Bullying, Egg-Eating, and Depression?

[slordaz]

We may have to revisit this, then. Thank you.

one thing to think about before getting a peace keeper aka Rooster is having ennough room to expand the coop and making a small extra more protected box away from the hens for when one decides to go broody. Chicken math may or may not catch up to you lol

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

one thing to think about before getting a peace keeper aka Rooster is having ennough room to expand the coop and making a small extra more protected box away from the hens for when one decides to go broody. Chicken math may or may not catch up to you lol

Lol I LOVE chickens and I'm HORRIBLE at math so I need to be extra vigilant about this phenomenon...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post a current photo of her, one of your whole coop/run too?

Her egg is eaten before you can gather it - does she lay soft shell eggs?

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I will get a shot of her tomorrow, it's night time here and she's roosting with the others. Here is the best I have of the run:

The first time she layed it was hard-shelled and uniform. But, she was in an isolation pen with a couple others when it happened and one had pecked it. That's when it all started. Next few times we only found parts of a shell--hard though. She can't seem to figure out how into lay the boxes, or is deferring to the others. She is such a submissive bird she full on squats if you so much as move by her, and stays down for a while. Similarly, I caught her holding her head down while the GLW was pecking it, too. She stayed like that until the GLW was done (which was by the time I got into the run)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would check her out really well though - you mention that she has a crooked tail (Wry Tail?) that's a genetic deformity which usually will not affect laying, but could mean she could have some developmental issues, you never know.
Check her crop to see if it's empty in the morning, look for lice/mites, etc.

They are still fairly young so it could be they haven't settled down, but often you may have a bully or 2 in a flock. If she's not getting to eat very well, this will make her weak. I have separated bullies before, but once back, they are still bullies. Pinless peepers is something some people use, but I usually try to let them work it out - if no blood is being drawn. Since she's so submissive, she's always going to get picked on a little.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I will check her out today, maybe even a vet visit if I feel iffy about her.

She has a similar issue to this, regarding her back: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-advice-as-i-am-stumped-any-vets-wan.1130325/

 

[sorce]

Love that name @buffy-the-eggpile-layer !

If I may interject my unprofessional opinion.

I don't think the egg eating is more bullying, rather, just food in the coop that the others eat. Which is a good sign, at least the eggs are edible!

In the OP, you have physical and mental health at different levels of concern, I believe they are closer linked, mental health directly effecting physical health, and vice versa. Seeing it this way may hepp you solve the problem.

That said, if you remedy any one of her problems, it sounds like she'll have what it takes to rebound.

Fortunately/Unfortunately....
Seems the bit of isolation necessary to fix one problem will also fix them all!

Best!

Sorce

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Love that name @buffy-the-eggpile-layer !

If I may interject my unprofessional opinion.

I don't think the egg eating is more bullying, rather, just food in the coop that the others eat. Which is a good sign, at least the eggs are edible!

In the OP, you have physical and mental health at different levels of concern, I believe they are closer linked, mental health directly effecting physical health, and vice versa. Seeing it this way may hepp you solve the problem.

That said, if you remedy any one of her problems, it sounds like she'll have what it takes to rebound.

Fortunately/Unfortunately....
Seems the bit of isolation necessary to fix one problem will also fix them all!

Best!

Sorce

Thank you, I think you may be on to something. She was always an oddball--confused and kinda in her own bubble. I do wonder if that has something to do with her oddball back. I think her recent spate with bullies has pushed her further into confusion. I will monitor and see if we need to put said bullies in the "shu."

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

@Wyorp Rock @sorce went out to take some Glamour shots this a.m. Empty crop which she was busily filling when I brought two separate dishes of morning mash (though she constantly keeps a wide berth from the biggest bully, always cognizant of which dish she's at). She was drinking plenty too. I'm hesitant to take her to the vet today if that'll only stress her out more... I initially wanted to check for egg binding and maybe have her poop tested. I could barely get her still enough for a picture.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

@Wyorp Rock @sorce went out to take some Glamour shots this a.m. Empty crop which she was busily filling when I brought two separate dishes of morning mash (though she constantly keeps a wide berth from the biggest bully, always cognizant of which dish she's at). She was drinking plenty too. I'm hesitant to take her to the vet today if that'll only stress her out more... I initially wanted to check for egg binding and maybe have her poop tested. I could barely get her still enough for a picture.

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Also excuse is the Greek yogurt spatter on her head. They're so messy!