My big girls are being mean to my silkie hen. Help!

[deedra11]

Hi I have 2 barred rock hens, 1 silkie rooster, & 1 silkie hen. All my girls just started laying last week & I'm very excited, but i've noticed that the barred rocks are being mean to the silkie hen. It's been going on for a couple of months because my silkie hasn't been going in the coop at night & has been sleeping on the ramp. I go in there every night and try and put her in there & the barred rock girls jump off their roost & chase her out. I've also noticed in the last week or so, that they do that when she tries to eat too. She hasn't laid an egg in a few days & I'm wondering if they are not letting her in during the day too. I don't know what to do. They aren't drawing blood or anything, they just peck her once to make her leave. Should I build another little coop for her? If so, would I have to get another one to keep her company?

 

[jen5680]

Did you raise them all together or get the silkie and add her later on?

 

[deedra11]

I raised them all together.

 

[deedra11]

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[MuranoFarms]

Quote:
Take one of the BR girls (I'd pick the meanest one) and make her a little home in a cage in your garage, basement...somewhere the others can't see her. Keep her separated for a few days. Hopefully while she's gone the other BR and the silkie will start to get along, so when you bring her back the bullying would stop.

 

[ibpboo]

Is it possible for you to make your coop bigger so she can get away, but still be in there?

I'd also try the separating thing for awhile like Murano suggested.
Otherwise, you may just have to have 2 coops.
Yea, make the second coop even bigger, then you can get more chickens!!

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

I hate to sound pessimistic, but if you don't separate that Silkie hen from the bullies, you're going to find her dead.
With all the "fluff" Silkies have, they never look underweight.....but you need to pick her up to see if she's malnourished (which she probably is).

 

[tcscivic12]

I had one of my Ameracauna hens that was getting bullied like that from my sex link hens so I ended up giving her to one of my friends who has her in a pen with some little bantams and she is doing fine now.