Chicken stalking/pecking other chickens

[chicken-ing]

One of my hens has began trying to pull out and eat the feathers of her 3 flockmates (all hens). She aggressively stalks them, sneaking up on them and sometimes successfully pecking a feather or two out. The other 3 are molting and she is not. She has also started to lay eggs again. They are all free range backyard chickens with an entire area to keep themselves occupied.

How can this behavior be stopped? Does she need to be isolated or is there some sort of nutrient deficiency?

 

[bobbi-j]

Lock her up until the others are done molting and make sure they’re all getting plenty of protein.

 

[chicken-ing]

Our only options would be to put her in the run or bring her inside. Are those viable options?

 

[bobbi-j]

Can you section off a portion of your coop with chicken wire? Find a dog crate to put in the run (if it’s predator proof)? At the very least, up their protein.

 

[chicken-ing]

We can put her in the run. It's pretty small so it may be effective as a cage

 

[bobbi-j]

We can put her in the run. It's pretty small so it may be effective as a cage

Will she be safe from predators? Do all your chickens spend their days in the run?

 

[chicken-ing]

Will she be safe from predators? Do all your chickens spend their days in the run?

Our chickens are free range and roam around in the fenced yard. I check on them constantly and the coop/run is visible from the window.

 

[chicken-ing]

Update: We just fed them scrambled eggs with shells. All of the hens seem grouchy b/c of molting but I'm hoping this eases the one hen's feather pecking