update on hennie

[tamsteve143]

Hello I had on here about a week ago how my rhode island red, Hennie was getting picked on all of a sudden, all 6 hens were raised together, and all of a sudden they jumped on hennie, she had a bleeding crown and was petrified so I put her in a dog crate for about a week...well, I tried to bring her out and let her with buttercup, another sweet one and they fought, drew blood so had to seperate her again...I got me a dog playpen to put in our big run today and i had her in it with the girls being able to walk around her but not get to her..i posted a video to show the reaction and how it went..hennie was petrified and penny and meepers were trying to get to her, is this a normal reaction of being reintroduced? How long should i do this? I put her in a dog cage at night. I hate that my loving quiet flock has issues now! Help

 

[RacehorsesRock]

Aww..poor girl . I wish I could help but Im really bad with chickens and other poultry. Good luck though.

 

[staceyj]

Good morning!
Since most people are just waking up and pouring their first cup of coffee, I'll share my own experience.
Chickens forget nothing!

I have 1 girl who is ofter broody.
I love her dearly, but have no rooster and live in an area where the number of chickens you can have is capped, so when this happens I have to try to break her broody cycle.

I have a very gentle happy flock of 6.
The other members of the flock aparently have lost patience with her clucking, fluffing, and growling.

One in particular has gotten very mean with her, so I've resorted to putting the broody one in a small dog crate on my porch. That wasn't enough!
The mean girl and her buddy will try to peck her through the metal crate.
NOW, I've had to put up a barrier (unfolded puppy pen)
To keep the other chickens from getting to her on the porch!

When it's time to reintegrate, the other girls are confined to their run while I let the broody and a nice friend or two free range the yard.
The confined ones aren't happy about this.
I try to coordinate the next day if the weather allows, so that I can be outside with them.
I'm thinking about buying a referees uniform and maybe a whistle ! ( just kidding)

I'll provide treats in different areas to avoid clumping and
crowding and encourage them to break up into pairs or trios.

It seems they respect my presence. I'll gently use my foot but often an old badminton racket to enforce space around the one who's picked on (and very anxious) and steer away the naughty one who is the ringleader. I've never hit her, ever. I just deflect her and thwart her approach.

Usually a few hours of yard maintenance is enough to restore peace here.

I'm sure others will come along this morning and offer
better suggestions but my "badminton racket method" works for me. The naughty one now walks away as soon as she sees it in my hand.

 

[aart]

Might take more than a week:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-are-they-picking-on-hennie.1210041/page-2

Did you try splitting the coop and run?
Would you post pics of coop and run, inside and out, so we can help you figure out a good solution?
Adding your location to your profile would also help a great deal.