Chicken killed my other chicken

[ammyg]

I have had chickens for about a year now and this is the first time there was a disagreement of sorts. My #1 attack one chicken and ended up killing her. They don't fight nor have they ever been much aggression between them. I am at a lost for words of how it got this far. It was shocking to see the other one lying on the ground dying.

 

[sourland]

Did you see the attack ? It is possible that a blow to the head might kill a chicken, but I have never seen it happen. This might be more likely in a bird with a vaulted skull.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I agree with above. (Unfortunately with chicks running around) I've noticed birds seem pretty prone to head blows and that can really end them fast

 

[Hei 20]

I have had chickens for about a year now and this is the first time there was a disagreement of sorts. My #1 attack one chicken and ended up killing her. They don't fight nor have they ever been much aggression between them. I am at a lost for words of how it got this far. It was shocking to see the other one lying on the ground dying.

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[ammyg]

Did you see the attack ? It is possible that a blow to the head might kill a chicken, but I have never seen it happen. This might be more likely in a bird with a vaulted skull.

Yes we heard it first. The one chased the other. We originally thought something was in the coop but that was not the case. She did get it in the neck, it was laying on the ground struggling to breath.. really did think it was something else but that was not the case.

 

[BoogieWight]

I have never seen it in younger chickens and generally I only see it now in older/higher ranked roosters that lose their place in a bad way, but its heart could have given out. Chickens can handle a lot, which is what makes them so easy to care for, but I have personally seen things that would seem silly just put to much stress on them. Too much light can cause high heart related deaths in chicken houses, constant stress from what they see as predators, losing their place in the hierarchy, stress from the other birds even when they don't seem physically damaged, and I'm sure others here have seen seemingly healthy birds go down the same way.

 

[ammyg]

I have never seen it in younger chickens and generally I only see it now in older/higher ranked roosters that lose their place in a bad way, but its heart could have given out. Chickens can handle a lot, which is what makes them so easy to care for, but I have personally seen things that would seem silly just put to much stress on them. Too much light can cause high heart related deaths in chicken houses, constant stress from what they see as predators, losing their place in the hierarchy, stress from the other birds even when they don't seem physically damaged, and I'm sure others here have seen seemingly healthy birds go down the same way.

I think it was an accident. It might have been a fight and she just got her in a delicate spot. It was the leader and she does not usually pick of the bottom one but I know it happens. When they were younger figuring everything out there would be some fighting but nothing to extreme,normal stuff. I wanted to add another one but now I am scared to do so. I guess I'll just have to wait it out.

 

[BoogieWight]

I think it was an accident. It might have been a fight and she just got her in a delicate spot. It was the leader and she does not usually pick of the bottom one but I know it happens. When they were younger figuring everything out there would be some fighting but nothing to extreme,normal stuff. I wanted to add another one but now I am scared to do so. I guess I'll just have to wait it out.

Yeah I know how that can be. I always want just one more color, pattern, shape, demeanor, or what have you. I know if i won the lottery I would be the only person around with a 100 acre chicken safari.