Advice please??

[Adrienne-m]

Hey all!! Can I please have some advice? My new little girls (about 3.5 months) have been in with the big girls for 2 days. As of this am no issues. They were separate but next to each other through a fence for 2 weeks prior to this. The little girls pretty much keep their distance. When I got home this afternoon, one of the littles had gotten out into the yard. I have no idea how. I just looked them all over tonight and her butt/underside look horrible! She also has a little poke on her beak. She’s the only one that got out and the only one that has a feather out of place. The other 3 look fine. I’m wondering if she got attacked in the woods or maybe caught on a thorn? Maybe one of our farm cats got her? Or do you think she’s being attacked by a big hen? My big girls are almost one and are all very sweet. They’ve never attacked each other like this before. I haven’t heard much squabbling or seen any gray feathers around. I sprayed her with the purple antibacterial no peck stuff to help her out.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Shes definitely being plucked. It's not always because of aggression though. Sometimes a chicken is missing vitamins in their diet so they feather pluck, sometimes it's out if boredom. I would watch and see who's doing it. Maybe someone she roosts next to.

 

[Adrienne-m]

She wasn’t like that this morning though and I have no idea how long she was out of the fence. She sleeps in the nest box with the other new girls right now because that’s what they like. So they’re nowhere near the big girls at night and during they day they stay pretty far away. And the other 3 have zero spots that appear plucked

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, she's been plucked. How much space do they have?

 

[Adrienne-m]

24x24 feet of outdoor space and 8x8 indoors. Their door opens automatically in the morning at sun up so they’re only inside to sleep. The little girls are sleeping in a nest box nobody uses

 

[Adrienne-m]

Does clipping their beaks help with pecking??

 

[Mamatomany123]

Does clipping their beaks help with pecking??

No

And dont ever do that. Its unnecessary and painful for the bird.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I wouldn't go that far.

You have 3.5 mo old pullets invading the space of an established group of hens. There's going to be drama.
Chickens are not nice to each other, especially newbies.
The youngsters need to be able have places where they can get away from the hens. Add some perches outside in your run, some obstacles. Something to break up line of sight.

Add another feed and water station.

She's been injured, so tend to the pullet's wounds. Apply vetericyn or triple antibiotic ointment. Observe behaviors. If you need to give them more time to mature before introductions.

 

[Adrienne-m]

Yeah after I asked that I researched it and it sound mean. I’ll see how she looks in the morning.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I wouldn't go that far.

You have 3.5 mo old pullets invading the space of an established group of hens. There's going to be drama.
Chickens are not nice to each other, especially newbies.
The youngsters need to be able have places where they can get away from the hens. Add some perches outside in your run, some obstacles. Something to break up line of sight.

Add another feed and water station.

She's been injured, so tend to the pullet's wounds. Apply vetericyn or triple antibiotic ointment. Observe behaviors. If you need to give them more time to mature before introductions.

I agree with all of this. Not sure how many chickens in total you have but inhave 14 and have 3 feeders and 3 watered. They're at seperate spotsnof the run also. My 8 week olds also have and old wagon that is lifted just enough for them to get under but the big girls cant. It helps them get away in needed. I would also start trying to roost train your new ones. 3.5 months is a bit big to be sleeping in the nesting boxes (actually, sleeping in the nesting boxes is no good at any age)