Hen getting picked on

[Deleted member 649519]

Would you omit the bully? This is my first go round with chickens ...we separated the bully this morning for about 2 hours reintroduced her and it's a bit calmer but I've noticed little red isn't socializing with them. I think our coop at night is to small and its causing the problem perhaps. Googling pin less peepers I've not heard of that

Thank you for your help

Amazon.com : Weilan 20 Pieces Pinless Peepers with Pliers Chicken Peepers Eye Glasses Pheasant Poultry Blinders Spectacles Anti-Pecking Plier Tool(Red) : Patio, Lawn & Garden https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07GN8GKZC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

These are the ones I bought. I haven't used them yet, as it seems my boys being bullies was just hormones and they got it out of their system right quick. I hope they work for you and that your little hen can have some peace!

 

[Red Horse]

This really took me back... I used to work on a farm where there was a buff in the same situation, she was just getting bullied to shreds. The chicken coop was at the house and the horse barn was nearly 1/4 mile away. The barn owner took the hen to the horse barn and left her to her own devices there. For the three years I worked there she lived on cat food and came and went as she pleased. She roosted at the top of the hay bale storage with the cats every night, so when you went in to feed in the morning there was a row of cats with one chicken snuggled up between them. The barn wasn't completely closed up at night so I'm not sure how nothing ever got her. The place swarmed with 4-H kids so she recieved frequent treats and petting. She laid occasionally and took care of herself, and she always remembered who gave the best treats. Was that the safest situation for her? No... but I think she was happy there.

 

[Deb6Chicks]

This really took me back... I used to work on a farm where there was a buff in the same situation, she was just getting bullied to shreds. The chicken coop was at the house and the horse barn was nearly 1/4 mile away. The barn owner took the hen to the horse barn and left her to her own devices there. For the three years I worked there she lived on cat food and came and went as she pleased. She roosted at the top of the hay bale storage with the cats every night, so when you went in to feed in the morning there was a row of cats with one chicken snuggled up between them. The barn wasn't completely closed up at night so I'm not sure how nothing ever got her. The place swarmed with 4-H kids so she recieved frequent treats and petting. She laid occasionally and took care of herself, and she always remembered who gave the best treats. Was that the safest situation for her? No... but I think she was happy there.

Aww good for her she had the life she deserved!! Yeah I'm thinking second coop for night perhaps and until I get that I'm going to bring little red in garage at night....build her a safe pen in there ....she's so sweet and trusting of us I just can't part with her. I will find a way to keep them all safe and happy hens or I'll rehome the bully ... hard lesson learned here for me ...don't get emotionally attached

 

[picklestheduck]

Thank you all for the replies. I’m happy to say with tons of seperation she has regained a ton of feathers, and confidence. I’ll first post some pictures when she was at her worst, and now. Her feathers are coming in beautifuly and she is holding her own very well in the flock! She is still quite scrawny, but I’m sure she will regain her weight soon.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Yeah I had that same problem! From the pictures, it looks like it isn't as bad as Samantha, the hen that was picked on. She had a bare back, but we still didn't think of moving her until they pecked so much they drew blood. Now she is almost healed, and we tried putting her back in general population and all of the hens went after her and pecked her. We took Samantha out and are reinforcing her feathers. She'll be completely ready soon.

 

[Sally PB]

I have one hen who is the largest, but is definitely the bottom of the pecking order. She spends a lot of time by herself.

When I open the coop in the morning, she will be one of the first hens out. She gets about halfway down the run, then squats and flattens herself out, like she's expecting the rooster to mate her. Instead, the top hen comes over and mounts her and pecks her. Her head is mostly bare of feathers now. I have seen a couple of raw spots where she's bled a little too.

I've seen this happen several times now. I've shooed off the bully (who is otherwise not a bully, that I've know of), and lifted the victim up onto her feet to get her to go somewhere else, out of view, to try to break up the conflict.

If it were warm, I'd get out my XL dog crate, and set that up for her in the run for during the day. She'd have about 10 sf to herself. The crate won't fit into the coop, and they spend a fair amount of time in there to stay out of colder weather. [The run is covered, as are the west and north sides, but wind can swirl around and still blow in. It's chilly (30s) and damp right now, and will get cold again (20s) again soon.]

I have about 47 sf in the coop and 160 sf in the run for 6 hens and 1 rooster. I could use the broody breaker crate in the coop, but it's small, about 18x24," and I think it's too small for more than a couple of days.

Does anyone have a suggestion? @aart @3KillerBs @azygous ?

I am thinking of fencing off a bit of the coop for a "jail." Could that be the solution? It would be about 15 sf.

 

[3KillerBs]

I am thinking of fencing off a bit of the coop for a "jail." Could that be the solution? It would be about 15 sf.

That sounds like a reasonable solution in the circumstances.

 

[azygous]

Yes, make a jail enclosure. This works. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

 

[aart]

Does anyone have a suggestion? @aart @3KillerBs @azygous ?

I am thinking of fencing off a bit of the coop for a "jail." Could that be the solution? It would be about 15 sf.

Never dealt with it......was going to post link to @azygous article.

 

[Sally PB]

The article is what prompted my question. I really want this girl to be happy. Her name is May, after @azygous 's bird May.

I'll be fencing in the addition to the coop tomorrow or Sunday, while DH watches the Lions get into the playoffs. (HA!)