hen being picked on?

[HiddenBrookAcres]

I have a flock of hens that have been together since hatch, a year now. Today all of them started to single out one hen and peck at her. I have her separated, in the coop, for tonight because she has a spot on her back that is raw from the pecking.

I know that sometimes they will do this out of boredom or limited space but they have lots of room to roam and I try to supply fresh veggies and other things for them to pick at throughout the day. I did notice the injured hen and another trying to squeeze into the same nesting boxes this morning. There are 5 nesting spots for 15 hens yet they continued to move from box to box pushing and pecking at each other.

Any suggestions for me?

 

[AnimalLady123]

I would suggest more nesting boxes!

 

[Den in Penn]

Three hens per box is under the commonly suggested amount. If you don't have decoy eggs in the boxes try that.

 

[Den in Penn]

Try putting bluekote or pick no more on the picked on hen.

 

[HiddenBrookAcres]

I put golf balls in the nesting boxes a few months back and that worked. I let the hens out to free range but only if I am outside with them. Sounds crazy but we live in the woods and the hawks and other predators come out as soon as the hens leave the run. I tried the blu kote and so far so good. thanks everyone!