I have an interesting problem.

[Doodleboy1234]

So I have a hen who is a total sweetheart that gets picked on by the birds she was broodded with so she is now free ranging while her sisters and the rooster are in a 35 foot by 35 foot fence. I have 6 7 week olds but when I try to put her with them she picks on them and chases them around. My goal was to have 12 birds in the big coop and fence but I'm not sure the 7 week olds will integrate in that well, but I'd be adding the full grown hen plus 6 younger birds in to a big coop that only had 3 hens and a rooster. I'm just trying to have 1 big happy flock and I'm ready to fix these issues. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of set up? How old are the older birds? Has anything changed recently - the picked on bird going broody, was injured, etc.?

 

[Doodleboy1234]

The older birds at in a converted 8x8 shed and they will be a year old July 7th. I put the younger birds out in a 8x10 dog kennel next to the fence for the daytime.

 

[aart]

gets picked on by the birds she was broodded with

Sounds like a 'low' bird....they are the most likely to pick on newcomers.

 

[Doodleboy1234]

Sad part is she's the biggest hen.

 

[aart]

Sad part is she's the biggest hen.

Size doesn't matter......demeanor rules.

 

[FernbergFarms]

Same thing happened with my hen. When the big hewn gets picked on she feels “low” like she is the runt and can’t defend her self but when there are smaller chicks that won’t harm her she feels like the queen and she can do anything if that makes sense. I would wait to put your chicks in with her till a little bit bigger than they will most likely pick on them but I will wear off after a little bit.

 

[Doodleboy1234]

Its like she lacks the confidence to kick their butts. And I have another question should a rooster be breaking them up when the hens fight or will he just watch?

 

[aart]

Its like she lacks the confidence to kick their butts. And I have another question should a rooster be breaking them up when the hens fight or will he just watch?

Well, that's chicken society, the lower birds need to stay away from their superiors in the pecking order...as long as there is plenty of space it's not really a problem.
You watch, the lower pecked bird just moves and away and carries on with her business.

Cock/erels may or may not interfere with squabbles...might depend on the individual males demeanor and/or how bad the girl fight is. If it's not a outright beating, he'll let them work it out....as should you

 

[Doodleboy1234]

The problem is they pin him into a corner and she lays down and they won't let her get up, so I'm afraid I can do nothing to fix it now