Pecking order or bullying?

[Mommy2aka]

I have a flock of 7 hens, all laying eggs. Got them all as baby hatchlings in April of this year. They've always been together, and all started laying eggs a few months ago. My girls consist of 2 silver laced Wyandottes, Dolly and Reba, 2 (suppose to be ameraucana) Easter eggers, Hei hei and Daisy, 1 light Brahma, Pearl, 1 Rhode Island Red, Patsy,and 1 Partridge Rock, Shania. I noticed a while ago that when we let them out of the coop to free range, Patsy always seemed to do her own thing, always kinda by herself. A few days ago,I witnessed 2 chickens jump on her, pecking her. I broke them up. I noticed when id throw fresh scratch grain down, all the chickens would steer clear of Dolly, as she stood in the middle eating away. Tonight I watched as Dolly continuously followed Patsy, jumping on her back and pecking. Even when I stood between them, Dolly was trying to get at her rather than foraging. Patsy (RIR) keeps to herself. Why is Dolly singling her out? Why is Patsy always by herself? It makes me feel bad for her.

 

[Ebony Rose]

There's a lot of variables with chickens. It could be that Dolly just doesn't like Patsy. Patsy could be sick and hiding it from YOU.

If this were my flock, I would thoroughly examine Patsy, looking for anything that might signal disease... lice or mites, or how is her weight (how meaty is she at the breast bone), how does her vent look (clean, dirty, moist, dry, more circular or is it more oval shaped), what do the bottoms of Patsy's feet look like, does she limp or otherwise appear weak in any way? Do you know for certain that Patsy is laying? What does her poop look like? Was Patsy ever sick while the others were healthy, even as a chick?

Once you've ruled out illness in Patsy, and the problem persists with Dolly, then you might consider putting Dolly in 'time out', in a dog crate or other separate living quarters where she is not seen by the other flock members for a week or so. Then move her crate into a "look but don't touch" area so that the others do see her to ease reintegration. This will knock Dolly down a peg or two on the pecking order and give Patsy a chance to buddy up with someone in the flock as they work out the new pecking order while Dolly is cooling her heels.

Another option would be to move Patsy and one of the hens that's in the middle of the pecking order into the 'time out' living arrangement to force them to buddy up, and then into the "look but don't touch" area... as I suggested with Dolly. This would give Patsy a buddy going back into the fold.

Dynamics are different in every flock, so consider the various options that folks here at BYC suggest, and try out the ones that you think might work... until you find one that works for you and your feathered family.

Best of luck getting to the root of, and correcting, the problem with your flock.

 

[aart]

There's always a low bird, and often a bully.
I'd start by isolating the bully.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sounds like Patsy could be the lowest ranked bird, or at least, Dolly thinks so. Is Patsy able to eat and drink without too much harassment? Has she ever been injured by the others? Any possible health problems you've noticed, like Tycine1 mentioned?

I'm of the mindset that as long as the harassment isn't constant and the lower ranked bird isn't injured or unable to eat or forced away, that the birds can sort out things amongst themselves.

 

[Madi131]

I had this same problem with my birds. My americauna, Helen, decided she didn't like the new chicks being integrated into the flock. The birds weren't that much smaller than the rest of them, a jersey giant and sapphire gem. I put them out with the birds and every seemed to be going well. I watched them for a few hours, and when it was getting dark I put them all up together. The next morning I go out to check on them, the sapphire gem, Ella (short for Cinderella, I thought it fit the situation), was hiding in the corner with her head down. I thought she had just got caught and got stuck. When I got closer I realized the giant had managed to squeeze through the coop some how and was on the outside sitting by her. Ella was covered in blood. Head, wings, back, everywhere. She came to live inside. So did the giant but they had to be seperate so Ella wasn't picked on due to the blood. Ella still follows me around, she thinks I'm her momma chicken. When I go to clean the pen she'll jump on my back and follows me around everywhere. Since then, Helen now lives with the ducks due to her bullying habits, and she doesn't come around the chickens anymore , Ella has joined the flock, but she still sticks to herself as the giant was killed by eagles. Very sad

 

[Madi131]

She was, and is perfectly healthy too. They just didn't like her. Helen would pick on her and all the other birds would join in too.

but, now she's spoiled and constantly wants to sit on my lap

shes one of the few chickens allowed to roam around the house besides the polish and silkies..

and she's constantly lounging on me or by me.

I apologise for all the pictures, she's my baby

 

[aart]

I apologise for all the pictures,

You could start a new thread here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/pictures-stories-of-my-chickens.39/create-thread
Because, Yeah, it's not really very nice to photobomb someone else's thread