Please help. All picking on one.

[Vikinglike]

I have 11 girls; 6 buff orpingtons and 5 gold laced wyandots. They will be two years old this month.
Speckles is a buff Orpington. She is definitely toward or at the bottom of the pecking order. She’s the sweetest thing.
I don’t know what brought this on, however early this week, I found several chickens just pecking her back unmercifully. I stopped it immediately and held the two worst ones down for a while. I didn’t know what to do.
Nothing has changed, everything is pretty much normal. Then as I stepped away after tossing some peas in the coop, the same thing happened again. If I didn’t stop it, I don’t know what would have happened. There has been no blood.
Any ideas why this started or what to do is appreciated.
she constantly is looking to me for protection now.
thank you!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Has she been showing any signs of illness or lethargy?

What does your set up look like (photos help, but measurements at very least). Since you're in New England, has there been changes to their available space, i.e. run isn't roofed, so snow is causing the birds to spend all day inside?

What's their diet, specifically protein %? Any treats or other things you feed them?

 

[Vikinglike]

Has she been showing any signs of illness or lethargy?

What does your set up look like (photos help, but measurements at very least). Since you're in New England, has there been changes to their available space, i.e. run isn't roofed, so snow is causing the birds to spend all day inside?

What's their diet, specifically protein %? Any treats or other things you feed them?

No, she seems very healthy.
The coop is actually inside of a horse stable (no horses). The coop measurements are 8x8x8. They have an indoor run that measures approximately 12x12. They spend almost all day in the run.
At night when they go in the coop, I’ll usually toss them some microwaved corn or peas and a small amount of Grubbly meal worms and sunflower seeds. Their feed is 16% layer feed.
thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is there stuff for them to do in the run, i.e. perches to sit on, straw to dig through, a dust bath, junk that they can run around or on top of? Clutter provides some entertainment, plus increases hiding spots for birds that are getting picked on.

I'd consider increasing the the protein in the feed as well. It's probably not a magic bullet in this case but a lower protein diet may contribute to picking issues.

 

[Brooks_]

increases hiding spots for birds that are getting picked on

True story. I have one that hid himself so well I think he got stuck,

Edit: *hid

 

[Kiki]

No, she seems very healthy.
The coop is actually inside of a horse stable (no horses). The coop measurements are 8x8x8. They have an indoor run that measures approximately 12x12. They spend almost all day in the run.
At night when they go in the coop, I’ll usually toss them some microwaved corn or peas and a small amount of Grubbly meal worms and sunflower seeds. Their feed is 16% layer feed.
thank you!

She may be sick.
Do you feed these treats daily?

Can you get the picked on one and cage her by herself for a day to observe her alone?

 

[rosemarythyme]

True story. I have one that hid himself so well I think he got stuck,

Most of my clutter is NOT up against walls so birds cannot get trapped or cornered by others. Any item that is pushed up against a wall has extra escape routes cut in.

 

[Brooks_]

Most of my clutter is NOT up against walls so birds cannot get trapped or cornered by others. Any item that is pushed up against a wall has extra escape routes cut in.

Yeah, it was under an awning. Behind a shelving unit and somehow under an overhanging inverted pot. The other roo is a D.

 

[Vikinglike]

There’s four long perches around, a large swing, and I added a dust bath today... yes, I feed these daily... should I cut back?

 

[Kiki]

There’s four long perches around, a large swing, and I added a dust bath today... yes, I feed these daily... should I cut back?

Cut back to once a week.