All of My Chickens are Acting Strange

[sarahnicole]

I have four chickens, two Ameraucanas, a Plymouth Rock, and a Black Sex-Link (we think). They Ameraucanas are sisters and the two others are "sisters", and are basically two different flocks. I have always had trouble integrating the flocks, and need help! We tried putting them in at night together, but the next day they were fighting and wouldn't let one of the Ameraucanas (who is partially blind) eat or sleep in the coop. I had to separate them because after two days it wasn't getting any better. Their two different coops are right next to each other and they are by each other all the time, but they still don't get along. If I let them roam around my yard, however, they are usually fine; I think it's just the confined space that gives them problems.

Today when I went to check on them, all four of them were acting strange. I let them all out into the yard and immediately, they started to attack the non-blind Ameraucana, even though she is second in the pecking order. It was primarily the sex-link who was instigating, but they weren't just pecking at each other like they normally do. They were grabbing each others faces and holding them to the ground. I broke them up because it wasn't their normal behavior and put the sex-link away, but the other two were still picking on the poor chicken! Her head was hanging and her wings and tail were drooping after the encounter, and she was panting heavily. I noticed then that my blind chicken had feathers missing on her chest, and her skin was dry and peeling.

The over-aggressiveness, droopiness, and skin peeling is worrying me. Any ideas on what I should do? Thank you in advance!

P.S. The sex-link and Plymouth Rock have both been eating their eggs for the past three weeks and I can't get them to stop. I was wondering if that was related to any of this. Thanks again!

 

[cavemanrich]

I have run across a similar thread in the past , and this was one of the posts.

ANGRY FOWL IS TASTY FOWL.

It may be that overcrowding is a big factor. If you only have 4 chickens, the coops are that small???
I have small facilities and 7 chickens. All my chickens get along. There is a pecking order of course. No vicious behavior though.
You may have to start all over with a new batch of hens.
WISHING YOU BEST

Start with the 2 cannibals first.

 

[Jajika]

Wow---this does not sound good. I have never had chickens attack each other like that. It's really cruel that they go after each other like that. Plus, the egg eating is a big problem. Whenever that has happened I take their eggs immediately and put in a wood "nesting" egg for them to get frustrated on.

Sounds like you may need to start over.

Best of luck.

Geri