Ziggy1973
Songster
Sorry if this has been asked before but I wasn't quite sure where to look for something this specific. I have 15 hens, 8 of which are from my original five-year-old flock. One hen, Gertrude, has always been at the bottom of the pecking order but in recent months has been tormented by all the other gals. I have a large, two-sided coop and have left the connecting door open between the two sides so she can get away, which works for the most part.
My concern right now is that the nighttime temperatures are going to be in the single digits here in Illinois. I wrestle with whether I should let her roost alone on the one side or if I should make her sleep in the side with the other girls for warmth. Plus, I guess I'm puzzled as to why the flock would suddenly just single her out to terrorize. One day I happened to look out the window and saw all the birds gathered around Gertrude, taking turns attacking her. She wasn't bleeding, so that wasn't what was driving this.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
My concern right now is that the nighttime temperatures are going to be in the single digits here in Illinois. I wrestle with whether I should let her roost alone on the one side or if I should make her sleep in the side with the other girls for warmth. Plus, I guess I'm puzzled as to why the flock would suddenly just single her out to terrorize. One day I happened to look out the window and saw all the birds gathered around Gertrude, taking turns attacking her. She wasn't bleeding, so that wasn't what was driving this.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
