Mean chicken!?!

[Marybear]

I've been reading up a bit about chicken bullies, but I am still not sure what to think/do about what is going on with mine. I am a new chicken keeper with 5 six month old hens, bought when they were a few days old. I have 2 Chocolate Orpingtons, 2 Barnevelders, and 1 Salmon Faverolles. The Orps and Faverolles are laying. The Faverolles is the mean one. When she got big enough she would freak out if I tried to pick her up, but no biggie, the others are friendly and cuddly. Then she started biting me when I tried to interact with other chickens. Still, no biggie, once I knew she would bite me I just didn't give her the chance. Well, now she has started pulling out the feathers on the backs of the other girls. Obviously not a good time for that as temps are dipping down! One is more torn up, but all have missing/tore up feathers, except the Faverolles. Do I just have an aggressive bird that is just too mean for the other chickens? I chose the breeds I did because they are supposed to be docile and sweet. I am entertaining the idea that everyone might be happier if she were to join a more assertive group, but I like her and I'd be sad to see her go. Is there anything I can do to get her to be nicer? Could it be adolescent behavior that she could outgrow? I don't care if she's mean to me, but I don't want her to keep torturing the other girls. TIA

 

[rosemarythyme]

That is strange, I'd figure she'd be the one bullied. Are you certain it's a Faverolles and not a different breed by some accident? I was even about to ask if you were sure it's a girl but if she's laying, then that answers that.

What does your set up look like? How big is the coop, the run? Do you free range?