Mites or Pecking Order fights?

[CombNWattles]

Can you tell where she is in the pecking order? If she is at peer level with the peckers then they’re probably jockeying for the lead hen spot.

 

[RuralChick83]

I can't tell. I technically haven't seen anyone stand out as the lead hen yet. It's been a month. Shouldn't there be a lead hen by now? I know when they sleep, she sleeps wedged between 2 of my buffs normally, but I have never seen anyone fight or peck yet. Do they not do it in front of me because they think I am the rooster?
I have her separated right now so she can heal. I did give her a bath and did not have any mites. This morning, my oldest hen was missing some feathers and she usually sleeps more to herself. Maybe I will check on them a couple of times at night and see if I can notice anything. Someone is being a bully. Will it hopefully get better when I can transition my young roosters with them?

 

[RuralChick83]

Update: I was able to go out and spend a little time with them while my husband begrudgingly watched our daughters. I did open the door between my main flock and the young flock to see how they would do since it has been a month since I let the young flock outside. Most seemed fine with each other, but I did notice that my Gold-laced Wyandotte picked on the young ones, even the cockrels. I think she might be my bully. I had a brown leghorn too that would just stand taller and puff out her feathers if one of the cockrels went by her, but she never pecked at them. Everyone else seemed to be getting along. My older chicken that was starting to be picked on when I took out my other gold-lace to heal was left alone during the day, maybe because it snowed and was cold yesterday, but had some feathers removed last night. I saw them on the floor of the coop this morning when I went to clean. My gold laced was on the bar right across from her and I am guessing reached over to pick at her.
Not sure how to handle this. I was hoping my cockrels would put her in her place, but I think they still might be too young. My young flock will be 17 weeks this week and my cockrels are taller than my older hens, but skinnier. The cockrels do little pecking fights with each other, which is why I thought they would put my gold laced in her place, but I had to go and kick her out because she was picking fights with them. What should I do?

 

[Grandmas Coop]

You may want to look into what it looks like when a chicken has lice. I think two of mine may have it so I am taking action all all the hens.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/#google_vignette

 

[RuralChick83]

You may want to look into what it looks like when a chicken has lice. I think two of mine may have it so I am taking action all all the hens.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/#google_vignette
View attachment 4075490View attachment 4075491View attachment 4075492

I have checked for mites and gave my gold laced that is separated a bath and did not see anything. Plus, since she has been by herself she has not lost any feathers. I can keep checking for mites and lice, but I keep thinking it is a bully because it happened after my lead hen died.