Henrietta

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nwhitehead

In the Brooder
Sep 14, 2021
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HI, I'm from TN and new to this group. We have a flock of 53 chickens that were raised together since hatching. Just recently a few started bullying one chicken, chasing her and pecked her head and neck causing open wounds. We separated her while she healed and her wounds are now completely healed but we still keep her separated at night but during the day we let her walk freely around the yard. She instantly goes over to where the other chickens are and lays next to them outside their outdoor run, on the other side of the wire all day, like she just wants to be with them. We tried putting her with them a couple of times and literally within seconds, they go at her, pecking her so we've kept her separated so she doesn't get seriously hurt. I just don't understand why these few keep hurting her. They always been together, she's the same size as the others, so I don't think it's a size issue. All I can come up with is that they're some different breeds. She's 1 of 6 leg horns. I know she wants to be with them but Im afraid they'll kill her. What can I do to reunite them all together safely? She's such a sweetheart and I just want her to be happy but safe. Any advice is appreciated.
 
Agree with @penny1960. Put another hen in with her for a few days (pick one least likely to peck her, and put it in with her after they have all gone to roost). Then, reintroduce both hens back into the flock together, again at night after all are roosting. Be sure to have several feeders and waterers in the run, but out of eyeshot of each other. Also, have places the pecked hen can hide. Places she can hide behind, or go under or through to escape, but no traps or dead ends. Pallets leaning against fences for example. Large PVC tunnels. Chairs laying on their side. That sort of thing. Good luck!
 
Welcome to BYC! Introducing more than one is always easier, as Penny has pointed out.
What caused the bullying behavior to start?Sometimes bullying is caused by issues such as illness or lack of space. You have 53 chickens. Do you have room for that many to live comfortably? Is this particular hen, different in any way? Does she seem weak or ill? Is she a different breed than the others?
Good luck, I hope you can find a solution!
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
Bullying can be started by insufficient space, boredom because nothing is in the space or something that is fundamentally wrong with the victim. Address the first 2 issues if they could be the cause while at the same time choosing the kindest hen to put with the victim for at least a week before allowing them to rejoin the flock.
 

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