TuesdayChickens
In the Brooder
Background info: I have 2 flocks right now, one with 7 hens and a rooster, (3 Barred rock, 3 BSL, 2 silver wyandottes, all 10 months old), and then a flock of 4 pullets, (3 americanas, and a buff orp, 17ish weeks) which I spontaneously (foolishly) bought from a feed store in November. My main flock is in a coop with a 10ftx20ft run, and I have another 10x10 ft run I plan to set up next to it hopefully this week, as we have some good weather coming. I'm going to put the pullets in there for a month, letting them out to free range with the hens until they eventually integrate, then I plan link the two runs together with a door I can close if I need a hospital/nursery/introductory pen. For right now the pullets are in a 10x10 ft horse stall, with occasional forays outside when the weather is OK. Not ideal, but the best I can do until the snow melts and I can put up their outdoor run and secondary coop. They seem fine and happy.
So here is my issue: Last week I noticed one of my barred rock hens had feather loss on her back, at the base of her tail, which I presumed to be from over breeding and so ordered her a hen saddle, which is on the way. This morning however, I noticed she had a bald patch on her butt, with some poop stuck. I wasn't able to investigate fully, as I am at work today, I plan to pluck her out of the coop after they all go in to roost, and give it a check, and a bath. I am not sure what the problem is, I will take a picture tonight, and post if it looks worse than I expect. but I suspect that some of the other hens might have been pecking at her? Like maybe she had some poop stuck, and they just started pecking, or they began pecking at the bald patch on her back, and it just escalated. I know it would be difficult for anyone to diagnose without a picture, so that is not my main question at the moment...
My main question/concern right now is this: No matter what the issue is, I figure it would be helpful to isolate her for a time to treat any wounds, and/or let her regrow her feathers, or whatever she needs. But, I am wondering if she would be lonely?? Should I isolate her with one of the hens from her flock for company? I'm not sure who the bully is, if there is one, so I am a little anxious that could make the situation worse if I happen to isolate her with the bully! Also, I have a heated garage, but she would have to be confined in a cage (small, like 3ftx2ft) and that seems cruel to do for more than a day!! The other option I was thinking was to try and integrate her with the pullets. I figure that she might integrate with them ok, because there are 4 of them but she is bigger than they are, so I thought they'd be evenly matched, so there might not be too much bullying. Am I wrong in supposition? If I did that, I would give her 24h in the cage w/food and water, in the stall with the pullets, then let her out and watch for a while to see how they do. Then if they seemed to do ok, I would just leave that hen with them, allowing her to stay with them when they make the move outside, and free range with them and the other hens etc. I figure she can make the decision at that point whether she wants to move back into the main coop or whatever. SO, is this a good plan? Or would that just cause more stress?? I just got this first batch last spring, and this is my first real issue, so I just want do right by my hen!!
Sorry this is so long and wordy... Just trying to give as much detail as possible! I welcome and appreciate any suggestions, advice, constructive criticism, etc!!
So here is my issue: Last week I noticed one of my barred rock hens had feather loss on her back, at the base of her tail, which I presumed to be from over breeding and so ordered her a hen saddle, which is on the way. This morning however, I noticed she had a bald patch on her butt, with some poop stuck. I wasn't able to investigate fully, as I am at work today, I plan to pluck her out of the coop after they all go in to roost, and give it a check, and a bath. I am not sure what the problem is, I will take a picture tonight, and post if it looks worse than I expect. but I suspect that some of the other hens might have been pecking at her? Like maybe she had some poop stuck, and they just started pecking, or they began pecking at the bald patch on her back, and it just escalated. I know it would be difficult for anyone to diagnose without a picture, so that is not my main question at the moment...
My main question/concern right now is this: No matter what the issue is, I figure it would be helpful to isolate her for a time to treat any wounds, and/or let her regrow her feathers, or whatever she needs. But, I am wondering if she would be lonely?? Should I isolate her with one of the hens from her flock for company? I'm not sure who the bully is, if there is one, so I am a little anxious that could make the situation worse if I happen to isolate her with the bully! Also, I have a heated garage, but she would have to be confined in a cage (small, like 3ftx2ft) and that seems cruel to do for more than a day!! The other option I was thinking was to try and integrate her with the pullets. I figure that she might integrate with them ok, because there are 4 of them but she is bigger than they are, so I thought they'd be evenly matched, so there might not be too much bullying. Am I wrong in supposition? If I did that, I would give her 24h in the cage w/food and water, in the stall with the pullets, then let her out and watch for a while to see how they do. Then if they seemed to do ok, I would just leave that hen with them, allowing her to stay with them when they make the move outside, and free range with them and the other hens etc. I figure she can make the decision at that point whether she wants to move back into the main coop or whatever. SO, is this a good plan? Or would that just cause more stress?? I just got this first batch last spring, and this is my first real issue, so I just want do right by my hen!!
Sorry this is so long and wordy... Just trying to give as much detail as possible! I welcome and appreciate any suggestions, advice, constructive criticism, etc!!
