Second hen falls to fourth rank

[jolenesdad]

You have plenty of space for sure. Separating her is good. When separating one lower, make sure to keep them close to the flock or it can have the opposite effect.

If you check ber over well, and can’t find any signs of sickness, I would think about separating the one that is the toughest on her.

I had a couple chickens stop laying during the extreme heat and then they started molting after this year. I still think that could be happening. With her being separate, are you seeing ANY loose feathers?

 

[Kristin209]

It is hard to watch but it is what chickens do. I can suggest making your low ranker a safe space inside the coop so she can eat and possibly regain confidence. Whether or not you choose to do this you do need to make sure she is able to eat and drink , the others have no issue with starving her. Chickens are really hard on softies.

You have plenty of space for sure. Separating her is good. When separating one lower, make sure to keep them close to the flock or it can have the opposite effect.

If you check ber over well, and can’t find any signs of sickness, I would think about separating the one that is the toughest on her.

I had a couple chickens stop laying during the extreme heat and then they started molting after this year. I still think that could be happening. With her being separate, are you seeing ANY loose feathers?

No loose feathers yet. She sat in the laying box all morning but is eating and drinking when I bring the food to her. I just arrived home after 5 days at 3 this morning so after I get their area disinfected and sorted out I am going to put her in the coop which is in the middle of the other hens activity. Thank you so much and the other responses for your help. I am a softy and a helicopter chicken mom but I love my hens and their world fascinates me. They must never find out I really am just a squirrel in their world.

 

[Kristin209]

I have my depressed hen in the coop isolated with food and water. She is roosting and panting. Should I force her to be in the part of the coop with her water and food and in sight of the others? I have put her down there twice but she goes back to hiding.

 

[aart]

She is roosting and panting

Is it hot where you are?
Panting can be because of heat...or stress....or illness/pain.
Pics of bird might help.

 

[Helloworld]

I have four hens. I introduced two about four months ago and it went smoothly. Between 2-4 weeks ago the two youngest started laying. The second one in the pecking order is now lowest. She isn’t coming out of the coop. The other three hens are being so nasty to her. It is like they never met her. I haven’t been able to find any information about how long this will last or why it even happens. As much as I love hens- I hate the pecking demonstrated. I stood there sobbing in the coop when my hen stayed hunkered after being dominated and 3 weeks ago she was giving it to the others.

She may have stepped down and they are mad! Lol

So they started laying... How much extra attention are you giving the layers? BTW, I really think a younger chicken out ranking in egg making is a definite target. It looks like one of the new chickens is in the initiation stage of their gang and her job is to be mean to the other egg layer in order to get in. What she doesn’t know is her time will come. Lol
The older hens are probably choosing her to become the broody hen or “sitting-on-egg” bird in their language lol. I have had plenty of older hens or lazy hens pick on the weakest just to get them to do the hard work. It usually doesn’t work out their way, but it is something that needs to be done to protect themselves. She might be slow or smaller and outside she could get eaten and she is getting beat up because they are tired of telling her that. Lol! They are stubborn to themselves too.

I stopped integrating my newbies any earlier than 16 weeks. If, my older hens get to where they are not laying or causing serious damage to newbies, we remove them and either use them for pasture cleaners or cull. You have to continually rotate your flock if you are wanting byproducts or build a retiement home for those birds upset that they are
slowing down in their roles.

Protect your younger birds who are laying. Do not allow the other newbie with the olders until they realize it isn’t nice of them to bully. Put your olders away if they can’t be nice but don’t allow the two younger to split. See a day with damage, one day of jail.

Behavior training is work but a person can and I do because I am alpha Chick, change the pecking order. You just have to decide: you do it and fix it or let them do it. She will probably make it through and get tired of it but she may not. So you ask yourself, do we prevent or do we bandage and let them do it. They are like 3 yr olds.

I sell my feathers so I want order. Usually, if I mention something about “Craigslist” under my breath things start to get better. Lol.

 

[Kristin209]

I did the playpen method from 8 weeks to 4 months. My two original hens were 7 +/- months when the younger two were born. One of the younger pullets has always been very assertive. She often tried dominating the other pullet by standing on anything that would make her taller while vocalizing in her cute fluffy downy self. Before I left on vacay for five days I noticed she had challenged the second in command older hen. I come home and all of the hens are pecking her. I think I just have to decide the best strategy. I wish I new what goes on chemically in a hens brain when she is being pecked. I don’t want to prolong their order being stabilized but also do not want my hen stressed out. The only thing I know for sure is they need to see her so she doesn’t become a stranger. I put her in the coop 40sq’ with the hen ranked above her but she was hysterical so I let the other one out. Tomorrow I will try it again but in the enclosed yard of 500sq’ with plenty of waterers and feeders.

 

[Kristin209]

She may have stepped down and they are mad! Lol

So they started laying... How much extra attention are you giving the layers? BTW, I really think a younger chicken out ranking in egg making is a definite target. It looks like one of the new chickens is in the initiation stage of their gang and her job is to be mean to the other egg layer in order to get in. What she doesn’t know is her time will come. Lol
The older hens are probably choosing her to become the broody hen or “sitting-on-egg” bird in their language lol. I have had plenty of older hens or lazy hens pick on the weakest just to get them to do the hard work. It usually doesn’t work out their way, but it is something that needs to be done to protect themselves. She might be slow or smaller and outside she could get eaten and she is getting beat up because they are tired of telling her that. Lol! They are stubborn to themselves too.

I stopped integrating my newbies any earlier than 16 weeks. If, my older hens get to where they are not laying or causing serious damage to newbies, we remove them and either use them for pasture cleaners or cull. You have to continually rotate your flock if you are wanting byproducts or build a retiement home for those birds upset that they are
slowing down in their roles.

Protect your younger birds who are laying. Do not allow the other newbie with the olders until they realize it isn’t nice of them to bully. Put your olders away if they can’t be nice but don’t allow the two younger to split. See a day with damage, one day of jail.

Behavior training is work but a person can and I do because I am alpha Chick, change the pecking order. You just have to decide: you do it and fix it or let them do it. She will probably make it through and get tired of it but she may not. So you ask yourself, do we prevent or do we bandage and let them do it. They are like 3 yr olds.

I sell my feathers so I want order. Usually, if I mention something about “Craigslist” under my breath things start to get better. Lol.

Could you expand on: “Behavior training is work but a person can and I do because I am alpha Chick, change the pecking order. You just have to decide: you do it and fix it or let them do it. She will probably make it through and get tired of it but she may not. So you ask yourself, do we prevent or do we bandage and let them do it. They are like 3 yr olds.“ I am not sure what it all means.