The weakest link...hen pecking

[KIMEng]

I have a buff polish, she has had a few ruff weeks, infection, taking antibiotics and anti inflammatory meds I have been giving her some extreme TLC, bringing her in in the morning giving her, her own feeding time and then meds same with n the evening. She is the lowest hen on the 7 hen pecking order. I go out tonight to find some of her hind feathers plucked and now bleeding. I think I know which one of the other hens are especially cruel to her. I see her chasing her around and if this particular hen gets anywhere near her she puts up a fuss and runs away.

What can I do about this, I'm trying my best to get her over her infection- she is doing so much better and now this especially cruel hen pecking...just hurt my heart for her, She is a real sweet girl and I want her to survive, this is just beyond cruel to me.

 

[Folly's place]

Given that you have lots of space, hiding places, and multiple feeders and waterers, you need to do more!
Eliminate the bully!!! You can try to isolate her for a couple of weeks, add pinless peepers to her life, and then reintroduce her. or just move her on. Every bird won't be 'nice', or get along with everyone else.
Polish types can be more vulnerable, because they can't see as well, and look different. She deserves to have a safe life, in a more peaceful flock with you or elsewhere. A second separate coop with Polish?!
Is there some health issue with this one bird? Something else to consider.
Just curious; what breed is your bully hen?
Mary

 

[KIMEng]

Given that you have lots of space, hiding places, and multiple feeders and waterers, you need to do more!
Eliminate the bully!!! You can try to isolate her for a couple of weeks, add pinless peepers to her life, and then reintroduce her. or just move her on. Every bird won't be 'nice', or get along with everyone else.
Polish types can be more vulnerable, because they can't see as well, and look different. She deserves to have a safe life, in a more peaceful flock with you or elsewhere. A second separate coop with Polish?!
Is there some health issue with this one bird? Something else to consider.
Just curious; what breed is your bully hen?
Mary

Interesting enough my "bully" bird was quite bullied herself in our first flock, she is the second smallest among them all but she is at the top of the pecking order now. She is a Red Sex link and a super layer, When we added the second flock, with the Polish, she was the more aggressive one and took the lead away from the Barred rock. She has always chased our Polish around a bit and pulled a few feathers but nothing like this. Our Polish has been sick, and per the vet had something going on with her egg making mechanism, high WBCs, dehydrated and she is on antibiotics and anti inflammatory med, I have been giving her much TLC and she is much better acting her normal self now other than not drinking much...I have been supplementing her fluids giving her some through a syringe when administering her meds. If I could find a safe haven with just Polish i would give her up so she could feel safe, She clucks and pines for her flock right now despite the bully RSL, She has a very large Lavender Orpington friend she hides by, but Lavender is timid around our RSL too despite the Orpington being 3.5 times the size of the RSL.
They always have plenty of food and fresh water, we free range them 2-3 times a day-we have plenty predators here so no free ranging with out escort. They have 200 sp foot coop for 7 hens and roosting areas and secluded laying hen house. The only thing I can think is last night there were a lot of fireworks in our community-do you think that could of set our RSL off We only got 2 eggs today which is odd usually 4-5, And the RSL did not lay an egg which is also very unlike her, I'm going to keep our polish "Road runner" isolated for a few days I have some Vetericyn plus I'm spraying the area with. I have the means to isolate a hen from the other while in the coop itself. I have a small pen within the big pen, I may do the to the RSL for a few days and see if I can reset the pecking order. In the mean time checking to see if someone has a flock of Polish i might able to get her added to. I have added pics of the flock, who were getting along fine on the 4th with their corn on the cob treat.

 

[Folly's place]

Somehow I'm not suprised that your aggressive hen is a production red! They have a reputation for being feather pecking nasty beasts in the flock, and that was certainly true here!
If your Polish gets along with everyone else, move that bully on out! If she's really unwell, I'm sorry, but often sick birds will get driven out or even killed if they can't escape.
Mary
Mary

 

[KIMEng]

Somehow I'm not suprised that your aggressive hen is a production red! They have a reputation for being feather pecking nasty beasts in the flock, and that was certainly true here!
If your Polish gets along with everyone else, move that bully on out! If she's really unwell, I'm sorry, but often sick birds will get driven out or even killed if they can't escape.
Mary
Mary

Kept Road Runner in today, her feather are literally falling out, she fluffed up and shook - about 2 or 3 feathers just came flying out. There are 10 to 15 lying around the temp cage floor today. She has not been interested in taking in fluids for awhile She eats I just don't see her drink. I think its back to the vet.