I think a couple of my chickens are prejudice! After and attack on my free-range chickens from a stray dog (I had 3 hens now I have 2) I decided to put the survivors in with the main flock since they are not a breed specific chickens but are great layers. One is solid black and the other a fawn and black mix. I have a very mixed flock of 6 different kinds of chickens and 2 call ducks. The smallest being one silkie hen and the largest a BO hen. At first the free rangers have acclimated well and no one is picking on them since they are small but not as small as the silkie who is on the bottom of the pecking order. But they have chosen to chase and torment my one lakenvelder hen. They just wont leave her alone and they gang up on her. She is closest to their size. The Roo is not doing anything about it even though she is his favorite hen. They haven't actually drawn blood but they are plucking a few feathers and just tormenting her by chasing her constantly. She is the only white bird I have is it a color thing?? She is the brightest color hen aside the BO and the Buff silkie who they could care less about. My poor beautiful Miss. Bianca has tattered feathers and is being pooped on b/c they wont let her roost with the others. What can I do???
no prejudice in chickens. They've just decided to make her bottom of the pecking order, and they won't quit till they feel like it. Is there enough space in the pen for her to be able to get away from them far enough that they let up on her? If not, maybe you could set up a smaller pen for her, next to the main pen, so they can see her and NOT pick on her. Give them time to get used to her presence without trying to murder her. Then, one at a time, introduce the others into her pen. She will be the queen in her own pen, and they'll be gradually introduced to her without quite so much of the squabbling. It seems like a lot of trouble, but it usually works, and if she is a good hen, then she's worth the extra effort.
