Poor Outcast Hen

[Mrs. K]

Often times, in a bully/victim situation in CHICKENS, not people, there is more going on that casual observation may miss. When you look at the flock dynamics as a whole, there is tension in the flock, one bird is catching the abuse, but the tension affects all of them.

Things that cause bullying:

• lack of space
• sometimes if a bird is secretly sick, the others will drive it from the flock
• some birds are just aggressive, some are more tolerant
• sometimes the victim does not fit in with any of the birds, and when you remove the bully, another bird steps up to be the bully
• some birds will always want a victim, you remove the victim, that birds picks a new victim.

So, remove the bully - watch what happens, how is the tension in the flock? Peace? Then problem solved. Sometimes it isn't, try something else. Try removing the victim, observe the flock. Just wishing they would all be nice, don't work for chickens.

Mrs K

 

[theoldchick]

Perfect excuse to build another coop. Works for me. Since she is bloodied, she will need to be separated from the others until she heals. If you have a nice place to keep her you can always give her another buddy chicken to live with. Or you can house the rooster out of sight and hearing of the hens for a week or so and while he's gone, place the fully healed hen back with the flock. Then try to reintroduce the rooster once the hens have settled the pecking order. If he refuses to be nice, put him in a bachelor pad or rehome him.