Derperella, the (weird) Faverolles, & Friends

[scratch'n'peck]

Poor Derp. I have noticed that when a hen emerges from her broody obsession, she is often bullied for a while, and little Derp's squatting seems to be an invitation for the other hens to gang up on her. I wonder if dividing the run with some chicken wire to give her a section with the pullets would help. (How old are they now?) The other hens would be able to see her, but not hurt her. And Derp would gain some confidence around the chicken run.

 

[Snozzle]

Do you maybe have a porch you could screen in? She would have the best of both worlds that way. How about a large rabbit hutch? If she gets lonely I bet a silkie would work well with her, they wouldn't be able to see her well enough to pick on her.

 

[Nambroth]

Poor Derp. I have noticed that when a hen emerges from her broody obsession, she is often bullied for a while, and little Derp's squatting seems to be an invitation for the other hens to gang up on her. I wonder if dividing the run with some chicken wire to give her a section with the pullets would help. (How old are they now?) The other hens would be able to see her, but not hurt her. And Derp would gain some confidence around the chicken run.

The chicks are 4 months old now, and don't care for Derp either. While they don't take place in the beating up of Derp when she squats, they will attack her if the other hens aren't around. Even the most shy pullet I've ever met, Willow, will growl and flare at Derp, and kick-box her!

Can I chip in for a mini coop outside? La chateu Derp?

I would love to do a separate coop, but we have to make coops really well built and with electric fencing here as we have very active bears and other predators. The way my yard is, I couldn't built it next to the existing coop (and thus share electric fencing). I'm afraid that I just can't afford it.

Do you maybe have a porch you could screen in? She would have the best of both worlds that way. How about a large rabbit hutch? If she gets lonely I bet a silkie would work well with her, they wouldn't be able to see her well enough to pick on her.

No; alas, I have a very small house with no porches. I'd do a rabbit hutch, but then I don't think I could protect her from bears.

 

[HenFriend]

Poor Derp. I hope she can still enjoy her time free ranging and visiting with "Grill". Love the plushie, still waiting for my mug and pins to arrive, they've been shipped....

 

[Ashdoes]

You might have to crate train her, like with puppies. I'm not sure on the chicken diapers. Waffle, the Boston in my AV, is crate trained. He's out most of the day, but at night and when we're gone he's in the crate. Its big and roomy for him. We had tried to start keeping him out when we're gone, but the little snot started jumping up on the dining table and cleaning the cereal bowls...and it's a pub table, very tall.
Anyways, poor Derp. The worst is trying to figure out her bedding, so you can avoid dust. Just doesn't seem like the best situation for her, stuck in the house not doing chicken stuff all the time.

 

[silver1313]

Inside chickens can still do chicken stuff ... I CANNOT wait til I have my own place so my special chicken can live inside with us

 

[froggiesheins]

OHMY POOR DERP! My suggestion for now would be a cage inside the "SAFE RUN" for the daytime to keep her safe and a house chicken at night. I have 3 part time house chickens myself....They only come in at night basically cuz I like to interact with them at nite. They have cages for sleeping and the floor is cement.
HOPEFULLY this is only a temoprary thing!

 

[Snozzle]

How about maybe converting a bathroom for her? I used to work in a pet shop and my guest bathroom has been home to anything from a ferret with brain damage, misc injured pigeons, orphaned kittens to an abandoned 12 foot python. Most bathrooms already have tiles, so cleanups are pretty easy and you could screen in part of it and still use the other half. Or maybe a small garden shed?

 

[froggiesheins]

Everyone is trying so hard to help with great ideas. All you Derp-a-holics are the best!

Of course, I would have NO qualms taking Derp to be safe at my house...[oops]

 

[galanie]

This is going to sound crazy. But then we are talking about Derp, right? Anyway, I've read of a fellow that claims some chickens get picked on because they get more attention than the others. The solution being, to give lots of attention to the ones doing the picking. One at a time, of course.

I doubt you can do that with the whole flock but it's something to think on. That likely can't be helped, however I just thought it was something to consider.