Pecking at others

[Tinacasey1975]

So I have a flock of five. Noticed one chicken had missing feathers on her neck and butt. We noticed the other chicken always huddled around her so we put her by herself to see if her feathers would regrow. They did and she looks great. Today while cleaning the coop and deciding we need to try putting her back with the others, all the birds were free ranging in the yard. We noticed that the birds went back to her and a few were pecking at her neck. She just stood there with her eyes closed. We take her to another spot away from them. We put her in the coop with them after cleaning is done and notice that one is trying to peck her again. We have her delegated again because we are fearful for her at this point and don't want to loose her. Any thoughts or advice would be great. We don't want to seclude her and want her to have company.

 

[Tinacasey1975]

So I have a flock of five. Noticed one chicken had missing feathers on her neck and butt. We noticed the other chicken always huddled around her so we put her by herself to see if her feathers would regrow. They did and she looks great. Today while cleaning the coop and deciding we need to try putting her back with the others, all the birds were free ranging in the yard. We noticed that the birds went back to her and a few were pecking at her neck. She just stood there with her eyes closed. We take her to another spot away from them. We put her in the coop with them after cleaning is done and notice that one is trying to peck her again. We have her delegated again because we are fearful for her at this point and don't want to loose her. Any thoughts or advice would be great. We don't want to seclude her and want her to have company.

We have her separated not delegated. Sorry typo. Lol

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC....sorry you're having troubles.

We have her separated not delegated. Sorry typo. Lol

There is an edit function on your posts to fix typos

So what you have is an integration issue.
Removing a bird from the flock for even a few days can make it a 'stranger' to the other birds. Birds don't like strangers so they attack them.
When you separated this bird was it still in sight of the flock?
That can help a lot.
Tell us more about your setup, size of coop and run.
Dimensions and pics will be helpful.

Meanwhile, here some tips on...
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Tinacasey1975]

Thanks so much for the info!!