new chick being picked on

[Rick589]

We have 5 BO’s (1 rooster) all just over a year old and all have been together since day one. About two months ago or so one of the hens went broody and hatched two peeps. Everything went well with no drama or upheaval within the flock related to the new chicks. Recently noticed that one of these new chicks (now about two months old) is being pecked at and harassed by the older birds when trying to roost at night while the other new chick seems to be accepted. I feel so bad for the little one because it ends up scurrying around the coop looking for a place to roost be it a roost, nest box, coop floor, etc. Every time it gets on a roost it is pecked off so I recently installed a piece of cardboard to divide one roost in half so that a chicken on one end couldn’t really see the other side in the hope that this will give the bullied little one some relief. Seems to have worked so far but it is only the first night. Every night I find it helpful to oversee the bedtime and assume that as the new chick grows larger this will at least be more equal so to speak. Just looking for any advice, guidance, expectations I should consider. Also, we had another hen go broody and hatch another three peeps which are currently about 2 weeks old. I’m an old softie and feel really bad for this little one.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I was talking to someone in my Bad Luck Bantams thread, and they did the exact same thing you did with the cardboard blocker on the roost. Fixed the problem for them as well! Curious if she's getting harassed during the day as well, or just at night?

I'm also dealing with bedtime skirmishes and trying to find a way to give everyone more space and escape routes.

 

[Rick589]

I was talking to someone in my Bad Luck Bantams thread, and they did the exact same thing you did with the cardboard blocker on the roost. Fixed the problem for them as well! Curious if she's getting harassed during the day as well, or just at night?

I'm also dealing with bedtime skirmishes and trying to find a way to give everyone more space and escape routes.

During the day there really is no, or very limited, drama. Everyone seems to get along fairly well and this peep and its hatch mate tend to hang out together often. I will say the one in question does seem to stay off to the side from the rest of the flock often. Naturally, the one hen that seems to have the biggest chip on her shoulder is the one that favors me over everyone else (she’s my buddy) so the element of jealousy is present. To add fuel to the fire this picked on one and its hatch mate are looking to be friendly as well which has me watchful when handling them just to be sure I don’t upset my buddy.

 

[thecatumbrella]

During the day there really is no, or very limited, drama. Everyone seems to get along fairly well and this peep and its hatch mate tend to hang out together often. I will say the one in question does seem to stay off to the side from the rest of the flock often. Naturally, the one hen that seems to have the biggest chip on her shoulder is the one that favors me over everyone else (she’s my buddy) so the element of jealousy is present. To add fuel to the fire this picked on one and its hatch mate are looking to be friendly as well which has me watchful when handling them just to be sure I don’t upset my buddy.

Any chance the hen with the attitude is lower ranking? That's what's happening in my case. She'll go to any lengths to make sure there's a bird below her in the order.

Also, I agree; every other pet seems to suffer from jealousy, so why not chickens, right?