Help understanding new behavior

[scjcb37]

Hell all, I am confused. I just had a thread going re: one of my girls being bullied. In a nutshell, I have removed her from the flock. Well ever since I did that my one girl, who is the 'keeper of the coop' (whenever i go in ther coop she runs to see what i am doing, when i leave she checks the whole place over etc. lol). So my question is this, ever sice i removed the one being picked on, the other one sleeps outside the coop at nigh on the highest roost. They always put themselves to bed in the coop when it gets dark. She now stays outside on the roost all night. It has been cold she was covered in snow last night . (I put her in the coop myself). What does this behavior mean??? Why is she doing this??? Any thoughts?? Thanks in advance...

 

[thudson]

The keeper of the flock is a little stressed. She knows one of the flock is missing and she knows it happened when you were in the coop. So this behavior is her way of keeping a better eye on the flock. The hen should return to normal on a few days when she realizes all is ok. You just might have to move her into the coop for the next few days. All will be fine. Anytime you add or remove from a flock there is a little if a stressful time for the flock, but especially the keeper of the flock.

 

[scjcb37]

Thank You thudson! I was thinking along those llines, but because they picked on thee missing girl so bad, i was doubting my thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to help me!

QUOTE="thudson, post: 19594485, member: 199953"]The keeper of the flock is a little stressed. She knows one of the flock is missing and she knows it happened when you were in the coop. So this behavior is her way of keeping a better eye on the flock. The hen should return to normal on a few days when she realizes all is ok. You just might have to move her into the coop for the next few days. All will be fine. Anytime you add or remove from a flock there is a little if a stressful time for the flock, but especially the keeper of the flock.[/QUOTE]

 

[thudson]

Thank You thudson! I was thinking along those llines, but because they picked on thee missing girl so bad, i was doubting my thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to help me!

QUOTE="thudson, post: 19594485, member: 199953"]The keeper of the flock is a little stressed. She knows one of the flock is missing and she knows it happened when you were in the coop. So this behavior is her way of keeping a better eye on the flock. The hen should return to normal on a few days when she realizes all is ok. You just might have to move her into the coop for the next few days. All will be fine. Anytime you add or remove from a flock there is a little if a stressful time for the flock, but especially the keeper of the flock.

[/QUOTE]No problem at all!
That's what we are here for. Sometimes making these decisions to help our flocks it makes us doubt our selves. You did the right thing. Just keep up the good work and rest assured you are doing fine. It will all work out fine, we always got back up here at the BYC! Glad to help!

 

[aart]

Is the bird roosting outside one of the bullies from before?

If your outside roosts are higher than your inside roosts,
they may choose the outside roosts.
Remove or lower the outside roosts.

Pics of your coop and run, inside and out, might help us spot something that needs to be adjusted.

 

[scjcb37]

Is the bird roosting outside one of the bullies from before?

If your outside roosts are higher than your inside roosts,
they may choose the outside roosts.
Remove or lower the outside roosts.

Pics of your coop and run, inside and out, might help us spot something that needs to be adjusted.

 

[scjcb37]

The original bully was 'Asia'. Noone else noticed or bothered 'Angel' until last week when i came home and found 'Angel' had a bloody comb and missing feathers on her head and everyone was chasing her away and/or pecking at her. And every time i have tried to put them out together, someone chases her away. 'China' is the one that is sleeping outside the coop at night now. When i collect the eggs, 'China' comes running into the coop, when i clean the coop she stays in the coop and tells me where its at every so often, she is the most vocal. I did my best to take the requested pics to give you an idea...