Hen Behaving like Rooster?

[fluffycrow]

Is Lovelace the only one that's getting singled out? Have you seen her get bred by Charlie?

 

[DotToDot]

Is Lovelace the only one that's getting singled out? Have you seen her get bred by Charlie?

Come to think of it, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen Charlie mate with her. And for the first question, sort of. Chunker pecks everyone (except Charlie), but Lovelace is the one she actively seeks out,

 

[AntiqueB]

Is Lovelace at the bottom of the pecking order, or just targeted by Chunker?

Does your run have "clutter," so Lovelace can get away?

 

[DotToDot]

Is Lovelace at the bottom of the pecking order, or just targeted by Chunker?

Does your run have "clutter," so Lovelace can get away?

Lovelace isn’t at the bottom, actually. The hen lowest in the order is sick, but Chunker never really pecks her, which is strange. Anyway, we let our chickens free-range, so they have 48x100 square feet for six chickens. Lovelace definitely has room to run away.

 

[AntiqueB]

I think that it sometimes just happens. I had an Orpington who mercilessly picked on a Speckled Sussex for months. Eventually, she stopped as suddenly as she began.

As long as the bullied can get away, and still has food and water (more than one of each is helpful), it should be ok.

@azygous wrote an amazing article about bullying, too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/