Hen Pecked Hen

[ThreeOfSeven]

This poor girl is obviously the low hen in the pecking order, as you can see in the pictures. Only occasionally have I caught one of my Black Australorps jump on her back like a rooster. I thought, maybe, it had stopped, but just tonight I caught the BA at it again. So, here are my questions.
1. Is this something I can stop?
2. If not, is there something I can do to protect her back?
3. Will the plucked feathers grow back after molting?
4. If they don't, how can I protect this girl in the winter?
Actually, any help and input is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[sueschef]

You could get a saddle or apron, if you've seen them you know they're a piece of fabric to keep the hens from getting scratched by roosters. Even if it was a hen that jumped on her, it's still a good idea of course. The ones I've seen will go over the entire back including where's she's lost her feathers, but if you sew you can easily make one that's shorter or longer.
If you take it off and she keeps getting pecked, it's okay to keep it on. Just have a couple to switch between. Chickens will take a usual dust bath, but the dirt won't fall off as easy. Look for mites because this would trap them in as well.
If the chickens don't get high protein feed, I think that might help both the issue of waiting for feathers to grow back and the reason why this chicken is getting picked on. If they have just scratch or non-nutritional feed, throw not enough free ranging or no new sections of grass in the mix, they'll pick at anything. The other chickens may have turned to the chicken low in the pecking order because they can and she won't object. Though that would be a pretty extreme situation. I'm sure they eat well. This chicken should just get more protein than usual if you want to see the feathers come in quickly.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Thanks for your help. I have thought about an apron/saddle. She's more shy than the rest of my hens, but catching her, etc., is doable. The girls are fed a good organic layer feed plus they get about a cup of mealy worms once a day (10 hens and 4 call-size ducks). I grow fodder for them (lately oat and wheat), and they get that a couple times a week. Every so often they get black oil sunflower seeds. Lettuce from the garden (now that it's growing), and lately we bought a watermelon, and everyone loves that. The coop size is decent with plenty of perch space. They have 2 covered outside areas and a large outdoor space. All this space is connected and available all day. So, they're not all "cooped" up.

I guess since I saw her "attacked" again today, I should probably give an apron/saddle a try. I don't think she would be able to survive the winter if I can't get her feathers to grow back. I'll also see if I can give her some extra mealy worms each day.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Argh! There seems to be more damage done to this poor girl, and I think it's happening at night. I have 2 coops, connected by outside and covered runs. My other coop is occupied by my 2 original hens -- Partridge Rocks. They're pretty bossy, but I haven't seen them cause any harm to anyone other than being bitchy. Should I try to switch my badly-pecked hen to this coop? There's plenty of roosting space.

 

[Shoshone]

I’d try the move. Poor girl

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I’d try the move. Poor girl

Thanks, I'll give it a try. She got an extra bonus of mealy worms today.

 

[Tamdog]

Do you have enough room in your run for the amount of chickens you have? If not, that may be the problem. Crowded space can make chickens less agreeable to each other. Try to offer places that picked on chickens can run into ( and of course back out of on the other side) you do not want them to get in a closed spot where they can be really harmed. Do you have a place where you can put this chicken a few days so it can heal emotionally and physically - maybe a dog crate?- or take some left over wire and divide your run or coop with a small individual space. - it does not take much. I would not put it with any others chickens for a few days until she restores some of her confidence.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Do you have enough room in your run for the amount of chickens you have? If not, that may be the problem. Crowded space can make chickens less agreeable to each other. Try to offer places that picked on chickens can run into ( and of course back out of on the other side) you do not want them to get in a closed spot where they can be really harmed. Do you have a place where you can put this chicken a few days so it can heal emotionally and physically - maybe a dog crate?- or take some left over wire and divide your run or coop with a small individual space. - it does not take much. I would not put it with any others chickens for a few days until she restores some of her confidence.

Good points. I have LOTS of space for the girls and plenty of paraphernalia to give them places to hide behind.

This is the larger outside run with covered roof. It's attached to a smaller run.

Here's a pic of the smaller run, also with roof, and you can see the sliding door that connects the 2 runs. Also a pic of the 2nd coop.

This is the outside space with overhead netting (hawks). They access this area by going through the 2nd coop.

Okay, so all this space is for 10 hens and 4 small ducks. I have seen her attacked by the Black Australorp on rare occasions, once a week maybe, so that's why I think she's getting attacked in her coop in the mornings and they're anxious to be let out of the coop. That's when space is tight.

I have thought about bringing her into the house, if only to give her some relief. Although, I'm not sure she will see it that way.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

She's pretty much a loner when she is outside of the coop.

 

[Shoshone]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. She got an extra bonus of mealy worms today.

I’m new to chickens. Building my coop. I am on here to learn. My birds are to arrive July 13th. So I don’t know anything. As I read about problems that arise, I honestly, daily consider cancelling my order.
The flies, pecking order, etc.
I’m seriously giving it a second thought.