough friends to hold back the hordes try to reintroduce the group to the main flock. they should defend each other.

That would make sense. I might end up doing that. I have 13.

They have certainly gone all "Lord of the Flies" on her, haven't they? Can you separate the biggest instigators, and see if the dynamic changes? I don't know how many birds you have, and if that's possible, even for a couple of hours while you supervise the interactions.

Sometimes by removing the ones at the top of the pecking order for a few days forces the other birds to shuffle around. Maybe your RIR hen can re-enter the society then. When you bring the isolated, former leaders back in, supervise closely to make sure your little hen doesn't go back to being bullied again.

Yup. XD Yes, we probably will be able to do that, put the one that bullies (Mr. Silly Billy our rooster) in a introducing pen we have. That makes complete sense.

 

[RiverStorm]

Sounds like there was a pecking order change, and the other hens realized she wasn't the boss anymore. It'll likely be hard to get her back closer to the top. Check her really well for sickness, make sure she's getting food and water, a sectioned off area in the coop might be the best idea for now, so that she isn't completely separated from them.

Yeah, I don`t think we`ll be able to section off some of the coop though where they could see her...

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Is the exiled chicken shorter head height when stretching up than the others by any chance?
Just curious... Read somewhere that tallest tend to be highest on the pecking order ...

 

[RiverStorm]

Is the exiled chicken shorter head height when stretching up than the others by any chance?
Just curious... Read somewhere that tallest tend to be highest on the pecking order ...

She is actually one of the tall/standard chickens

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

How old is she exactly? I would just get a mesh pen and just do the look-dont-touch method. At least it'll be easier to feed and water her that way.

Like Kate said, she could be sick. Animals tend to kick out those they feel are compromised.

If she won't fight back, there may not be a lot you can do. Maybe just help her get her strength back?

 

[Killer Tomato]

Is the exiled chicken shorter head height when stretching up than the others by any chance?
Just curious... Read somewhere that tallest tend to be highest on the pecking order ...

Our tallest hen (a Barred Rock) is the "lead hen" of the bunch. She shouldn't be, as she isn't the smartest chicken we've got, but she's the boss. (she lays the biggest eggs, too!) My Easter Eggers are much more clever, but not the leaders.

Your theory holds true for us, at least!

 

[RiverStorm]

How old is she exactly? I would just get a mesh pen and just do the look-dont-touch method. At least it'll be easier to feed and water her that way.

Like Kate said, she could be sick. Animals tend to kick out those they feel are compromised.

If she won't fight back, there may not be a lot you can do. Maybe just help her get her strength back?

4 years old (She is one of the two oldest). We would do that, but if she is sick, I don`t want to get it in our only other pen we have other than the main coop, because we use it for chicks.
I do agree that she could be sick, she has been before.
Yeah. We have fed her some and there has been a lot of rain here so she has plenty of water (So far, we may end up having to water her) and the barn has given her some protection from hawks, falcons, and eagles.

 

[ShellyBlanco]

4 years old (She is one of the two oldest). We would do that, but if she is sick, I don`t want to get it in our only other pen we have other than the main coop, because we use it for chicks.
I do agree that she could be sick, she has been before.
Yeah. We have fed her some and there has been a lot of rain here so she has plenty of water (So far, we may end up having to water her) and the barn has given her some protection from hawks, falcons, and eagles.

I would say that due to her age, she may not be laying as often and has fallen to the bottom of the pecking order. I have a flock of 10 RIR pullets that are 7 months old, they are all laying since 20 weeks. We introduced 2 Brown Leghorns into the group and because the top hen did not engage in a stare down with one of the Leghorns, the second in charge pretty much kicked her butt, so now she has dropped in the pecking order. My flock is very political. I just introduced two 8 month cockerels into the flock and the girls went after them like they were the males. That lasted about three days, now the boys are running things (they think). When any of them get too big for their britches we put them in "time out" in a separation cage, so far we haven't had to keep any in it for more than a couple of hours...they get their attitude adjustment when you take them out of the flock.

 

[aart]

@RiverStorm what happened with this bird you were having trouble with back in February 2018?