I have a very small flock of RIR's, 5 hens 1 rooster. They used to get along fine, but a while back one of the hens (who was at the top of the pecking order) got in a tangle with a puppy and was injured around her rear end. Her feathers have never fully come back in, so she gets a bit of a sun burn on a small patch of her rump and looks a little funny due to the missing feathers. (This happened, like, 2+ mos. ago and still no sign of feathers coming in. I am guessing the wound was too deep for feathers to grow back?) When she was healed up after the incident we put her back out with the other hens, and she was then at the bottom of the pecking order, due to being away for several weeks/looking funny I guess.
Anyway, I've never seen the rooster pick on her, he's a gentleman! But the other hens chase her away form the rest of the flock, the food, etc. And they have recently started pecking her where she has healed up, usually not enough to break skin though. But today I found she has been ripped back open over the previous injury and I'm certain it was one of the other hens.
I cleaned her up and am considering keeping her in a kennel inside for a while, but we have a 1 yo son and not much place to put her...my question is, what can I do to alter their behavior towards her? It isn't like they are pent up in a crowded coop for long hours or anything. They are in a coop at night only and completely free range all day. I am feeding them layer's pellets and they get kitchen scraps/egg shells plus whatever they scavenge.
Help appreciated!
Anyway, I've never seen the rooster pick on her, he's a gentleman! But the other hens chase her away form the rest of the flock, the food, etc. And they have recently started pecking her where she has healed up, usually not enough to break skin though. But today I found she has been ripped back open over the previous injury and I'm certain it was one of the other hens.
I cleaned her up and am considering keeping her in a kennel inside for a while, but we have a 1 yo son and not much place to put her...my question is, what can I do to alter their behavior towards her? It isn't like they are pent up in a crowded coop for long hours or anything. They are in a coop at night only and completely free range all day. I am feeding them layer's pellets and they get kitchen scraps/egg shells plus whatever they scavenge.
Help appreciated!