Flock rejecting one of their own!

[BurchFam]

Hi All! New to the chicken business... We did guineas last year but my curious crew did not survive mother nature in our back country. We have a nice coop and run set up with our chickens and will only free range when we are around....

We recently came into ownership of 5 Red Star/Austalorp mixes. They are about 24 weeks old and laying (the appeal to getting grown vs. raising!). We've had them less than a week and it seems 4 of the chickens have started picking on the other chicken. It has only been going on a day or two that I've really noticed. The chicken seems healthy, but a lot of what I'm reading is the chickens are smarter than I am and are rejecting the chicken for a reason. I'm just wondering if it could be due to the stress of relocation and they just need to work it out.

I hate to over react, but I hate to not react at all and have this chicken be tortured! I'm an animal lover so stressed animals mean stressed ME!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! How much space do they have? Were they all together at the previous owner's? Have they been treated for lice/ mites? Moving is a huge stress, and some birds are just more timid than others. If space is good, try more toys and multiple feeding and watering stations. Mary

 

[BurchFam]

They have a 4'x8' coop and a 10'x8' run. We have a large yard that I'll eventually let them free-range in but I want to give them a couple weeks in the run/coop to know 'home'. They were all together previously and even the first few days they were all very 'together'. I currently only have 1 perch in the coop (the entire 8' of the back), do you think they need another? I'll add some toys for them...Thanks for the advice!

 

[Folly's place]

It sounds like space isn't an issue, so I hope things calm down soon. Make sure she's not actually injured, and can eat and drink without issues. Good luck! Mary

 

[aart]

Chickens peck each other.... it's how they roll...there's almost always one bird that everyone else pecks, that's the 'low bird'.
As long as there's no blood drawn and/or she's not getting pinned down/trapped and abused just let them be.

It seems vicious...but if you observe closely you'll probably see that the pecked bird might squawk loudly, maybe runs a fair distance away then resumes her chickeny pecking/scratching at the ground like it's no big deal.

They are probably all a little stressed due to the new environment, and may be establishing the pecking order in their 'new' flock also.
Just give them time and watch for injuries.