Bullied vs Illness: Your End Findings

[Sassysouth]

I had 4 hens who were together 18 months and all of a sudden 3 started aggressively attacking 1. I truly think they wanted her dead.

My question is:
Did your bully issues turn out to be a pecking order issue? OR did it turn out to be an illness? If an illness, what was it and how long before it showed up?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What type of hens? How big is your set up? Aggression can be from many things. I never see sick birds attacked in my flock, but I have lots of room. Sometimes things like protein deficiencies can bring on aggression.

Your birds are old enough to molt as well, sometimes birds get more aggressive during it because they don't feel well.

 

[aart]

Continuance of this situation?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-drama.1197647/

 

[Sassysouth]

No. I resolved the situation. I was really just asking in general. Since it seems frequently when a bird gets picked on that there tends to be an underlying illness. And I was wondering what illnesses chicken owners eventually discovered.

Just a general question.