Hi. Newbie here. I've had a mixed flock of 24 layers for a year and a half now. As I had no prior experience with chickens and there are no vets in my area that deal with poultry, I've relied heavily on the internet for information and advice. This is one of my favorite go-to sites and thanks to you all, I've done pretty well with them.
The chicken in question has been with the flock from the beginning and is one of 12 red rocks from the same brood. Two months ago, I noticed that she was skittish in the coop and was afraid to approach the feeder. Every time she moved, the other hens were on her. She was missing quite a few feathers, but I noticed that they also appeared to be growing back in, so I assumed she was in molt. Her comb was a little off-colour too - kind of purple/grey and not as big and floppy as it was (or the others anyway, I never noticed a difference before). Worried about her safety and health, I brought her inside (caged in my spare room) and fed her extra greens and a little cat food for protein. She ate well and her feathers grew back in nicely, but she is not laying, and her comb is still off-colour.
I tried reintroducing her to the flock about a month ago. They swarmed her immediately, so I removed her again and tried a gradual introduction a few days later. On a warm(ish) day, I let a couple of hens into the run and put her in with them. There were some squabbles, but she seemed to hold her own. After a couple of hours, I opened the entrance to the coop and gave her access to it. She was very hesitant, but she went in and immediately went to the top rung on the roost. There was some pecking from the others, but she seemed to have it under control, and I left her overnight. When I checked on her in the morning, her comb was bloody from several cuts. She stayed on the roost and would not feed. When she moved, the others were on her. I took her out again.
The weather has been warm, so the girls have had some run-time this past week. I figured that might reduce aggression, so I tried again yesterday, and the same thing happened.
I have 24 chickens. My coop is 14x12 ft with eight nesting boxes, lots of ledges for them to sit on, five levels on the roost, and light and dark areas for them to choose from. I don't think overcrowding is the problem. I have considered boredom, but it is only the one bird that is picked on. I had a full-spectrum light bulb on 12 hours per day to make up for the short winter days and I tried leaving it off to see if that would reduce aggression, but they are not all attacking each other, only her. Maybe they sense some underlying disease and that is why they're picking on her? I am worried about the colour of her comb, but otherwise, she is shiny, bright-eyed and fat. I was thinking that once the snow clears and they can free range again, this behavior might stop...?
Any suggestions?
Thanks
The chicken in question has been with the flock from the beginning and is one of 12 red rocks from the same brood. Two months ago, I noticed that she was skittish in the coop and was afraid to approach the feeder. Every time she moved, the other hens were on her. She was missing quite a few feathers, but I noticed that they also appeared to be growing back in, so I assumed she was in molt. Her comb was a little off-colour too - kind of purple/grey and not as big and floppy as it was (or the others anyway, I never noticed a difference before). Worried about her safety and health, I brought her inside (caged in my spare room) and fed her extra greens and a little cat food for protein. She ate well and her feathers grew back in nicely, but she is not laying, and her comb is still off-colour.
I tried reintroducing her to the flock about a month ago. They swarmed her immediately, so I removed her again and tried a gradual introduction a few days later. On a warm(ish) day, I let a couple of hens into the run and put her in with them. There were some squabbles, but she seemed to hold her own. After a couple of hours, I opened the entrance to the coop and gave her access to it. She was very hesitant, but she went in and immediately went to the top rung on the roost. There was some pecking from the others, but she seemed to have it under control, and I left her overnight. When I checked on her in the morning, her comb was bloody from several cuts. She stayed on the roost and would not feed. When she moved, the others were on her. I took her out again.
The weather has been warm, so the girls have had some run-time this past week. I figured that might reduce aggression, so I tried again yesterday, and the same thing happened.
I have 24 chickens. My coop is 14x12 ft with eight nesting boxes, lots of ledges for them to sit on, five levels on the roost, and light and dark areas for them to choose from. I don't think overcrowding is the problem. I have considered boredom, but it is only the one bird that is picked on. I had a full-spectrum light bulb on 12 hours per day to make up for the short winter days and I tried leaving it off to see if that would reduce aggression, but they are not all attacking each other, only her. Maybe they sense some underlying disease and that is why they're picking on her? I am worried about the colour of her comb, but otherwise, she is shiny, bright-eyed and fat. I was thinking that once the snow clears and they can free range again, this behavior might stop...?
Any suggestions?
Thanks
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