Treating an abused hen with separation

[Txfarm2009]

I have 7 hens, no rooster. Three Buff Orpington, three Barred Rock (all are coming up on their 3rd birthday in July) and one that I am told is a game hen. (She showed up about 18 months ago and decided to stay; age unknown but I suspect younger than the others.) One of the Buff Orpingtons, Daisy, is bottom of the pecking order and has become very submissive which seems to invite abuse by the others.
Three weeks ago in my weekly BYC email, someone said the submissive hen is the problem, not the abusers. The article suggested separating Daisy for two weeks. My run has two parts to it, so I put her in one part leaving the other six in the rest. Every night I take Daisy to the coop and put her on the roost with the others. Each morning I put her back in her part of the run. There is chicken wire between the two halves so they can see each other.
Daisy seems to have settled in nicely, but the others are squabbling more, they are tearing the hay bale apart, which they didn't do before. One of them has become broody which she has not done before. I suspect this is because their usual situation has changed.
Each morning while I am cleaning up the runs and coop, I let them out in the yard and garden, which they enjoy immensely. I let Daisy out too. She stays away from the others just as much as she did before.
My question is: Daisy will soon be separated for three weeks. How will I know she is ready to be re-united with the rest of the flock? I am afraid that if I open up the gateway, the others will rush in and she will cower and I'll be right back where I started.

 

[YamYam]

I have the same problem with a chicken I took in after she was bullied badly by her past flock. I've tried time and time again but she just can't be around other chickens in an enclosed space Although its not exactly a perfect solution, I found that adding more hiding spots in the run helps for my shy hen to feel safer and the bullies of the flock tend to go after her less. I also noticed that my older girls (the bullies) tend to get jealous of the extra attention I give to my shy hen, so from time to time I will hand feed them together to help them bond.
IMO introducing the rest of the flock one by one to Daisy might be a good start.
I hope everything works out with your flock!

 

[Txfarm2009]

I have the same problem with a chicken I took in after she was bullied badly by her past flock. I've tried time and time again but she just can't be around other chickens in an enclosed space Although its not exactly a perfect solution, I found that adding more hiding spots in the run helps for my shy hen to feel safer and the bullies of the flock tend to go after her less. I also noticed that my older girls (the bullies) tend to get jealous of the extra attention I give to my shy hen, so from time to time I will hand feed them together to help them bond.
IMO introducing the rest of the flock one by one to Daisy might be a good start.
I hope everything works out with your flock!

Thank you for your thoughts. I think I will try adding one hen at a time to be with Daisy; I just don't know where to start. Tinkerbell would be my first choice but she is broody right now and stays on her nest. I like the idea of giving more attention to the others too. I know Boss Lady (who is NOT number 1, by the way; she got that name when they were quite small) she always wants attention if I pick up one of the others. I am thinking about how to add additional hiding places but unsuccessful so far.
This morning Daisy walked in the gate when I called them in from the yard with treats. I usually have to pick her up and carry her in. She got a few mealworms despite the others being close by. Not as afraid as usual. But it wasn't long before she wanted back into her sanctuary.

 

[Mrs. K]

When picking a bird to go with Daisy - when you toss down the treats, see what order they get to the treats - you don't want the first or even the first two birds, and you don't want the last bird. You want the middle birds. One of those would be a good fit for Daisy.

Now there might be a scuffle when you put them together, but it should be mostly bluster, and one on one - it tends to settle quickly. If it doesn't, pull out that bird and keep doing what you are doing for another week or two. It can take some time to gain confidence back.

As for your outdoor area-ideas on things to add:

• ladders, chairs, tree branches hung up high
• pallets - leaned against a wall, up on blocks so birds can get under or on top
• large totes laid on their sides - toss a bit of bedding in there, these will act like a mini wall, and birds can use them to get out of the wind - you can place a feed bowl in front of them and behind them - so that a bird eating at one side, can't see a bird eating at the other.
• large pieces of cardboard, or scrap plywood, or even a shade sheet can be used to divide space into two 'rooms'.

Mrs K

 

[Txfarm2009]

When picking a bird to go with Daisy - when you toss down the treats, see what order they get to the treats - you don't want the first or even the first two birds, and you don't want the last bird. You want the middle birds. One of those would be a good fit for Daisy.

Now there might be a scuffle when you put them together, but it should be mostly bluster, and one on one - it tends to settle quickly. If it doesn't, pull out that bird and keep doing what you are doing for another week or two. It can take some time to gain confidence back.

As for your outdoor area-ideas on things to add:

• ladders, chairs, tree branches hung up high
• pallets - leaned against a wall, up on blocks so birds can get under or on top
• large totes laid on their sides - toss a bit of bedding in there, these will act like a mini wall, and birds can use them to get out of the wind - you can place a feed bowl in front of them and behind them - so that a bird eating at one side, can't see a bird eating at the other.
• large pieces of cardboard, or scrap plywood, or even a shade sheet can be used to divide space into two 'rooms'.

Mrs K

Thank you. Very practical helpful ideas. I will try moving one of my barred rocks in with Daisy, one that is not so quick to grab treats. Although this morning, Daisy was in the main run while I was cleaning, two of them came in, she cowered and they jumped on her. Three and a half weeks and she does not seem to have gained any self-confidence. She is laying well and eating well.
Sooner or later I will have to re-unite the flock. I am thinking of putting a tarp between the two halves of the run so they cannot see who is eating at the other feeder. I already have lots of things for them to be behind or jump up on, like hay bales. The older part of the run is L-shaped so part of it is out-of-sight.
If things don't work out pretty soon, I don't know whether to get rid of Daisy or #1 Goldilocks, the usual instigator. Or get rid of the whole bunch and start again. I just want life to be good for all my chickens. I have never had a problem like this before.

 

[Mrs. K]

It can be so discouraging, we just want them to be nice...and they are not. I would see if I could not sell the victim, and then watch carefully. If your bully picks a new victim, she should be culled. If the flock settles and is happy, you might count heads, and know that is the number that fits well in your set up.

 

[Txfarm2009]

It can be so discouraging, we just want them to be nice...and they are not. I would see if I could not sell the victim, and then watch carefully. If your bully picks a new victim, she should be culled. If the flock settles and is happy, you might count heads, and know that is the number that fits well in your set up.

Thanks again for the encouragement. Last Saturday I decided to open up all the run for all seven hens. I did put my tarp over the chicken wire divider between the old and newer runs; it creates a place a chicken can't be seen.
They seem to have settled down, back to normal. Of course, Daisy is spending her days inside the coop, usually on a roost or on the windowsill where the others don't bother her.
I guess the lesson from this is to let chickens be chickens and don't try to mess with their psyches.

 

[YamYam]

Thanks again for the encouragement. Last Saturday I decided to open up all the run for all seven hens. I did put my tarp over the chicken wire divider between the old and newer runs; it creates a place a chicken can't be seen.
They seem to have settled down, back to normal. Of course, Daisy is spending her days inside the coop, usually on a roost or on the windowsill where the others don't bother her.
I guess the lesson from this is to let chickens be chickens and don't try to mess with their psyches.

Glad to hear that there doesn't seem to be a lot of drama at least! I think the tarp was a great idea, hopefully as time goes on Daisy gets more comfortable with the other girls.