[Butterfly]

Ok. I will try to keep this as brief as possibe.
We have been keeping chickens for a few years now amd have got on well with it.
We have fenced the bottom of the garden off for our chickens and have an ark and a shed in there.
The run was divided with 3 warrens and 2 speckledys in the ark on one side and 3 Muscovy ducks on the other.
A few months ago we got 3 pol light sussex, the chickens didn't take to them so they moved in with the ducks. All the birds have a chance to run in the garden together when we are outside.
Everything was fine for a while.
A  few weeks ago we had a visit from the dreaded fox. It got one duck, 1 speckeldy and 2 of the light sussex.
We were then worried about the one light sussex on her own so we took down the fence between them to see what would happen.
It went ok for a few days but then they all started attacking the light sussex.
She goes upto roost in the ark with the other chickens but then, in the morning, they wont let her come down!
I have been outside with them today and everytime she comes down the ladder, she gets chased back up .
I really don't know what I can do to help her.
Thanks for reading, if you have got this far, and I hope someone can help.

[Lost in France]

Can you give her a little area, divided by wire netting, where the others can see her and she can see them and at night sneak her into the henhouse. They will sort it out but it may take a while but seperating them just makes it worse. Do hope they make friends soon! I recently had a very poorly hen and had to bring her indoors for a week but she was very clever and anticipated the bullying she would get. As soon as I put her back, she chased the others and behaved uncharacteristically aggressively! They left her alone and all is fine!

Judi

[Aunt Sally]

In my experience it can take a few weeks (3 in my case) for the chooks to settle down together.

Do ensure that they can see each other and they will soon get used to each other.  Sneak her into the coop after dark and separate her in the morning.  Put the feed near the separating fence so the are used to eating together.

It just takes time

[Butterfly]

Thanks for the replies.
They have been able to see each other since we got them, which is about 3 months ago.
They let her go to roost with them, it's the morning that is the problem.
I know that one of them needs to be at the bottom of the pecking order, but when they won't let her 'downstairs' to eat, it just seems mean!
Maybe they just don't like her :?

[Butterfly]

Well, I have tried everything and they still hate her!!
They attack her when they are all free-ranging in the garden now and have even drawn blood.
A friend, who has lost some of hers, has offered to take her in.
Hopefully her little flock will accept her and we will have a happy ending to this story.

[Aunt Sally]

Well, I have tried everything and they still hate her!!
They attack her when they are all free-ranging in the garden now and have even drawn blood.
A friend, who has lost some of hers, has offered to take her in.
Hopefully her little flock will accept her and we will have a happy ending to this story.

  Perhaps your friends flock will be kinder to her  

[mumsy]

I am having the same type of problem with Holly, I got her at the beginning of January, kept her seperate from the other two for nearly two weeks,(as suggested above) then let them in the run together, but Holly kept flying out, so I thought better off to let them free range.  Now, when I let them out of the house in the morning Holly runs straight to the gate, I let her out & leave the others in for a while.  I feed Holly on her own before the others come out, otherwise I don't think they would let her have any.  Thats been happening for about a week, she dodges them all the time if they come near her.  This week I have started to give them their corn together & it looks like they are becoming a little bit more tolerant of her.  I am just hoping that they will settle down eventually.  They look so friendly at night when they are all snuggled up together!!

[Butterfly]

Ophelia, the bullied white chicken, went to her new home on Wednesday.
On Saturday I had a text message from my friend to say that she (Ophelia) had laid her first egg!!!
She must be so much happier.
I'm so pleased my friend offered to take her in and it really looks as if Ophelia has found a happy home.

[ness]

Sounds like a happy ending for all involved.  

[Jellyhead]

Loverly, happy endings

[Aunt Sally]

Oh... that is nice  :!:   thanks for letting us know  

[Foxy]

Thank you for the update! We need a few more happy endings on here!

[Lost in France]

Good to hear that she's happy in her new home! Whilst it's sad to part with them, sometimes we must put their needs before ours!!

Mine chop and change re-who's top-hen...seems to depend what mood they wake up in! They're mostly silkies though so quite gentle and tolerant. Buster, my cockerel, a very handsome silkie cross, is, I think the most gentle creature I've ever had...can't believe it...hope he stays that way!

Judi