Solitary chicken - need advice

[jimnpaula]

Two days ago I noticed strange noises coming from the garden and discovered Sprite getting well and truly beaten up by many of the flock. Sprite is a feisty ginger ninja ex commercial 'free ranger' and came as a set of 4 of which we have 3 left. She and her 'sisters' were just below Top Hen and Sidekick in the pecking order, with the four youngsters below them. Now all of a sudden even wimpy Bottom Hen is getting in on the pecking action!

 

I did try anti peck spray which, unusually, had no effect on the behaviour. Since that evening Sprite has been sectioned off in the eglu end of the WIR with moulting-Sidekick-Crystal-with-broken-beak(getting better). At least Crystal isn't in the mood for bothering her. Sprite doesn't seem ill in any way aside from some very small injuries to her comb, and the younger lower hens I don't think have developed the confidence to challenge the higher ranks of the pecking order, so I have absolutely no idea why this has happened.

[Redwing]

the pecking order will change sometimes - usually at times of stress such as moulting. although the bullied hen isnt moulting herself the youngsters will be sensing a chance to clamber up the order

 

It should all sort itself out

 

Try to section off the perpetrator/s rather than the bullied ones if you can, it knocks their confidence back a bit so not so good for ones already being bullied as when returned they are effectively newbies again and the whole thing will kick off again

[jimnpaula]

Thanks for the advice Redwing, I repositioned them all after the grand cleanout with the lower ranking youngsters in one end, and Sprite and Crystal with Top Chook and the higher ranking ginger ninjas at the other end. Seems to be going ok so far....