Can anyone help? - Chicken being picked on...

[Icanseethesea]

I am relatively new to chicken keeping - - we hatched some eggs at work in the spring and consequently I have three hand raised, spoiled rotten beautiful chooks, two light sussex and a black maran, who rules the roost! Two weeks ago we introduced two hybrid ex battery hens. There has of course been some henpecking which I expected and kept an eye on. One of the ex batteries seems to now be settling in and coming right, but the other is still very anxious, will not willingly go into the run with the others, and is very thin (although she was to start with as well) and getting balder by the day. I have been putting out two lots of food and water so that she can eat and drink without being bullied - the maran especially will chase her away if she tries to get anywhere near the others. Does anyone have any advice for me please? Thank you

We too had this problem, introducing two ex batts, who also hated each other (!) to our 6 other hens. Whether it was right or not, we didn't put the batts in with the others straight away, they were both so weak and bald they would have been killed. So, for a couple of months at least, we kept them separate from the existing ones and each other, but close by, so that they could all at least see each other. It was a right pain, but gave them a chance to get strong. Could you rig up a pen within your existing run for her and keep her separately at night for a while - this also seems to be when pecking takes place. Then let her out gradually with the others while you are there to supervise, she may then just blend in. It's inevitable that one will always be at the bottom, but its hard to see one getting picked on. Some people may just say leave them to get on with it, but DH and I are softies, and it did work!

I'd give her a liberal spraying of anti-peck spray! It STINKS - really, it's vile but it does work. Then the others will have ONE go at her and give in because it's so vile. She can then find her place in the flock in peace.

Sep. feeding a drinking is a good idea for now too. Loads of chickens moult during the winter, so I wouldn't worry about that too much for now.

If you can, I'd try isolating the picked on hen in the main run and moving the other birds outside it during the day, or in a temporary separate run.

That will both shake up the pecking order, so the existing birds won't be quite so confident, and will allow the poor weak hen a chance to eat, drink, rest and build herself up.

If you are seriously worried about her - take her off in a separate box somewhere warm with her own food and drink for a few days so she can gather her strength; then start the shaking up the birds thing.

Thanks, folks - suggestions taken on board! Dazmum I am a bit of a softie too, so I know where you are coming from . Daisy it did help a little yeasterday when I took the existing birds out of the run for a bit so I shall try that again, but poor Cheryl ran straight back into the coop when I put them back. A friend of mine mentioned anti peck spray too, but our local pets at home doesn't have it, will try and get some online. Thank you all