HensterRookie
In the Brooder
- Nov 27, 2025
- 2
- 6
- 11
Hello, Im so glad to join this group! My mom is already in the group, we recently bought a home together with land. Even more recently we got a small flock of chickens with a rooster from someone who sold their house and had to rehome them. I have no history of this flock since it was a friend of my niece's boyfriend, and I was told the friend didnt really care for the chickens, and it was his dad's responsibility, so I dont know ages of the birds. We have pretty much discerned the different breeds.
When we bought this home it came with a coop that had a few issues. We fixed those issues in time to get the flock. The birds all seem happy, except we discovered we have a game hen (Locita) who now seems to be isolating our rhode island red (Henny Penney). We thought it was normal pecking order establishment, but the fear level I see now in Henny Penny makes me wonder if shes actually being bullied. For example, last night all the flock was inside the coop when we went to close it up, except for her. She was standing outside looking in. Our run has a dividing chainlink door, so I could section one area off to give separation, and I am planning to add a roosting bar, hoping they let her in on that bar, but I dont know if these are good ideas or not. Im also going to get a 2nd feeder and waterer.
Any advice or tips? Does this sound normal pecking order-ish to you all? Or do I need to take Locita completely out of the coop/run? I do have a large dog kennel, but no 2nd coop for her if I move her into isolation. Oh, and I noticed Locita is always positioning herself right next to Seargent Chickenhawk (the rooster). I dont know if they are both ganging up on Henny Penny or what. He doesnt seem to get into the drama in the run, but he was involved in trying to force Henny Penny off the roost bar. I watched as she kind of fought back. She wedged herself under his body from the side and pecked his feet to make him move, but his back of the neck pecking eventually won out. Then Locita was right up next to him on the bar, they were snuggled up together against the wall on one end of the bar. Our 2 white leghorn were perched on the windowsill, the golden girl, some sort of brahma, was all the way to the other end of the bar. Henny Penny had to be on the floor. In the pine shavings.
Final note, I am not against eating Locita, my kids said we would be having El Pollo Loco, lol. However, my mom doesnt want to eat her, shes not against eating the chickens we plan to raise for meat in the future, but somehow Locita has wormed her way into my mom's heart. Lol.
When we bought this home it came with a coop that had a few issues. We fixed those issues in time to get the flock. The birds all seem happy, except we discovered we have a game hen (Locita) who now seems to be isolating our rhode island red (Henny Penney). We thought it was normal pecking order establishment, but the fear level I see now in Henny Penny makes me wonder if shes actually being bullied. For example, last night all the flock was inside the coop when we went to close it up, except for her. She was standing outside looking in. Our run has a dividing chainlink door, so I could section one area off to give separation, and I am planning to add a roosting bar, hoping they let her in on that bar, but I dont know if these are good ideas or not. Im also going to get a 2nd feeder and waterer.
Any advice or tips? Does this sound normal pecking order-ish to you all? Or do I need to take Locita completely out of the coop/run? I do have a large dog kennel, but no 2nd coop for her if I move her into isolation. Oh, and I noticed Locita is always positioning herself right next to Seargent Chickenhawk (the rooster). I dont know if they are both ganging up on Henny Penny or what. He doesnt seem to get into the drama in the run, but he was involved in trying to force Henny Penny off the roost bar. I watched as she kind of fought back. She wedged herself under his body from the side and pecked his feet to make him move, but his back of the neck pecking eventually won out. Then Locita was right up next to him on the bar, they were snuggled up together against the wall on one end of the bar. Our 2 white leghorn were perched on the windowsill, the golden girl, some sort of brahma, was all the way to the other end of the bar. Henny Penny had to be on the floor. In the pine shavings.
Final note, I am not against eating Locita, my kids said we would be having El Pollo Loco, lol. However, my mom doesnt want to eat her, shes not against eating the chickens we plan to raise for meat in the future, but somehow Locita has wormed her way into my mom's heart. Lol.
Glad you joined.
