- Apr 23, 2014
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Hello! My husband and I have been raising our backyard flock for a year without many problems. We started out with five chicken and now have four 2 buffs and 2 GL Wyandottes. During the day they are maintained in the coop and run and then come out to free range around the yard in the evenings after work (as weather allows). Mostly, we've dealt with aggressive bullying from our top hen who, we had to rehome as a result.
Here we are two weeks later. After removing the top hen, everything evened out and everyone seemed more relaxed. Then, 5 days ago I noticed that one of my Buffs was hiding out a lot in the coop on the roosting bar and in the nesting box. When she came out to free range around the flock, she fluffed up her feathers and ran away from one hen (who used to be bottom in the order). The next day, I saw she was hiding again and had a bloody comb. Sweet Jesus, not again! Well, as the day went by, I found her mostly on the roosting bar and felt her crop to be bigger than normal. She would try to come down into the run to eat but was quickly chased off by new queeny and her sister. I removed her from the flock and put her in a sick bay, thinking she had a sour crop or infection and wanted to monitor her eating/drinking/pooping. Well, everything seems normal: eating, drinking, pooping and even laying! After 24 hours, I decided she was fine and put her back out with the flock. Today's the same story! First thing in the morning, I went out to check on her and she was on the roosting bar with blood on her comb. She ate feed from my hand and puffed up whenever anyone came near her. A couple hours later, she was on the nesting box and I figured he was laying an egg. Couples after that, she's still in there with an egg underneath her. I forced her out and let the others free range so she could eat and drink in peace. She ate some sunflower seeds to tossed for her and then immediately went into the nest box.
Here are my questions: is she broody? I've found her more on the roosting bar than in the nest. But I'm gone mostly during the day and don't see which she's in.
Could she be picked on because of being broody? And should I separate the new queen bee to break the aggression? She's been chasing her sister some too but not to the point of making her bleed.
Or could she be sick even with normal eating/pooping/drinking/laying? I've been through all the likely culprits: impacted/sour crop--- she's empty in the morning with no noticeable hard mass; GI infection--- no sign with normal poops; egg bound--- laying eggs still.
I called an avian vet and they offered an appointment at $100 for just the exam. My husband wouldn't allow it (grew up on a farm and has strict opinions about this) and since she's not seeming too sick, I haven't pushed the issue. Just yet.
Sorry for the wordiness and thanks in advanced for any advise and input. I'm at my wits end by this point!!!
Here we are two weeks later. After removing the top hen, everything evened out and everyone seemed more relaxed. Then, 5 days ago I noticed that one of my Buffs was hiding out a lot in the coop on the roosting bar and in the nesting box. When she came out to free range around the flock, she fluffed up her feathers and ran away from one hen (who used to be bottom in the order). The next day, I saw she was hiding again and had a bloody comb. Sweet Jesus, not again! Well, as the day went by, I found her mostly on the roosting bar and felt her crop to be bigger than normal. She would try to come down into the run to eat but was quickly chased off by new queeny and her sister. I removed her from the flock and put her in a sick bay, thinking she had a sour crop or infection and wanted to monitor her eating/drinking/pooping. Well, everything seems normal: eating, drinking, pooping and even laying! After 24 hours, I decided she was fine and put her back out with the flock. Today's the same story! First thing in the morning, I went out to check on her and she was on the roosting bar with blood on her comb. She ate feed from my hand and puffed up whenever anyone came near her. A couple hours later, she was on the nesting box and I figured he was laying an egg. Couples after that, she's still in there with an egg underneath her. I forced her out and let the others free range so she could eat and drink in peace. She ate some sunflower seeds to tossed for her and then immediately went into the nest box.
Here are my questions: is she broody? I've found her more on the roosting bar than in the nest. But I'm gone mostly during the day and don't see which she's in.
Could she be picked on because of being broody? And should I separate the new queen bee to break the aggression? She's been chasing her sister some too but not to the point of making her bleed.
Or could she be sick even with normal eating/pooping/drinking/laying? I've been through all the likely culprits: impacted/sour crop--- she's empty in the morning with no noticeable hard mass; GI infection--- no sign with normal poops; egg bound--- laying eggs still.
I called an avian vet and they offered an appointment at $100 for just the exam. My husband wouldn't allow it (grew up on a farm and has strict opinions about this) and since she's not seeming too sick, I haven't pushed the issue. Just yet.
Sorry for the wordiness and thanks in advanced for any advise and input. I'm at my wits end by this point!!!