Welsummer dilemma - any advice please?

[bekabat]

I'm hoping someone might be able to help me out here...I have a flock of 8 which includes a Light Sussex Roo and all the girls are laying except for one of my Welsummers. The sister is the same age (about 10 months old) and has been laying for a couple of months now. My other Welsummer has a very undeveloped comb, she's pretty light on in weight and does not appear to be very popular with the others. She's easy for me to pick up and cuddle but the roo just picks on her all the time and I noticed that he even seems to separate her from the rest of the group when I take in treats for them to eat. I did think she may have started laying because there was soft shelled egg under the roost all mushed up the other day, but since then, nothing.
Firstly, could it be that she is a young roo? (no sign of the pretty plumage of a Welsummer Roo though) or secondly, could the chook just be a "dud"? Does that even happen?
I hate seeing her being left out and I've convinced myself that she is depressed.
Any advice?

 

[aart]

It would be hard to mix up a cockerel and pullet if they are pure Welsummer's, they have very different plumage.

It could be the bird is low on the pecking order, but usually the male won't pick on them.

She could be ill and that is why the male is picking on her,
that can happen in a flock as they don't want a weak link to draw predators.

She could somehow be malformed in the laying department and that's why she's has not become mature and laying.

Could just be an anomaly in the social order, harmony in the flock can be illusive at times.


Make sure she's getting enough to eat and drink, maybe put her in a wire crate within the run and let her eat in peace and get a bit of a break from the bullying a couple times a day.
As long as she not being bloodied or pinned down and beaten, best to leave her with the flock and take a wait and see approach. Not much help, sorry.