One of my hens is getting bullied...anything I can do?

[geauxchicken]

Hi everyone!

I have a small flock of 8. I’ve had them all together since the were 1wk old. We’ve got 4 barred rocks, 2 Rhode Island reds, and 2 buff orpingtons.

My kids recently have been saying that one of our buffs has been acting broody. Sitting in the egg box for hours. Getting all puffy when they nudge her out to check for eggs, etc.

Well, today I went out and noticed one of the buffs wasn’t running around in the run. Checked the egg box and there she was. I took her out and put her down in the run, and one of the RI reds IMMEDIATELY went after her. Pecking her neck and pulling feathers out. The poor buff just started running all over and was getting chased by this RI. We have a good size run and she was just running around trying to get away. The other RI red and one of the barred rocks joined in and starting harassing her as well. I did intervene and shooed the other birds away from her long enough for her to get back into to coop.

We’ve had these birds for about 8 months and it’s my first experience with chickens. I’ve had multiple dogs for years and understand the pack mentality in regard to dogs. I feel like I can help organize pack structure there, but when it comes to the chickens I have no idea what to do. I want to stand there and correct the bully chicken behavior, but something tells me I need to let this run it’s course??

Idk, any ideas? I know they have a pecking order, but this just seems like they don’t like this one particular hen. The buffs are definitely the most docile of all my birds, with the RI reds being the dominant birds.

thanks!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The easiest is to put the RIRs in quarantine for a few days. They tend to be the bullies of a mixed flock.
Then deal with the broody. Put the broody in her own quarters and give her fertile eggs.
If you can't get/don't have fertile eggs or don't want chicks - break her broodiness.
That requires an elevated wire bottom cage. It must allow cool air to reach her underside. Put her in there with a bit of food and water for about 3 days and she should be done.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I agree with @ChickenCanoe, the only thing I would add is to check your broody hen for parasites. I had a hen getting picked on and it turned out they didn’t like her because she was infested with lice Once everyone was louse-free she was accepted by the flock just fine.

 

[geauxchicken]

Uh oh...maybe I need to go give her a look over! I noticed that when the others weren’t picking on her she was picking on herself. Under her wings.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The broodiness is probably intensifying any flock harmony issues, so once that breaks things will likely go back to normal.