Beak and toenail injury

[dmartin101]

I think one of my EE injured her beak and one of her toenails. She's 15 months old and is eating and drinking normally, hasn't lost any weight and isn't limping so it doesn't seem to be bothering her much. She is sticking her tongue out a lot but other than that, seems fine. But I'd like to know what y'all think and if there's anything you think I should do.

She was one of my rooster's favorites but he died about a month ago. That's why some of her back feathers are broken. He really liked her. He was a very docile rooster and preferred the less dominant hens. She's always been lower in the pecking order and pretty skittish but in the last week or so she's become much less nervous around me. She lets me pick her up, doesn't run away, and even flies up on me when I sit down and sleeps on my lap. She's never been like this before.

Do you think the loss of the rooster could be causing the change in her behavior? I'm pretty sure she isn't getting bullied and have noticed she will even peck at some of the others.

I have 10 hens in an 6x25 foot run with an attached hen house for laying and sleeping. Bedding is pine shavings in the hen house and occasional grass in the run or pellets when we get a lot of rain.

She's becoming one of my favorites but I don't want to get too attached because my last two favorites both died.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Oh no! That like like the top of her beak was ripped off, I would provide deep feed dish for her to eat out of. That kind of injury is like ripping a finger nail off. tagging @Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive please help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

is eating and drinking normally, hasn't lost any weight and isn't limping so it doesn't seem to be bothering her much. She is sticking her tongue out a lot but other than that, seems fine.

The injuries are already healing, so I'd just monitor. Providing a deep dish with mushy feed may be helpful if it seems like she's having a hard time eating.

Often hens are more friendly when they don't have a rooster. She may also miss some of the companionship she had with him. If she's getting on with the others, then I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[dmartin101]

Oh no! That like like the top of her beak was ripped off, I would provide deep feed dish for her to eat out of. That kind of injury is like ripping a finger nail off. tagging @Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive please help!

I think you're right!

 

[dmartin101]

The injuries are already healing, so I'd just monitor. Providing a deep dish with mushy feed may be helpful if it seems like she's having a hard time eating.

Often hens are more friendly when they don't have a rooster. She may also miss some of the companionship she had with him. If she's getting on with the others, then I wouldn't worry too much.

Thanks for the response. I'm not seeing any of the other hens bullying her but she's definitely keeping to herself more.

I have 6 EE who were raised with the rooster. I'm concerned that they're a little lost without him. I have 4 other hens that were raised together and I had before I got the EEs. They always kind of stayed as 2 groups but there wasn't any bullying. The 4 older hens seem to be going after the EE's more since I lost the rooster. I've spent several hours watching them the last week trying to see if there's a bully I need to separate but so far it's just pecking or a short chase when food is involved.

I'm not sure what else to do. I don't want anyone to get picked on.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the response. I'm not seeing any of the other hens bullying her but she's definitely keeping to herself more.

I have 6 EE who were raised with the rooster. I'm concerned that they're a little lost without him. I have 4 other hens that were raised together and I had before I got the EEs. They always kind of stayed as 2 groups but there wasn't any bullying. The 4 older hens seem to be going after the EE's more since I lost the rooster. I've spent several hours watching them the last week trying to see if there's a bully I need to separate but so far it's just pecking or a short chase when food is involved.

I'm not sure what else to do. I don't want anyone to get picked on.

The drama is normal, if they aren't pinning one down and drawing blood, then leave them to sort it out.

Hens still have their own pecking order even with a rooster, but a rooster can help settle conflict at times and keep things fairly peaceful if he's a good one. Sounds like your fella was a good rooster, those are always special.