Timid/Bullied hen

We have had our 4 girls 5 weeks and they are approx.  23 weeks old now.  Poppy (Bovan Nera) is top of the pecking order and is picking on Daisy (Sussex Hybrid).  She has always appeared more timid and sits down a great deal of the time away from the others, she looks depressed.  I know that there is always a pecking order but I feel really sorry for her.  The others do pick on her from time to time but not to the same extent as Poppy. I have had annual leave this week and have been able to observe them more and yesterday Poppy actually pulled some feathers from Daisy, luckily no blood was drawn.

Poppy, Grace and Hetty are all laying eggs regularly. We think that Daisy laid one last Saturday in the run whereas the others all lay in the nestboxes. Since then no eggs from Daisy.  Should I be worried? I understand that if she is stressed this may affect her laying but how does this affect her?  Is it bad for her if she should be laying or will she just lay more later.

I'm not worried at not getting the eggs, just worried about Daisy.

Thanks for reading!

Maria

Difficult one this as you feel you should be doing something but sometimes you just have to let it sort itself out.  I'd just be careful that she's not being kept off the food or water but if she is, put a couple of feeders or drinkers out so the aggressive one can't guard them all.
Yes stress is not good as it can reduce the immunity to illness but it's early days and unless your hen is egg bound which you might check for, but doesn't sound like the case here, she'll resume laying with no ill effects.

Like us and all animals they can get under weather and a day later be as right as rain.

Regards