Why are they picking on hennie??

[tamsteve143]

I went ahead and seperated her, I think she needs to gain some weight and grow her feathers back so she can be strong enough to fight back if she needs to.

 

[Folly's place]

Good luck with her... Mary

 

[Seaecho]

Can you make a house chicken out of Hennie? I'm just a beginner, but I think I'd try that. Maybe get her one of those diapers? And if you have a dog or cat, put Hennie in a room by herself when the dog or cat come in, and let her out when they go outside again so she won't get attacked. Sounds like she's really bonded to you, and trusts you. You could still take her outside for exercise, but not with the other chickens. Just a thought.

 

[aart]

Maybe I missed it, but did anyone ask how big of a coop and run these birds are living in?

Space could be a big issue here if pecked bird cannot get far enough away from the peckers.

Separate but adjacent space could also help to solve this problem as well as ease the proposed future integration of new birds.

@tamsteve143 would you post dimensions and pics of your coop and run?

 

[tamsteve143]

Maybe I missed it, but did anyone ask how big of a coop and run these birds are living in?

Space could be a big issue here if pecked bird cannot get far enough away from the peckers.

Separate but adjacent space could also help to solve this problem as well as ease the proposed future integration of new birds.

@tamsteve143 would you post dimensions and pics of your coop and run?

We have plenty of space for the 6 of them, we actually had 8 but had to get rid of the rooster and one got ill and died last year. I just ordered a exercise pen and i'm going to se that up in the run where she can go out there during the day and enjoy scratching but the other hens can't get to her but can see her...we are planning on getting two more hens eventually so i figured we could get use our of the pen anyways. Meanwhile hennie is eating great and drinking, her comb is still red and her feathers are starting to grow back on her head and back.

 

[sbhkma]

"Plenty of space" can mean different things to humans and chickens. What are the actual dimensions of the coop and the run? That may help determine what else can be done to help your hen.

 

[Seaecho]

Agree with sbhkma. Some people just don't have enough space. And some people have no choice, for lack of help in expanding. I am feeling guilty about my 15X4 ft. run that I'll have for my chickens when I get them, and am already thinking of a way to expand it. It SEEMS big in theory, but I only feel comfortable with putting 3 banty pullets in there.

 

[Folly's place]

I've added to my coop/ run three times now, and would love to have another addition!
'CHICKEN MATH'!!!
Mary

 

[boskelli1571]

I agree with the above folks, Hennie isn't well and the others know it. Can you fix her up with her own little safe area in the coop? I think she would get depressed with no company, but she needs to be safe.

 

[tamsteve143]

My outside run is 20x20 and the coop is 15x20, I am going to try and let her in the big run with two of the sweet hens and see how that goes....i let her out in the big run by herself yesterday and she was scared at first but got settled once she knew none of the others were in there...