When to reintroduce post picking by other hens

[Nicola Gosse]

My 8 week old pullet just got her new feathers which have now been picked out by the other three (who are slightly older). She lost most of her back feathers and tail. I've had her isolated within the run for the past week. She is not bleeding, however when I put her out to trial with the others she get's pecked again. How long should I wait, should she have all her feathers before I reintroduce her or wait till she's a bit older.
Thank you
Nicola

 

[Nicola Gosse]

It's a very pretty set up but sounds like minimum space isn't agreeing with these girls. Having room to add more clutter to provide more hiding spaces would be ideal but it's going to be hard to find things that will fit and work effectively in that space (think out of sight, out of mind) but not eat up too much floor space at the same time.

Once the baby is out of the dog cage in the run there will be a lot more room. I let them free range a bit tonight and had no problem

 

[rosemarythyme]

Try putting some Blu Kote on her back perhaps.

Also are your chickens usually in the run, or usually free ranging the yard? If they're usually in the run, realistically assess your run - does it have stuff for them to interact with? Things to dig through, to climb, to hide behind? Bored chickens cause problems, busy chickens don't have time to do that.

 

[aart]

It's an urban coop so only four hens.

How big is it, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.
Crowding into too small a space is the number one reason for picking/bullying

 

[LaFleche]

And what exactly are you feeding them? They might be triggered by some underlying deficiencies you are not aware of.

 

[aart]

10sq feet per hen so 40sq ft with lots of branches for perching, three feeders spread out and a cube block to peck at. I even put up a swing

Pics would help here....and what exactly is the 'cube block'?

 

[Gwethrien]

I’m new to chickens myself but I thought I read that you remove the bullies not the bullied.

 

[Nicola Gosse]

I’m new to chickens myself but I thought I read that you remove the bullies not the bullied.

Yes, that would be my plan if it continues once she is reintroduced. I think I know who the main culprit is. It's an urban coop so only four hens.

 

[Nicola Gosse]

Try putting some Blu Kote on her back perhaps.

Also are your chickens usually in the run, or usually free ranging the yard? If they're usually in the run, realistically assess your run - does it have stuff for them to interact with? Things to dig through, to climb, to hide behind? Bored chickens cause problems, busy chickens don't have time to do that.

 

[Nicola Gosse]

They have lots of entertainment in the run. Branches, swing, huge solid cube to peck, three feeders in at least 40 sq feet. I’ve purchased stop pick too but not certain it’s worked. I have no idea why this started. They were so good with her as a baby. She was four weeks and they were ten. I’m having an apron/saddle made for her too