Need help.

[Vjessica1993]

Hello all,
I have a huge problem and dont know how to deal with it. I started off with 2 hens and a rooster in June of last year (they were 12 weeks when I got them). In September I got 8 barred rocks pullets 1 died less than a week later and when they got big enough i put then in the coop (separated from the older flock but close for them to get used to each other). 3 of them died while free ranging and jumped fence. We stopped letting them free range because there a lot of chicken hawks around back in early February. Well our rooster became aggressive so we rehome him in early March. The girls were getting along fine until this week. The girls are fighting a single hen. I separated her from the flock still close enough to them but not so close they can cause harm. I know pecking order is unavoidable but they leave her bloody and they dont bother each other. I even took her to the vet to see if she was sick all test came out fine. Shes a sweet girl and still lays even with all that's been happening to her. What do I do now?

 

[Isaac 0]

How much space do they have during the day?

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
Can you post pictures of your coop and run? What, exactly, are you feeding them?

 

[Vjessica1993]

They have 12x20 foot run and the coop where they sleep at night is a 6'4 foot coop. I let them out before the sun comes up and close the coop at 9 p.m every night as I always have.

 

[Vjessica1993]

I feed the red river laying pellets.

 

[Roo5]

Sounds like you have a complete imbalance in pecking order.Which could be because there is no male around to keep the peace,or your not providing the right amount of space.
What are you feeding them?Are they just beating her or picking and eating her feathers?

 

[meetthebubus]

Poor baby I've heard sometimes it's just one aggressor and followers to attack see if you can monitor the interaction, then take away the instigator to see no touch enclosure ive heard that helps bc u want to keep her safe but taking her away might just keep the problem fresh, the instigator gets taken out of authority and the order gets readjusted it's worth a try I think but be careful you dont want to stress them too much

 

[sylviethecochin]

I'd invest in some sort of no-peck ointment, in addition to seeing if I can increase my space.

And a good rooster can help with issues in the pecking order, as said above (though a bad one can exacerbate them.)

 

[Vjessica1993]

I tried that when the first attack happened because the 2 older ones were bullies I moved them separately and re introduced them after a couple of days. They were good but this morning again the attacks happened. She wants to be in the run with them but they wont even let her in the nest box without attacking her.

 

[Vjessica1993]

We got baby roosters this week so they can get used to us but wont introduce them for many more weeks. And as far as food goes she feed them red river laying pellets. They have a 12x 20 foot run and a 6 by 4 foot coop. I let them out before the sun comes up and lock them up after 9 p.m.