Help with bullies.....

[RN off the grid]

Shortly after the loss of one of our hens, we noticed that our rooster and a few of the other hens were picking on one of our leghorns. They had actually pecked her comb almost completely off! We seperated the hen to treat her wounds and let her recover. A few days later we returned her to the coop, at night after the others had roosted down, without any major issue. Strange thing is they roost with her every night but during the day our rooster keeps her segregated from the rest of the flock. If he chases her, the others join in. She seems so lonely. Today we tried seperating the rooster to see if the other hens would let her rejoin the group if he wasn't starting up problems, but she now just runs away when any of the hens come near her even if they aren't being aggressive... Help?

 

[Outpost JWB]

Looks like she is at the bottom of the pecking order. You can try to cage the bullies, or cage her to reset the pecking order. Maybe you can rearrange the coop. ??? Space helps. If they are crowded, they will pick on each other worse. The more room, the better off they are.

 

[Mrs. K]

Pallets up on blocks, roosts in the run, boxes set kitty corner all allow birds to get away from each other. So many runs are empty, and while that looks like more space it really isn't. It is only one level. By making some shelves, some roosts, it make look more crowded, but it offers hideouts, a little more exercise.

Your birds will be happier.

Mrs K