Chicken roosting too much

[Sundinfam]

i have a hen that roosts constantly. I do know it’s due to bullying from my other hens but I don’t know how to handle it. She was hatched and has been around them all her whole life. I feel awful because 2 is my 4 hens chase her off when she goes to eat or drink. What do I do?

 

[LoveDatChickenLife]

Maybe try getting rid of the hen that gets picked on, so she can live a happy life with people she likes with no stress and no bullies.

Or you could try getting rid of the top of the pecking, and/or getting rid of the top”s” of the pecking order. The first and/or the first and second meanest from your flock.

 

[aart]

i have a hen that roosts constantly. I do know it’s due to bullying from my other hens but I don’t know how to handle it. She was hatched and has been around them all her whole life. I feel awful because 2 is my 4 hens chase her off when she goes to eat or drink. What do I do?

Welcome to BYC!
Some more info is needed to give a viable answer/suggestion.
How old are all these birds?
How long have they lived together?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet, dimensions and pics, please?

Some of these integration basics might offer some solutions:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[LoveDatChickenLife]

Welcome to BYC!
Some more info is needed to give a viable answer/suggestion.
How old are all these birds?
How long have they lived together?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet, dimensions and pics, please?

Some of these integration basics might offer some solutions:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Sundinfam]

The hen house itself is 64 square feet and the run is 16 ft x 10 ft. We had a broody hen so we gave her eggs to hatch to help with the broodiness. The mother hen raised her with the other hens. I have a total of 4 hens which were raised together are about 1 year old and the one being picked on is roughly 7 months old.

 

[aart]

So you have 4 adult hens,
and 1 seven month old pullet that 1 of the adult hens hatched and raised?
They are all picking on the 7 month old pullet?

 

[Sundinfam]

Correct in ages of chickens. But only 2 of the older hens chase after the baby.

 

[aart]

Correct in ages of chickens. But only 2 of the older hens chase after the baby.

Is it's broody mama one of them?
Is the 7 month old laying yet?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet, dimensions and pics please?
Do you free range?

 

[Sundinfam]

Is it's broody mama one of them?
Is the 7 month old laying yet?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet, dimensions and pics please?
Do you free range?

The broody momma is not one of the ones that pics on the chick. Here is my current set up. We don’t let them free range too often because of the mess. They are backyard chickens and have a rather large outdoor area already. The hen house is approximately 8 ft by 8 ft while the outdoor is 10 x 16.

 

[aart]

Looks like pretty good space......not sure why the baby is being picked on.
Did it start after mama weaned her?
Is baby laying yet?