I just got back from being away for a week and walked into a mess. I had a hen I discovered right before I left that seemed to have been suffering from in impacted crop. Not wanting to surgically empty her crop before going out of town, I massaged the heck out of it for the few days before I left and honestly expected her to probably die while I was gone and my husband was taking care of things.
Came back amazed that she was still alive - and it seems like maybe her crop is back in working order. BUT she is very skinny and weak. I don't know that the flock was letting her eat properly and at night she was off hiding somewhere because my husband never counted her in the coop but found her waiting in the run every morning.
Now the problem - the flock seems intent on killing her. I'm keeping her segregated for the most part as I assess if her crop is actually working and trying to give her time to get some food in her and get stronger. But any time the other hens are near her, they just attack her as a group. She is totally submissive and even squats when they come at her. I'm afraid to let it go on thinking they are going to kill her!
Should I just let them fight it out? Seems cruel to let them gang up on her when she is weak, but I'm afraid keeping her separate is also causing pecking order problems. First time in four years of chickens that I've encountered this problem. Any thoughts of what I should do?
Came back amazed that she was still alive - and it seems like maybe her crop is back in working order. BUT she is very skinny and weak. I don't know that the flock was letting her eat properly and at night she was off hiding somewhere because my husband never counted her in the coop but found her waiting in the run every morning.
Now the problem - the flock seems intent on killing her. I'm keeping her segregated for the most part as I assess if her crop is actually working and trying to give her time to get some food in her and get stronger. But any time the other hens are near her, they just attack her as a group. She is totally submissive and even squats when they come at her. I'm afraid to let it go on thinking they are going to kill her!
Should I just let them fight it out? Seems cruel to let them gang up on her when she is weak, but I'm afraid keeping her separate is also causing pecking order problems. First time in four years of chickens that I've encountered this problem. Any thoughts of what I should do?