counturchickens Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 One of our new ex free range rescue hens seems like she is struggling a bit. She is well in herself as far as I can tell, but when she arrived was almost completely bald. She is starting to grow feathers now and enjoying life except all of the other hens chase her away from the food (7 hens, 4 feeding stations In a 4x2 omlet wir and another 2m under the cube) Even our pol girls have been joining in, even though they initially didn't bother her. They're not causing any damage to her, she flies back up into the cube and hides. I am going to add yet another food dish, but what about a cardboard box in the run for her to retreat to? I wonder if it just always be her nature to be the bottom hen as it seems she spent all her old life being pecked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I'm sorry I can't really offer any advice, but didn't want to read and run. I didn't know if you could maybe separate her with a couple of other more gentle ones in a space away from the others but so they still see each other. And then when she is not so frightened and picked on you could reintroduce the 3 back. I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but I'm sure someone more knowledgable will come along and say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 as long as they aren't drawing blood I'd leave her in with them but feed her on her own late afternoon with some tasty treats so you know she's getting a good feed abd so she knows she's got one friend.if you have one particular bully you might have to sin bin her for a few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Thanks both, seperating her is going to be the last resort. I am kind of hoping she will be a bit more confident when she has all her feathers. They will be out in the garden this weekend, so she will have a bit of a rest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 I had this problem when I got my ex batts a year or so ago. Five of them kept attacking Lily and she spent all day hiding in the cube. After a week or so of this I removed her and another hen and I picked the most gentle of the bullies and once they were seperated they became great friends and Lily flourished. I never did get them all back together while Lily was alive as she was just too soft to go in with the mob but when she died I managed to get her pal back in with remaining mob. I took the view that none of these girls have got long to live and I want them to be as happy as they can be in the short time they have got left and for some reason they just would not accept Lily. I would give it a few weeks to settle, and if you have no luck and you have got the option of seperating her and a pal or two then I would do that. They can be such meanies!!! but we love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 Well a couple of weeks on and birdie is doing much better, and holding her own. She has stopped hiding in the cube all day and is out with the rest of them I think we were luck that Nancy, who was the ring leader is moulting at the moment so isn't causing so much trouble! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 That's good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 That's excellent news counturchickens. She's obviously tougher than you think Must admit, though, that there is something in me that always likes the underdog (well under chicken) best. One of my chickens still makes baby cheep cheep noises for her separate dish of corn in the evening and she is now about 2 years old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted December 11, 2012 Author Share Posted December 11, 2012 I do have to say she is our favourite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
