Solo baby chick being henpecked

[Cee quinn]

My 2 Easter eggers both went broody this summer but only one hatched an egg. Both moms were extremely protective of the baby and tag-teamed to keep her safe from the rest of the flock ( four other chickens and a Bielefelder rooster).

I free range my chickens during the day and have never lost a chicken in the year I have kept chickens, but a Fox or something took one of the Easter egger moms the other day and now the dynamics are very different in my flock and the remaining “ mom” is not really doing her job to protect the pullet ( now six weeks old) . It’s heartbreaking to see them all pecking at her and the rooster is even pecking at her. I put a dog crate inside the coop with the door just ajar enough to allow the baby inside but she seems terrified of it. I am wondering if it is safe to continue to free-range my hens since I can’t really confine them with this henpecking situation, and if there is anything else I can try. ( I don’t let them eat the apple seeds.) thanks in advance.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I typically don't let broodies and babies back into the flock until the chicks are 3-4 months old, though @Ridgerunner has had plenty of success.

Your EE might not be a good mother (most EEs don't go broody) and the chick looks like a threat by being alone (some adult chickens are scared of chicks). Because there's only one and you lost the other mother (who I'm assuming was the most protective and might have given her life to protect this chick), there's not enough on the chick's side to help it through the pecking order. It might be best to keep it separate until it's older and return it and broody back to the flock then.