my poor poor hen!

[Lunafarmchickens]

She is the lowest of the pecking order, and the rest of them just pummel her. Thought it would get better over time, but its only gotten worse! Today the back of her head is bald and covered with blood and scabs... I cleaned it out, and I took her out to free roam so she could get a break. I would put her in the bantam coop, but she is really really REALLY mean to hens who are less dominant than her. She has always hated the bantams, I'm afraid she'll hurt them because she has before. I need help, ive been trying so hard to make things better for her... And to be honest I think they could kill her. Any feedback or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, they most definitely can kill her. Do you have a dog crate or similar you can put her in inside the pen so she can heal but still remain part of the flock? Does she have a single friend you could put in with her, or are ALL of them mean to her? You will also need to get to the bottom of why she’s being targeted. They may be picking up on an illness or other weakness. She may also be bullied from feed and may not be getting enough to eat. Is she losing breast muscle?

 

[Lunafarmchickens]

Yes, they most definitely can kill her. Do you have a dog crate or similar you can put her in inside the pen so she can heal but still remain part of the flock? Does she have a single friend you could put in with her, or are ALL of them mean to her? You will also need to get to the bottom of why she’s being targeted. They may be picking up on an illness or other weakness. She may also be bullied from feed and may not be getting enough to eat. Is she losing breast muscle?

Yes, they most definitely can kill her. Do you have a dog crate or similar you can put her in inside the pen so she can heal but still remain part of the flock? Does she have a single friend you could put in with her, or are ALL of them mean to her? You will also need to get to the bottom of why she’s being targeted. They may be picking up on an illness or other weakness. She may also be bullied from feed and may not be getting enough to eat. Is she losing breast muscle?

It is sad, but she actually has NO friends. She is weak now, but she was perfectly healthy before the bullying. She is always tired Which makes me think that she isnt eating and/or drinking enough. I do have a crate to put her in to heal, but when she gets out won't the bullying just be worse? I've given her some vitamin drops, and nutrishes chick crumble. And ive let her free roam today while the others stay in the pen.

 

[micstrachan]

If you keep her crate in with the other chickens, I don’t think things will get worse. Sorry about your poor girl. I hope others chime in with more advice.

 

[Lunafarmchickens]

If you keep her crate in with the other chickens, I don’t think things will get worse. Sorry about your poor girl. I hope others chime in with more advice.

I put her in the crate for a bit, but they kept grabbing her head and pulling it through the bars. They were making the injury worse, and I'm worried that they would have killed her. I put her in the shed in stead.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh dear. I’m so sorry. How long has this been going on? Is there an instigator that can be in time out?

 

[Lunafarmchickens]

Oh dear. I’m so sorry. How long has this been going on? Is there an instigator that can be in time out?

She free roamed with the bantams all day, and a couple mins ago I put her back in the pen... The strangest thing ever happened. She was chasing the dominant hen! I simply don't understand, but its like they all respect her now...

 

[Stacyoung13]

If you keep her crate in with the other chickens, I don’t think things will get worse. Sorry about your poor girl. I hope others chime in with more advice.

I have a silver Wyandot hen that is being pecked at by 3 reds, they were plucking her tail feathers out. I concluded that it was protein deficiency. But before I figured out the problem, I tried different things to get them to stop. I read a thread that mentioned putting colored zip ties on them . So I gathered them up and put a different florescent color around each ones leg, and it actually distracted them from the feather p!ucking, they would peck at the colored bands. Might help her til you figure something else out.

 

[featherhead007]

I had to put vicks vapo rub on my hens head so the others would stop pecking her! Worked for me!

 

[Big on Red]

It is sad, but she actually has NO friends. She is weak now, but she was perfectly healthy before the bullying. She is always tired Which makes me think that she isnt eating and/or drinking enough. I do have a crate to put her in to heal, but when she gets out won't the bullying just be worse? I've given her some vitamin drops, and nutrishes chick crumble. And ive let her free roam today while the others stay in the pen.

You mentioned they keep pecking her head and it is causing it to bleed chickens peck color if there's blood there they will peck it you can get some stuff they call no more pecking I have used it it works well. As far as the other things going on maybe because she is getting weaker. Get her away from them make sure she's eating on her own. Let her get strong again and go from there. Good luck to you and her.