Rest of the flock is ostracizing one hen - drawing blood

[elliebillings]

I have a flock of 8 mixed breed chickens and just recently two of them have turned on my one Delaware hen. The two culprits are 1) our very tiny Polish hen (who used to be at the bottom of the pecking order) and our 2) Easter Egger rooster (who is incredibly friendly and I've never seen bother any chicken, human, etc). They are being very mean - grabbing at the back of her comb and drawing blood for the past few days. She won't come out of the coop and is therefore getting very limited access to food and water. When I let them out to free range, they chase her off to the other side of the yard (where at least she can eat!). I don't understand this new behavior and am hoping they will sort it out themselves, without killing her! Anyone else experience this?

 

[ScissorChick]

You need to seperate the hen that is being picked on.

I've had them kill each other in the past. Pecking order changes alot.

My head hen, the 'leader' just started to be picked on by the others.

 

[Akane]

Separate the hen until she heals because if they see blood chickens will just keep attacking until they eat the other chicken alive. Then separate the polish causing the problems and reintroduce the beat up hen. When she's settled in after a few days release the polish who will no longer be top of the pecking order and will have to deal with all the chickens now giving her no time or much reason to pick on that particular one.

 

[elliebillings]

That's kind of what I figured. Thanks so much for the advice. I'm moving soon anyway, so perhaps that will also help shake things up a bit... hopefully not in the wrong direction.