Chicken Outcast

[eggselant]

I currently have 7 full grown hens. I got them all over the course of about 3 weeks and got them all in pairs except one. She is a buff brahma hen that was given to me by a friend. She is definitely at the bottom of the pecking order, so much so that she doesn't even sleep inside the coop with the other girls. Instead she sleeps right outside the door on the steps. She layed an egg yesterday, but instead of going into the coop to a nest box she layed it in the run instead because some of the other girls where in the coop during that time. Last night I waited until almost midnight and went out to the coop. I picked her up and put her inside the coop. Seconds after placing her inside she walked right back out and sat back down on the steps. I know it is not because the coop is too small, they have tons of room and there are 2 roosts inside.
Has anyone ever had something like this happen? Will she get over this or should I give her back to my friend so she can be back with her 2 sisters? I feel bad for her, she is basically an outcast. All the other hens get along fine.

 

[steny03]

Sometimes it does take a while to integrate, and it's not fun to watch.

As far as her not sleeping in the coop, you need to place her in there and close the door so she can't get out. After a week or so she'll develop the habit of sleeping inside.