Cannibalism - causes, cures?

[Godiva]

I have three pullets that have been together since they were chicks. Never any hassles with aggression. About a month ago I had to get rid of the rooster and the dominant hen as the roo started spurring my 6 yr old son. All has been very peaceful, they have tons of space, good quality food, good shelter. A few days ago the now dominant pullet caught and killed a small bird and ate most of it before I took it away. (concerned about illness - though in retrospect she was already exposed to anything it may have had) But within a few minutes of taking it away from them she started to eat one of the other pullets foot feathers, and then the skin on her legs! I had hoped that it was just because of the incident with the bird but today she is after the other pullet with a vengeance. I know they can get like this but I have never had to deal with it myself. I have seperated the aggressor for now (she is crying to get back with her flockmates) and was thinking of trying blukote on the pecked legs and then reintroducing the aggressor? Do you think this will be sufficient to nip this in the bud? Or is it a case of once a picker always a picker? And how safe is blukote on laying birds? Are their eggs still safe to eat?

 

[RoosterAddict99]

Since she's tasted blood, I doubt she'll stop. You'll need to permanently separate her exept maybe when you can closely supervise her. I don't know about the blukote though.

 

[Godiva]

The other hen that she has been picking on just had a small spot that was bleeding now that I have been able to look at it more closely - I think possibly it was a pin feather that got picked out. The rest of the damage is really just the feathers have been eaten. I was reading about blukote and I really don't think that is a viable option for a layer (or anything you are going to eat!) Someone else mentioned some stuff called rooster booster which I have ordered and am going to try. This is a very new behaviour so I am hopeful that I might be able to still redirect the aggression to a head of broccoli or something like that ... Guess we'll see. For now she is separated from the other two.

 

[7L Farm]

Leave the bird seperated untill the other bird completely heals. Then return the bird at night on her roost with the other birds. Next morning keep an eye on her. If you can let them free range so the birds can get away if need be. Then lock them up every night after they return from ranging. Yes, put blu-kote on the wound it will help hide the wound & aid in the healing process. I've done this & the eggs are still good to eat.