One chicken in the flock is a target......

[DeniseRooke]

We have one chicken who seems to be targeted by the others. We have a flock of 29 and no matter what we've tried, the others beat up on her. We have placed her in a cage within the coop so that she remains part flock for the last few weeks, but today, my son took her out and set her down to feed everyone and immediately one jumped on her and then she tried to go after another chicken. The rest of the flock, other than minor, normal squabbles, is peaceful. Many of her feathers have been lost. We've put anti-peck gel on her. We're out of ideas on how to integrate her. This has been going on for months. Is it time to see if we can re-home her? She's a sweet bird with humans, but she doesn't not get along with the rest of the flock!

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

The only thing I can say is get a rooster they are rly good at breaking up fights (if you don't have one then I am out of ideas sorry)

 

[Sally PB]

Is it time to see if we can re-home her? She's a sweet bird with humans,

Sad to say, for the good of the flock and for her too, this may be the best option. Is she in good health? Chickens know when one of the flock is sick, even if we don't, right away. They will try to rid the flock of that bird, as a natural self preservation instinct.

Maybe someone else has another idea?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We have one chicken who seems to be targeted by the others. We have a flock of 29 and no matter what we've tried, the others beat up on her. We have placed her in a cage within the coop so that she remains part flock for the last few weeks, but today, my son took her out and set her down to feed everyone and immediately one jumped on her and then she tried to go after another chicken. The rest of the flock, other than minor, normal squabbles, is peaceful. Many of her feathers have been lost. We've put anti-peck gel on her. We're out of ideas on how to integrate her. This has been going on for months. Is it time to see if we can re-home her? She's a sweet bird with humans, but she doesn't not get along with the rest of the flock!

Photos of her please.

 

[MissMonty]

Often animals will know when something is wrong long before we do. In my experience when animals start doing this likely something is already wrong with the chicken.

As long as nothing is wrong with her that you know of, I would look into rehoming her it'll probably be easier on her in the long run. Sometimes chickens just don't fit into larger flocks. Maybe she'll fit into a smaller flock

 

[21hens-incharge]

Age of all birds in the flock?
Breeds of birds?
Size of coop?
Size of run?
Is this the only one you are integrating?

Single bird integration is extremely difficult at best. At worst it just doesn't work at all.

 

[DeniseRooke]

These were from October after she'd been beaten up. The blue is where she'd been bloodied and we applied ointment.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Idk my birds get along fine so I don't have much advise on this, sorry.

 

[DeniseRooke]

Variety of breeds - We have 2 Rhode Islands, 2 Plymouth Barred Rock, 4 Ameracaunas, 3 Brahmas, 2 Buff Orpington, 2 Olive Eggers, 2 Sex Links, 2 Wyandottes, 2 Sussex, 1 Polish, 3 Pearl star Leghorns, 2 Australorps and 2 I'm going blank on at the moment. They have a 16 x 7 foot coop and the entire yard to roam (we live on almost 4 acres), though we will be changing their ranging space over the winter. She's actually been part of the flock for over a year. The bullying has happened over the last 6 months or so.

 

[DeniseRooke]

The only thing I can say is get a rooster they are rly good at breaking up fights (if you don't have one then I am out of ideas sorry)

I've avoided a rooster because I've known several that were aggressive and don't really care about having fertile eggs. I'll consider it if it keeps the flock happier, however (though not sure my neighbor would love me...lol).