Chickens that bully

[drumstick diva]

Is your hen eating now and acting normal? She may have been in shock from an attack - or a peck to the head, does she have any noticeable injuries?

 

[IrishWendy]

I have 11 hens. They all hatched together, they grew up together, they moved to my house together. 3 are light brahmas, 1 rhode island red, 6 buff orps and 1 jersey giant. The jersey, Celtie, has tail feathers that look chopped off, her back is almost bare and now today, I noticed that part of her head is missing feathers. She is sweet and docile. Is she being bullied? How do I find out who is the bully when they all act innocent whenever I see them in the yard, their pen or their coop? Do I isolate just Celtie for a bit? And I don't see any feathers anywhere! Are the other chickens eating them??

 

[Marthab1953]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[IrishWendy]

Her skin is quite pink but I haven't seen any blood. She is eating and drinking and talking and laying. The big mystery to me is where are all the feathers she is missing!! I find one here and there, but some from the other girls as well, so it's not a large amount rom just Celtie.
It's a long story; but where my girls came from were my neighbors. They did it all wrong, as in, 40 roosters and about 20 hens. When the neighbors were sick and tired of everything is when I had a coop and pen built. Anyhew, when Celtie first came here with her 'sisters' she was hen pecked on just her head. Then it all cleared up, grew feathers back, etc. Just recently is when I've noticed she is missing the small feathers on her head again and then on her back and tail feathers. They are broken, or snapped, off.