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skooterf629

skooterf629

In the Brooder
Aug 31, 2024
11
48
49
Grapeview, WA
One of my hens is getting attacked by the rest of the flock. I have pulled her out and let her run around my garden all day. I have been putting her back in the coop at night but am not sure this is the best idea for her. I am wondering if I should build a small coop just for her that I can keep separate from the rest. Any ideas or thought would be great.
 
My first thought is "Why is she being attacked?" I think that is what is behind Dobie's questions. Any insight into why she is being attacked could be very helpful. Have they been together long?

Chickens are generally social animals. They tend to do much better if they have others to socialize with. That doesn't have to be another chicken but it is usually much simpler if it is a chicken. I think you will be better off if you can figure out how to integrate her with the flock instead of setting her up alone. If she is on danger of being injured of killed by the others then that needs to be addressed.
 
I have attached a picture of my coop and run. I have 8 hens, they are all approx 1 1/2 we got them all at the same time. They have frown up together.

I have also attached a picture of the one that is getting bullied. She has healed up alot. Her neck had an open wound. I sprayed her with Blu Kote and it helped alot.

They will gang up on her 2 or 3 at a time and peck at her neck.

20240901_141857.jpg
20240901_142354.jpg
 
Thanks for that information. I don't have any clear answers for you. No roosters, all mature. and all the same age. Looks like a decent amount of space. All of my easy answers are gone.

I assume they are all acting healthy? Sometimes the flock will try to drive a sick or injured hen from the flock. That's a survival instinct from before they were domesticated. A sick or injured chicken might attract predators so they run out any sick or injured.

Was she previously the dominant hen? Sometimes when there is a change in the pecking order and the dominant hen is deposed, some others gang up on her to keep her from reclaiming the dominant position.

Was she somehow injured with blood on her head. Just some type of accident. Sometimes the sight of blood can turn some of the others into cannibals.

That's all I can come up with and none of these are clearcut.

So what can you do? Heal her up so there is no blood or wound and try to reintegrate her. Watch carefully to see how it goes.

Can you identify one specific chicken as a ringleader in the attack? Sometimes isolating a troublemaker from the flock for a week or so can change her attitude.

Create a separate flock with their own coop and run. See if a couple of the other hens can live with her peacefully.

Get rid of her. If the rest of the flock gets along great with her gone then she may be the problem. It sounds harsh but I try to solve for the peace of the flock, not to benefit of one specific chicken.
 

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