chicken attacked by cell mate

[beeksnfeet]

A few weeks back I had to seperate 2 of our 5 birds. The White Plymouth Rocks are in Cluckatraz. 1 went in 2 weeks before the other. She had been brutal to the Buff Orps, not just pecking order. After removing her, the other seemed to be good until a week and a half ago, then she too became more then justy nasty, so she was put in with her sister Rock. I just went to close them up for the night and the 1st chicken has brutally attacked the other. Blood & a wound on her back above her tail where the others were attacked. I have no where to move her. I was going to try and put her back with the others, but she has obviously not changed her ways, and now that the others are getting healed up and back to their old selves, I do not want her to ruin that. Any suggestions besides the soup pot? She is a very good layer, but this is not worth it. I do not have a problem with culling her.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Pinless Peepers for now? Are the birds able to see/ interact with each other in the different pens? How much space do they have?

 

[Michael Apple]

Orpingtons are very docile compared to Rocks. Not enough room can cause problems. if they weren't all raised together as chicks, that can cause problems. Not having a rooster to keep order can cause problems too.

 

[beeksnfeet]

Pinless Peepers for now? Are the birds able to see/ interact with each other in the different pens? How much space do they have?

The Buffs are totally seperate from the two Rocks. Unfortunately the Rocks are in a small caged in area. Never expected to have to double them up, as I thought only one was nasty. They cannot see or interact with the 3 Buffs. Their area is 4X31/2 I have no other space to put anyone, and no means to change the circumstances. I will try to give her away, but do not forsee anyone getting excited about a free, nasty, egg laying chicken. It would take a while for the Peepers to come in and with all the damage she has done, I'm afraid it might be too late!

 

[beeksnfeet]

Orpingtons are very docile compared to Rocks. Not enough room can cause problems. if they weren't all raised together as chicks, that can cause problems. Not having a rooster to keep order can cause problems too.

All five were born on the same day and raised together from day one. Never had any issues with meanness untill early December. There was always pecking order, but not meanness. We are not allowed to have Roo's out here, which is ok. I guess I was just surprised at the amount of brutality coming from this one bird. We got the Rocks by mistake. They did not have Barred Rocks, so instead of sending us all Buffs, they sent white Rocks. Don't know if that would make a difference, but I do agree 100% with you about the Orpingtons. If I can give the nasty one away, then heal the other one up, I would give her to a good home too and just get 2 more Buffs. Their coop is 3X4 not including nesting boxes. The run is 8X8, with space under the coop too. We had originally ordered 4 chickens, but someone made the suggestion to order 5.....just incase one of the chicks did not survive the the trip. And thus, our introduction to chicken math. :/

 

[Kelsie2290]

Ya, sounds like you are tight on space for 5, especially in the winter if they can't get out much and you have a dominant hen who is trying to push everybody around... they are fairly young? Pecking order changes as birds age and mature. You can try the usual methods to help with feather picking (up protein, give them things to do etc), but it mostly sounds like a space issue compounded with different temperaments. Other thing is, if they are separated and can't see/ interact with each other, you may have problems reintegrating them after a few days. Culling the first rock and treating then placing the other is probably the logical thing to do if you can't place #1 really fast or ...
Somebody on BYC did have a post last month about having extra Pinless Peepers.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/843270/need-pinless-peepers

 

[beeksnfeet]

Ya, sounds like you are tight on space for 5, especially in the winter if they can't get out much and you have a dominant hen who is trying to push everybody around... they are fairly young? Pecking order changes as birds age and mature. You can try the usual methods to help with feather picking (up protein, give them things to do etc), but it mostly sounds like a space issue compounded with different temperaments. Other thing is, if they are separated and can't see/ interact with each other, you may have problems reintegrating them after a few days. Culling the first rock and treating then placing the other is probably the logical thing to do if you can't place #1 really fast or ...
Somebody on BYC did have a post last month about having extra Pinless Peepers.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/843270/need-pinless-peepers

Thanks for the quick response. We are over 1 bird as far as coop space goes, but are on the spot for run space from what I've been told. They are outside all the time. They love it and have access to the coop at all times. I guess their favorite spot is under the coop in their leaves!! They are all 10 months old. They have enough roost space in the coop for all five to fit. I never expected that the Buffs would get so, how do you say it nicely..... fat! They are big balls of fluff. We love it, just didn't expect it! They are small, medium & large in size, so it is kind of comical when the 3 Buffs stand next to each other. The 2 Rocks are the same size as each other, but nowhere near as fluffy as the Buffs, so there was never a space issue. Thanks for the Peeper info. I appreciate your help and I'll let ya know what happens.

 

[Michael Apple]

I've had many different Plymouth Rocks over the years and the whites I had were very docile. One of the main problems I've seen for new keepers of chickens is underestimating the amount of space needed in the yard as well as the coop. Those shoddy little coops on stilts, with a box pen attached sold at feed stores aren't worth spending a dime on. What is enjoyable is designing and building your own coop and yard to accomodate as many birds as you want, with plenty of space to pick and scratch, eat and dust, find shade/ shelter from weather, nest comfortably, and keep clean drinking water.

 

[beeksnfeet]

We built our own coop using all recycled wood from around our place. DH is/was a general contractor, so the coop is very nice and sturdy. Several vents, one whole side is 2 big doors (with screening that swing open aka french doors) with plexiglass covers for the winter. This whole thing is in the run. Top, bottom and sides of run are hardware cloth. Cyclone fencing was attatched to a large 8x8x8x8 frame made from timbers, and covered with dirt to cover it so no other creatures can get in. He even made a double door so if we just want to throw something for them we open the top part and toss.in. For winter we have covered all but the door with plastic sheeting, leaving the door area open. A plywood 'roof' was added to the top frame to keep snow, ice and rain out. The birds are out all day, their choice not ours. They love the cold and have not been inside other then for sleep. Food and water (heated) are available 24/7 for them. Nesting boxes are attached to the outside so as not to take up room. Homemade feeder is attached to the french type doors as is the grit container. Heated water (also homemade) is available outside in the corner of the run, protected from all elements. They are kept clean, fed their layer feed along with veggies/fruits, grains, left overs, oatmeal etc. They live a good life and are well taken care of. When I go in to visit with them, I sit on a 5 gal bucket and they take turns sittting on me. They love to be petted. Neither of the Rocks like that sort of attention. They very rarely let me hold or pet them and when they do,they always get really nasty. They have all been treated the same. I understand space is important, but this nasty one is mean no matter how much room, space or attention she gets. I guess it's a crap shoot no matter what. Ya know what they say..."Life is like a box of chocolates....ya never know what your gona get!" Thanks for all you input.

 

[beeksnfeet]

Just a quick up date......Nuggett has been given away! Found a nice young lady with 17 hens and 3 roosters not far from here. She said once Nuggett sees she is no longer the Diva she was, she will fit in nicely with her group. Didn't have to cull her after all. Life is good!