First year with Hens in Washington

[Rhodies Mom]

Hi, my name is Teresa. I have 4 hens that are a year old. I need help with bulling.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi Teresa

Glad you could join us here! Sorry to hear you are experiencing bullying. What kind of bullying is it that's happening? I see you have posted in the behaviour section where I'm sure you will get lots of help.

Good luck and I hope you can resolve these issues soon

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Teresa, and ! Pleased you joined our community! Here are a couple links that may aid you with your bullying issue: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bullying-behavior-in-chickens
And https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/a-guide-to-understanding-the-chicken-pecking-order
And if you'd like to chat with some local poultry folks, find your state thread in the link below and say howdy: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread
Hope the links help with your issue. Best wishes and thanks for joining BYC!

 

[Rhodies Mom]

Hi, I have a barred rock that was losing feathers a few months ago. I am a new chicken mom and first instinct was to remove her from the coop. I figured out that she was molting. Since it was December and she was missing so many feathers I kept her in a heated coop. Now I have been trying to reintroduce her and they will not let her out of the coop into the run.

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under Teresa

Welcome!

It sounds like the pecking order has re-established while your hen was away and she is now being viewed as an intruder.

If you search ‘integrating’ in BYC you will see many threads about integrating chicks and new birds into an existing flock.

I use the ‘look no touch’ method in that they can see and talk to each other through a wire divider etc but no touching. This allows them to get to know each other again without anyone getting injured or feathers being pulled etc.

Good luck!

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[drumstick diva]

I think the "look but don't touch," method is the kindest, gentlest way

 

[N F C]

Hi Teresa, sorry you're having some bullying issues. You've been given some good information about "look but don't touch", it really does help. Another link that may help, is an article written by a friend of mine, @sunflour :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/reintegrating-a-recovered-hen-to-a-small-flock

Best of luck to you!

 

[sunflour]

glad to have you join us, but so sorry about your problem.

@N F C gave you the link to my article - it was more difficult than I had ever imagined to get my flock to take back the recovered hen but you can do it.

I'm going to your other thread - see you there.