Battle of the hens x-posted

[Namaste Mama]

Ok apparently my Hens do not like each other. I can't believe it but I just went out side to find one hen bleeding from the breast area and feathers from my two other hens all over thier hen house. The one that was on the bottom of the pecking order is now fluffing her feathers like she was the winner.

The bleeding one wandered out of the coop and went in to a cat carrier that I had out side the coop and is resting. She won't let me touch her to check out the wound.

Cry, so what do I do? I'm fairly new to the chickens and this is so upsetting to me. Why are they fighting? They all were adopted from the same home. I thought they would get along. I am wanting to give up, this is not a fun way to start in to chickens.

 

[Alexis]

Don't get too upset! I hear this is pretty normal when hens go through a change of some sort. My first flock of adopted hens ALL came from the same home, but they fought like crazy when they got here (even though they got along fine where they came from). I thought it was me! The roosters were even worse. Everyone had to reclaim their own territory and it's like the pecking order got scrambled up. I was miserable, and so were they. But it didn't last too long - if it had gone on any longer I would have gotten rid of some of them, so I'm glad I was patient!

 

[Namaste Mama]

thanks. I was seriously worried they would kill each other. What should I do about the hen that was bleeding? The wound is small from what I can see and has stopped bleeding.

 

[mustangruss]

I wouldnt worry too much about the wound as long as it doesnt keep bleeding. I would just wait until she is calm again and try to clean her up then.