Is my new chicken being attacked or some other sickness?

[jessandjeremy]

New owners. We got 6 chickens in April and 6 more in June. We introduced them all just about a month ago when new ones were about 6 weeks. There was pecking and chasing but it seemed minimal and died down. We have one super docile chicken (younger ground) that is so easy going, my 2 year old daughter is always picking her up. Never noticed any pecking until today. Her head and beak are bloody/pecked and one of her eyes is swollen shut. She was laying on the ground and didn't want to move. We picked her up and brought her inside and gave her food and water which she gobbled up. We're thinking she's the low hen in the pecking order and hasn't been able to eat or drink. We're separating her tonight but want to know how to proceed...

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi! Welcome!

Sorry to meet under these circumstances. You'll likely want to keep her separated and warm, treat her eye. Rinse it with saline and apply antibiotic eye ointment. Scrambled eggs are always good.
On to causes. Is this a mixed flock? What breeds and ages? How big is your coop and run? How many feed/water stations do you have? Do they free range at all? That info will help folks give you suggestions.
When you have time, give a shout out in New Member Introductions so folks can give you a proper welcome. https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/44/new-member-introductions

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I would clean the wounds with antibacterial soap or betadine and water, and apply an antibiotic ointment such as bactracin or Vetericyn. Clean her eye with saline,and if it starts draining, you can use Terramycin eye ointment or Vetericyn eye gel. I would try to place her back in with her flock, and separate her in a pen or cage with food and water so that they can see each other. During the day when you can be with them let them out together to see how she is treated. Make sure there are multiple water and food stations. It is more simple to just have one age group, and when combining, they need to be close in size. These things can happen though, at any time. Look out for a bully, and separate her for a week.

 

[jessandjeremy]

Thanks for the insight! We're going to get a small crate tomorrow to put her back in the coop so she can be accepted. We have 6 hens that hatched it April - 2 Rhode Island reds, 2 buff orpingtons and 2 well summers. We have a rooster that hatched around the same time. Those 7 are tight and never any issues. Then we have 6 hens that hatched in June - 2 Easter eggers, 2 blue cochins and 2 black and white speckled ones whose breed name escapes me. The coop is about 40 sq feet with a run underneath about double that size. We only have one food and water station so thanks for that tip - we'll do another. We do free range a bit right now but only while we're around. We have Hawks that have been swooping in too close for our liking so we're trying to learn about that problem as well!!

 

[Mutt Farm]

Thanks for the insight! We're going to get a small crate tomorrow to put her back in the coop so she can be accepted. We have 6 hens that hatched it April - 2 Rhode Island reds, 2 buff orpingtons and 2 well summers. We have a rooster that hatched around the same time. Those 7 are tight and never any issues. Then we have 6 hens that hatched in June - 2 Easter eggers, 2 blue cochins and 2 black and white speckled ones whose breed name escapes me. The coop is about 40 sq feet with a run underneath about double that size. We only have one food and water station so thanks for that tip - we'll do another. We do free range a bit right now but only while we're around. We have Hawks that have been swooping in too close for our liking so we're trying to learn about that problem as well!!

It doesn't seem you have any notorious bully breeds. Maybe Plymouth Rock for the speckled ones? Seems the coop and run size are adequate, more run space is always preferred.. Add a couple more feed/water stations for now and maybe check your roosts. Be sure they're not fighting over that prime real estate, the master bedroom. Best of luck!

 

[jessandjeremy]

Thanks! And they're supposed to sleep on the roosts, not the nesting boxes, right? Seems like the older ones take the roosts and the new ones don't even try... We find the young ones in the nesting boxes. We might try to give them more roost options as well. We'd like to solve the hawk problem so we can get them outside more. Most of them do seem to enjoy free ranging and the space will likely do them good.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Thanks! And they're supposed to sleep on the roosts, not the nesting boxes, right? Seems like the older ones take the roosts and the new ones don't even try... We find the young ones in the nesting boxes. We might try to give them more roost options as well. We'd like to solve the hawk problem so we can get them outside more. Most of them do seem to enjoy free ranging and the space will likely do them good.

They should all be roosting. They all want the highest one (prime real estate) so a good solution is to put 2 bars same height at least 2 ft apart so they don't bump butts or faces when getting settled and moving. A couple lower bars to train the young ones are a good thing. You may need to put the youngsters on the roost at bedtime for a couple nights once you are sure there is enough room for everyone.