Chicken attacked by flock

[sagehound]

Does anyone know why this would happen? They have grown up together and I have not seen any problems before this. I'm really worried now. I will look for bullying but should I be doing anything else? Can you tell I'm a first time chicken owner?

 

[MROO]

Could her head have been pulled through the run wire? Lots of predators will do that, especially raccoons. That's one reason for using hardware cloth instead of chicken wire. Snakes have even been known to attempt swallowing a grown chicken by starting at the head, too (dumb snakes!) From the pictures, it doesn't look like either happened to your hen, as her comb looks okay and a predator would likely have torn that up. Still, it's worth mentioning, if only to file away for future reference.

 

[ShannonR]

Does anyone know why this would happen? They have grown up together and I have not seen any problems before this. I'm really worried now. I will look for bullying but should I be doing anything else? Can you tell I'm a first time chicken owner?

My guess is the chicken sustained the injury, somehow, before the other chickens started pecking at her. Maybe a nail sticking through the coop wall, sharp end piece of fencing, rat or other creature? Is your rooster overly ambitious?

The other alternative, is that particular hen has something wrong with her and the others picked up on that and bullied her for it. But that seems like a remote possibility.

 

[sagehound]

Could her head have been pulled through the run wire? Lots of predators will do that, especially raccoons. That's one reason for using hardware cloth instead of chicken wire. Snakes have even been known to attempt swallowing a grown chicken by starting at the head, too (dumb snakes!) From the pictures, it doesn't look like either happened to your hen, as her comb looks okay and a predator would likely have torn that up. Still, it's worth mentioning, if only to file away for future reference.

I actually have hardware cloth around the entire run. Like you said, I don't think it was a predator as she had specific pecks on her head. Also, the coop is where the blood was and that is as solid as a house...literally.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Okay I noticed something. I have a EE that’s quite not right. Did you notice how yours shakes her head and backs up? Mine shows that behavior. Best I can figure my hen has a neurological problem...my other hens pick on her. They will when there’s something wrong with a bird.

 

[MissChick@dee]

If you watch she only stops backing up when her rump touches something. I watched that and knew right away what I was seeing.

 

[aart]

I can't quite see where the cut is.
Possible the cockerel grabbed her.
Injury from something else.....or neurological issues causing other birds to attack both have validity. I too see some oddness to her movements, whether that was present before or is from injury-dunno. You may never know just what happened.
I'd get back out there tomorrow, in a crate.
Make sure she's eating, drinking, emptying crop, good poops, etc.

 

[sagehound]

Okay I noticed something. I have a EE that’s quite not right. Did you notice how yours shakes her head and backs up? Mine shows that behavior. Best I can figure my hen has a neurological problem...my other hens pick on her. They will when there’s something wrong with a bird.

It's so funny you noticed that...in a good way. I noticed this about 2 weeks ago but she only did it sometimes so I just let it go. But I also noticed that too and wasn't sure what the problem was. Now, what do I do?

 

[sagehound]

I can't quite see where the cut is.
Possible the cockerel grabbed her.
Injury from something else.....or neurological issues causing other birds to attack both have validity. I too see some oddness to her movements, whether that was present before or is from injury-dunno. You may never know just what happened.
I'd get back out there tomorrow, in a crate.
Make sure she's eating, drinking, emptying crop, good poops, etc.

Thank you! I think she may have a neurological problem. But need to do a bit more checking. If that is the case not sure what to do as I don't want her to be picked on.

 

[MissChick@dee]

If I had not gone thru it I would of probably brushed it off and not given it a second thought. (The video). It’s so subtle to begin with that on the outside looking in its easy to miss. If the OP spends time out with her chickens and would like to know what I experienced I’d be happy to share. What to watch for. My hen in any other environment would be by all rights dead by now. She’s a special needs chicken that I can deal with but in another environment she wouldn’t make it.