Chicken's fighting Please help!

[shutt1234]

Ok, I'll try to make this as short as possible. I have 3 hens. Two Americaunas and one RR. They are almost a year old. The RR seemed to be the boss of the 3. She was picking on one of the others for a while, pulling feathers out of it's tail. This has stopped. Then, the other americauna, i noticed, started missing feathers on her neck. I figured the RR was picking on her too, but I never really saw her do it. Now, out of nowhere...The Americauna with the missing neck feathers straight up ATTACKS the RR any time she comes near her!! I mean full on attacks!!! I guess she got sick of being picked on? No blood drawn or anything, but still, I'm concerned. I let them out to range every day or two for hours. She attacks her when they free range as well. I also give them oyster shells, grit, thier own egg shells, yogurt ect a few times a week. Any suggestions, advice ect.? I'm desperate. I don't want to have to get rid of any of them. Thanks in advance!

~Andrea

 

[annie3001]

how are they when they are out and about free ranging? are they getting along? is there main coop... a tight area? are they roosting okay at night? near eachother?
i dont know the answer,

sorry good luck tho.. let us know what happens?

 

[silkiechicken]

Sounds like they are either bored or don't have enough space to each have their space so to say. Hanging treats and more outside time might help their fighting.

 

[shutt1234]

Thank you. When they are free ranging, the Americauna still attacks the RIR. It's like the tables have turned only worse!!! I'll try giving them more scraps ect.. I really want a couple more chicks this spring, but I'm not sure now.

ETA~ I'm kinda nervous too that she will try to attack me or the kids if we get too close to her.

 

[cutlass1972]

how long have you had them? If you just got them I would let them be, they are just establishing who is boss. If this has been going on for a year then something is wrong. I have 14 hens that I am keeping cooped up all the time right now, there is some feather picking going on, but no real fighting, they all know their place and the ones that get picked on just try to stay away from the big meanies. The big meanies never go out of their way to go get them.

 

[chicmom]

Sometimes, it helps to take the bully and isolate her for a while....like say a week. Then you can re-introduce her to the flock, and she will be the newby and behave a little better.........it doesn't always work though, but it's worth a shot....

Good luck!
Sharon

 

[shutt1234]

Thank you everyone.
~Cutlass, they are almost a year old. They've all been together since they were days old. This just started. We've had some major rain here so I hadn't been letting them out much. It seems like maybe the Americauna got tired of being picked on so she turned on the bully the RIR. This wouldn't be about pecking order would it? The 3rd one doesn't seem to be bothered by either of the other ones. They both leave her alone. It's just between the 2 of them.

 

[silkiechicken]

They could very well be trying to re establish their order as adults so will probably squabble till someone becomes No1

 

[cutlass1972]

I agree, I think the fact that you have kept them cooped up for a while for what I presume to be the first time they are either establishing or reestablishing their pecking order. Let it be for a while, keep an eye on them on a daily basis, if there is a little feather loss or a little scabbing give them some blue coat, if it gets worse than that or keeps up for a long time you might start thinking of isolating the dominant party.

long story short, let them be, watch for signs of serious extended behavior, go from there.