Insecure Hen

[ChickPets]

Hello, fellow chick-peeps! I'm new to this chicken thing but all seems to be going very well with all of your great stories, recommendations and guidance. Thank you! I have a flock of eight chickens - 1 roo and 7 (I think they are) hens. I have one hen who wants nothing to do with the other chickens and only hangs out with me an my dogs. When we go in, she's in the coop. She HATES the roo, who chases her around the run/yard/coop. I fee bad for her and don't think she's got a great qualify of life. Any suggestions on what to do here?

 

[sourland]

Unless I really wanted fertile eggs, I would rehome the rooster.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hello, fellow chick-peeps! I'm new to this chicken thing but all seems to be going very well with all of your great stories, recommendations and guidance. Thank you! I have a flock of eight chickens - 1 roo and 7 (I think they are) hens. I have one hen who wants nothing to do with the other chickens and only hangs out with me an my dogs. When we go in, she's in the coop. She HATES the roo, who chases her around the run/yard/coop. I fee bad for her and don't think she's got a great qualify of life. Any suggestions on what to do here?

How old are your chickens? - you sound a little unconvinced about their sexes. Any chance this one is not a pullet, but a second cockerel who is dominated by the known one? Sometimes when that happens, the second one doesn’t even attempt to crow.

 

[ChickPets]

Yeah, I'm not sure. I thought they were all hens when I got them as chicks. They are now 20 weeks old (just started laying!). I'm pretty confident that the "loner" is a pullet but I have doubts about some others. The dominant roo is constantly mounting everyone and crows all day so assume he's claiming dominance but she freaks out whenever he comes around her - runs around like a crazy, jumps on me, my dogs, top of the pen, etc. It's kind of sad.

 

[Mrs. K]

You are right, she doesn’t have a great life. It can be caused by a couple of things:

• The 20 week cockerel, not all roosters are great birds
• Over crowding in the set up. Some birds can tolerate a little overcrowding and others can not. Post some pictures of your set up.
• What was more than enough room when they were chicks rapidly becomes not enough room for full grown birds
• Being raised together has little influence on birds getting along
• Letting birds out to free range does not make up for a too small coop/run.
• How is the run set up? Do you have a lot of clutter making use of the vertical space, are there hideouts?

Post some pictures and we can help clear up some problems, I hate strife in a flock. Always solve for peace in the flock. Might need to remove the cockerel, and maybe the victim. It is hard to do emotionally, but the easiest way to get peace in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[ChickPets]

I probably could use some hide-outs for her but they have a 19' x 9' run with only a few tree branches, a roosting bar, their food and water and a tire made into a dust bath so think they have plenty of space. They also free-range for about 3-4 hours in the evening (when she stays with me and the dogs). I've thought about getting rid of the roo but, as noted, I suspect we have more cockerel's so fearful it will just start up again with anther roo. Any thoughts on separating her, and maybe another hen, into a new coop and run to see how that plays out?

 

[Mrs. K]

Can you post some pictures of your birds? By 20 weeks there should be clear indication who is rooster and who is not.

They are your chickens and you can do what you want. I am glad you are going to try something else, and see how it goes.

If that does not work, do get rid of the rooster. Ten to one, he is the problem, maybe not, but generally.

Mrs K