Is she better off here as a solo hen or in a new home as the weakest link?

[Chicken-newb]

Sadly, I feel like I'm falling into this same situation. My birds keep pecking each other and I've tried many many different methods, but I think they need to be culled or separated to change pecking order. It makes me feel sad. Seeing someone else out there with my same feelings of being overwhelmed makes me feel less like a complete screw up.

 

[Debbie292d]

Sadly, I feel like I'm falling into this same situation. My birds keep pecking each other and I've tried many many different methods, but I think they need to be culled or separated to change pecking order. It makes me feel sad. Seeing someone else out there with my same feelings of being overwhelmed makes me feel less like a complete screw up.

Pecking usually has three causes.

1. There's a bully or bullies
2. Overcrowding
3. Lack of protein

1. Pull the bully or bullies out and pen them separately.

2. Ensure there are 4 sq feet per bird in the coop and 10-15 sq feet each in the run.

3. Feed higher protein food like all-flock that is 18-20% vs layer that's 16-17% protein. Scrambled eggs are a healthy treat, high in protein, and can be fed a little daily or a couple of times a week. If you switch to an all-flock, be sure to have oyster shell in a separate dish for the layers, as it's lower in calcium, so good for chicks and roosters.

 

[citychicks99]

Sadly, I feel like I'm falling into this same situation. My birds keep pecking each other and I've tried many many different methods, but I think they need to be culled or separated to change pecking order. It makes me feel sad. Seeing someone else out there with my same feelings of being overwhelmed makes me feel less like a complete screw up.

Chicken keeping can be overwhelming. It did make me feel better to hear that pretty much all chicken keepers can go through this from time to time.

Separating them may not be as bad as you think. If there's only one hen that's the bully you could try separating her in a separate area where they can still all see each other. After a while they may calm down.

The little hen you see in my first post was pecked bare to her stomach and bullied, so I separated her into her own space where they can still all see each other. After a few weeks I let them all out together while I supervised them. When the bullying stopped, I continued to keep to her separated since she seemed comfortable with that setup but you can try incorporating them again. A few days before I re-homed them, I saw her standing up to one of the meaner hens. It made me feel better to see she has a lot more confidence in herself now.

How many hens do you have and what are their breeds and age?