other hens wont let one eat

[oceanwidedesigns]

We had this issue when we introduced our RIR to our two BAs. They're only two months apart, but the older two still had to assert their dominance over Baby. We set up an area in the run for Baby to escape to and get her own food and water. Since she was still young, we set a rubbermaid tote on it's side at an angle to the side of the run giving her just enough space to fit through. After a week or so of that, she gained some courage and the other two had gotten used to her enough.

There's still some rivalry, so we have a feeder in the run and a feeder in the coop. That's solved any squabbles!

 

[Florida_country_boy]

I've only integrated chickens once, and am in the process of doing it again. My birds free range and the feeder is in the yard, so I didn't have problems there, but I had major problems with treats. I would dump a pile of treats on the ground and the top hen wouldn't let anyone eat. So I started making multiple piles of treats on the ground which worked very well. Now I'm back to only one pile and they all get along for the most part.

So having two feeders should work for you.

 

[WriterChick]

M@M@2four :

I wouldn't seperate them if you want them to co-exist together in the long run...it'll just stall the process and could make things worse. I would stand there with them and place her in front of the food and make sure she starts eating...if they try to run her off, grab her and place her back in front of the food and stomp at the others. They will see your dominance and that you are protecting her and will soon back off. Also, try giving treats like raisins, grapes, cut up fruit, cheerios, etc. This sometimes helps as well! You also might want to try two feeders for now and then later switch to just one...this will get them just used to the idea of eating along side of one another. Good luck!

Yep, it works to single one out. My smallest BO was not allowed to eat by the others (I have 11 hens total), and when it was snack time she didn't get anything either. I have an overturned crate in the run where I sit sometimes and I started to hand feed her greens, layer pellets, flaxseeds - anything the others were getting. I'd push the other hens out of the way, etc. so she could eat. I did this for a few days. Yesterday I noticed that while she still is low in the pecking order they were letting eat with them and not running her off when it was snack time.​