Possibly half-bantam being picked on; will it work out?

[CatsandCrops]

We got 8 chicks and a 1 roo the last week of March of this year (roo has since been eaten ran away). We ordered all standard barred rock but one of the girls appears to be half bantam or just generally ALOT smaller than everyone else. She (named Arya) is not laying while everyone else appears to be (we're averaging 5-6 eggs a day from the other 7 ladies) - she does not have a comb, no squatting/vent doesn't show signs of laying, has never been seen in the nesting boxes etc.

Everything was going well up until we left for a 5 day vacation from August 14th - 19th. We had a house sitter who cared for the animals and what not but upon our return we realized Arya was being picked on - she sits by herself in the corner of the enclosed run, is chased off by others when she attempts to get treats or food that is spread in the run and appears to be spending more time in the coop (she'll come out later than others in the morning, is the first one in there in the evening and is randomly in there sometimes when I come out to check on them throughout the day).

When I asked a different question on here upon our return about the girls not laying in their nesting boxes (which has since corrected itself - our house sitter didn't replace the kicked out bedding in the boxes so the girls stopped using them on the 3rd or 4th day) it was pointed out she may have mites/lice etc - we did not see any signs of them on her but did notice some poop matted in her butt feathers which we cleaned (my husband jokes she has MC Hammer Pants feathers around her butt ahah) and have kept an eye on. I did deep clean the coop and added some protective measures in case mites/lice/bugs was the issue but have not noticed anything.

Yesterday, I noticed her tiny comb did have some blood on it as if someone else had pecked her. Any thoughts on what we should do? I know that pecking order issues usually work themselves out, but I feel like this is going on a bit longer and is escalating. We've kicked around the idea of even building her a second lil coop/run so she's not miserable but then she'll be alone and its too late in our season for chicks (wouldn't be feathered out in time for our brutal winters). I know if we separate her and re-introduce her, it may be the same exact issues.

 

[sourland]

If you separate her, reintroduction will be far worse. Provide hiding places and provide multiple feed and water stations so that she gets enough to eat and drink. Hopefully things will work out, but sadly big chickens frequently pick on little chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of your set up? I agree adding clutter, if there isn't much, will help provide hiding spots: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/ . Always has to be someone at the bottom of the pecking order, but doesn't mean she should live her life hiding in a corner.

 

[abpatchy]

What I am worried about is the poop on her butt (feathers). She might be sick and that is why the others pick on her. Chickens can be cruel... and they protect themselves by getting rid of sick ones. We might not notice it but chickens do. Get her poop checked if you can. The reason she is not laying and the others do... or that she is smaller might be also a sign for a sickness.
Personally I would seperate. But I breed for show and I have to be very careful to protect my flock.

 

[CatsandCrops]

What I am worried about is the poop on her butt (feathers). She might be sick and that is why the others pick on her. Chickens can be cruel... and they protect themselves by getting rid of sick ones. We might not notice it but chickens do. Get her poop checked if you can. The reason she is not laying and the others do... or that she is smaller might be also a sign for a sickness.
Personally I would seperate. But I breed for show and I have to be very careful to protect my flock.

She hasn't shown any signs of illness - eating and drinking fine and her poop appears to be normal vs others in the flock. She hasn't had any dirty feathers since we cleaned her but I can look into getting her poop checked. Thank you!

 

[CatsandCrops]

If you separate her, reintroduction will be far worse. Provide hiding places and provide multiple feed and water stations so that she gets enough to eat and drink. Hopefully things will work out, but sadly big chickens frequently pick on little chickens.

Any photos of your set up? I agree adding clutter, if there isn't much, will help provide hiding spots: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/ . Always has to be someone at the bottom of the pecking order, but doesn't mean she should live her life hiding in a corner.

This is Arya - she wouldnt sit still this morning. She usually jumps up on this bench or another when I bring out fermented food in the morning so she can eat in peace.

This is the main bully

We just put down new wood chips and some grass clippings yesterday - they also have access to under the coop for deep shade and dirt.

The tire is their dirt bath - seems like they kicked a bunch of grass/wood chips into it last night when they were scratching around in the new stuff. I cleaned it out after feeding them.

The square on the ground is usually a grow screen but the seeds we planted have died off now for the season (and again, kicked a bunch of stuff onto it last night).

This is on the other side of the coop - its deep shade most of the day so we keep their outdoor waterer over here. They have a PVC pipe waterer and feeders inside the coop.

Front of the coop - standing about 2-3 feet away from the water corner above looking at the rest of the run. We throw ice into the blue tub when it's hot and they will wade around in it.

The run is fully enclosed due to a TON of predators in the area; our back yard is 2 acres of woods that run into a river. We have random cats and dogs, coyotes, racoons, possums, fox, hawks..basically everything but a bear.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's a pretty nice set up, good amount of stuff in there too. I'd consider maybe building something a little more visually substantial towards the center, like around the center wooden post. Just like a small wall or two to visually break up the space, the idea being out of sight, out of mind.

Does feeding Arya up on the platform seem to help? It's a good idea if the others don't chase her down from there.

I think the fact that she's not yet laying is contributing to her getting picked on. It's a hormonal thing.

As far as the poopy butt, some birds are messy poopers. As long as there's no other signs of illness/off behavior it's generally not a huge problem. You can trim some of the butt fluff to keep the amount of build up down.

 

[CatsandCrops]

It's a pretty nice set up, good amount of stuff in there too. I'd consider maybe building something a little more visually substantial towards the center, like around the center wooden post. Just like a small wall or two to visually break up the space, the idea being out of sight, out of mind.

Does feeding Arya up on the platform seem to help? It's a good idea if the others don't chase her down from there.

I think the fact that she's not yet laying is contributing to her getting picked on. It's a hormonal thing.

As far as the poopy butt, some birds are messy poopers. As long as there's no other signs of illness/off behavior it's generally not a huge problem. You can trim some of the butt fluff to keep the amount of build up down.

That's a good idea on the walls. I'll look around today to see what we have to build something with.

Feeding her up there does help; usually I will put down the food and everyone will run to it, she'll run behind me and jump up onto one of the platforms to wait for her own portion. I'll put some down for her then stand there a minute or so to make sure no one noticed then go about my business. If someone does notice, if I give them a little if I still have whatever in my hands or redirect them towards other food, they "forget" she's up there.

I also thought about the lack of laying would make her a target. Maybe one day she'll catch up! Thanks for the reassurance on the feathers; her butt fluff is almost double what other's are so I really think she's just a messy poopy/has so much it's bound to happen.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, laying is a true social leveler. She has a pretty red comb/wattle - I don't think it will be long.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

A lot of people have seemed to have smaller birds this year. I myself had 3 I worried about getting to the right size. One I kept with chicks 4 weeks younger and they out grew her for a few weeks. She just took forever to grow

Another I was sure was a bantam instead of the standards I ordered. Wouldn't really notice now, but she still is much smaller than her siblings

The third is finally hitting a growth spurt

All were from April this year. Give them some time.