Roughed up hen

One of my white leghorns, Sophie, got in a fight with my EE, Harley, and usually they get it over with but I saw blood drawn and broke it up. All the sudden some more scuffles occurred but ended. I know chickens are attracted to red so I made sure to herd Sophie away from the other leghorns. One of the leghorns has a ego, Melody, and seemed to get into scuffles with her. The other hens are eyeing her and she's kept her distance. I can tell she is trying to reassert herself because she'll peck at others when she gets close to them. Unfortunately, I don't have a separate pen already made to isolate her. I've been monitoring them and they're roosting right now and she's sitting next to one of the other leghorns seemingly peaceful. She's a pain to catch so I couldn't tend to her cuts right away. I know hormones are kinda wonky because they're all kinda getting back into laying after molting. Is this just hen drama that got a little bloody?

I did put some cleaner in her comb cuts.


Her blood already dried and clotted by the time I caught her.

Hens fight more when crowded or bored, and when there isn't a rooster, so I would ask you about your set up and flock members to try to determine why they are bickering.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

Hens fight more when crowded or bored, and when there isn't a rooster, so I would ask you about your set up and flock members to try to determine why they are bickering.

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The thing is that they free range so there's more than enough space. I'm thinking that once her face got bloody, tensions rose.

You are correct, once blood is drawn they do get hyped up sometimes. Hopefully they worked out whatever the problem was, I have a lot of chickens, hens don't usually go at it like that, but usually one will submit, maybe someone didn't want to take it no more.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

You are correct, once blood is drawn they do get hyped up sometimes. Hopefully they worked out whatever the problem was, I have a lot of chickens, hens don't usually go at it like that, but usually one will submit, maybe someone didn't want to take it no more.

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There seems to be peace now. Sophie probably felt like she lost because I broke up the fight when blood was drawn. I would've let them settle it themselves but I guess Harley just got a lucky shot.