Pecking order question

[simmen]

We have six hens, all are Buff Orpingtons. We got them from a friend this spring when they were about a year old. They have always gotten along well, with the occasional pecking order tussle here and there. The smallest one was always the most adventerous of the six. About six weeks ago, the other hens started aggressively attacking the smallest one - Blondie. Two or three of them would gang up on her and they were relentless. She was acting lethargic and had really yucky, runny poop. We took her out of the group and kept her separate for a while, only putting her back in the coop at night, which worked out fine because she roosted on the top by herself and the others stayed on the lower level and left her alone. Now that she is feeling better, she is still being attacked by the group. This morning, she was in the nesting box, piled in there with two other hens, so I didn't let her out to free range, like I had been doing every day. And then she was in the pen with all the others, eating the tomatoes I was putting in there. Then suddenly they turned on her again, and I had to remove her. Are they ever going to accept her back? This is not the normal pecking order scuffle the others do to each other. I don't know what to do with her?

 

[HEChicken]

You might look into getting some pinless peepers for the other 5 hens. Pinless peepers attach to the nostrils and act a little like "blinders" on draft horses - it obstructs their vision enough to stop the pecking. They can still eat and drink fine but it often completely stops them from pecking at other birds.

 

[7L Farm]

You could take her & a buddy & cage them together at night. Then during the day put the two in their run while the others free range. This will enable them to be seen by the others. After a few weeks put them back with the others at night on their roost. This will rearange the pecking order.

 

[Happy Chooks]

How long was she separated? Is she healthy now? Chickens can sense a sick chicken and can try to kill it to protect the flock.

 

[simmen]

She was separated during the day during illness, which lasted about three days. She would free range and the others would stay in, and then when we let the others out later in the day, she would run for the coop. They would all stay in till morning when we would let her out again. She no longer appears ill - eating, drinking, energetic, and normal poop. But since this all started its been almost three weeks, and she remains separated during the day, free ranging while the others are in.