Quick pecking order question

[SaltLakeChickenMama]

What would happen to the pecking order of a small flock if the bottom of the pecking order was removed?

If detail is needed, I have one hen that is an outcast. She’s always alone and often picked on. She’s a Wyandotte and the rest are australorps and I am considering rehoming her to a flock that has more Wyandottes.

 

[Sally PB]

It's hard to say.

It might be difficult for the new place to integrate her by herself. A single hen can be the hardest integration to do.

I'm sorry for your girl.

 

[SaltLakeChickenMama]

It's hard to say.

It might be difficult for the new place to integrate her by herself. A single hen can be the hardest integration to do.

I'm sorry for your girl.

Do you think she’ll be picked on even worse? If so, I won’t let her go

 

[ChickNanny13]

Intergrating a single is always hard, the flock will gang up on the newbie. Is the Wyandotte & Australorps started together? Ages? How many Australorps?

I research the breed's temperament when getting chicks, some breeds are more docile than others. I also get two of a breed ... I've noticed, others may not agree but "birds of a feather do flock together". Wyandotte's tend to stick together; considered a "docile" breed & tend to keep to themselves so what you're seeing is "normal".

Rehoming her to someone the has Wynadottes and familiar how to intergrate may work, OR make sure she has hiding places to get away from being picked on, OR isolate the trouble maker in a wire dog crate with food/water in the coop for a few days to a week, OR you could try adding another Wynadotte or 2 close in age, integrating as recommended ... See but no touch but it may not solve the problem.

What is the size of your coop/run? IF they're "cramped" that's where problems start too. It's been recommended 4sqft in the coop per chicken and 10sqft in the run per.

 

[SaltLakeChickenMama]

Intergrating a single is always hard, the flock will gang up on the newbie. Is the Wyandotte & Australorps started together? Ages? How many Australorps?

I research the breed's temperament when getting chicks, some breeds are more docile than others. I also get two of a breed ... I've noticed, others may not agree but "birds of a feather do flock together". Wyandotte's tend to stick together; considered a "docile" breed & tend to keep to themselves so what you're seeing is "normal".

Rehoming her to someone the has Wynadottes and familiar how to intergrate may work, OR make sure she has hiding places to get away from being picked on, OR isolate the trouble maker in a wire dog crate with food/water in the coop for a few days to a week, OR you could try adding another Wynadotte or 2 close in age, integrating as recommended ... See but no touch but it may not solve the problem.

What is the size of your coop/run? IF they're "cramped" that's where problems start too. It's been recommended 4sqft in the coop per chicken and 10sqft in the run per.

They are the same age (1 1/2 yo and have been living together since they were chicks) they free range and have plenty of space. She’s just a loner that gets picked on by her “sisters” and has chip in her shoulder - she goes after the new chicks.

 

[aart]

have plenty of space

Free range is great, but how big is the coop and run, in feet by feet?
Crowding in coop/run can carry on while ranging.

 

[SaltLakeChickenMama]

Free range is great, but how big is the coop and run, in feet by feet?
Crowding in coop/run can carry on while ranging.

Coop has 2 bars that are 4 feet long each for 6 chickens.

They free range of my yard which is 1/3 of an acre.

 

[cafafwhisp]

Hello just jumping on this thread to ask a question about pecking order. Is it normal for the bottom in the pecking order to sleep in a seperate coop? I have 2 coops which are available to the hens, one they use for laying and one for sleeping. At night they all go in the sleeping one except the lowest in the pecking order who sleeps alone where they lay. She also spends most of her time alone and not with the rest ofthe flock as they go around the garden. Any thoughts?