chickens fighting

[amymitchell]

Can you post pictures of your girls and your coop/run?

 

[amymitchell]

should I keep the wounded one separated after the rooster? until wound healed? will the rooster peck the fresh wound?

 

[amymitchell]

Need to see pictures of wounds. Tell us feed used, age of feed, how feed is stored, how much feed applied.

 

[amymitchell]

Their feed is Kaulmbach organic layer pellets, stored inside on our sun room patio porch in plastic container, check feed daily to keep at least half full in plastic feeder shown in picture.

 

[centrarchid]

Those wounds are not from fighting. Do you have a lot of rodents?

 

[amymitchell]

Those wounds are not from fighting. Do you have a lot of rodents?

no, I have seen zero. I have checked the coop and no eggs missing. The other hen had a head wound but they have so far not re injured her.

 

[amymitchell]

any chance it could be mites? Ive looked at pics and their legs dont appear to have symptoms but could it be begining stage

 

[rosemarythyme]

any chance it could be mites? Ive looked at pics and their legs dont appear to have symptoms but could it be begining stage

Mites wouldn't leave injuries like that, however a mite infestation can cause them to scratch and harm themselves. Not sure if they'd hurt themselves on the legs like that even with mites though. Rodents could also be a possibility for causing injury (rats can chew on bird's legs while they roost).

The color of blood could then attract the other chickens to start pecking at the injuries, which would lead you to assume that the chickens were attacking each other to cause the injury, instead of the injury causing the picking/

 

[amymitchell]

I keep looking for signs of rats/mice anything. I see nothing. Have checked for sharp edges with blood on them for scrapes, nothing.

 

[50-45-1]

Honestly,....i can see no reason that adding a rooster to this situation is going to solve anything, only add new problems. Unless of course if you want fertile eggs.
i believe it may be just space and boredom issue.
I cant see anyplace that the leg injuries could have happened by acccident in your coop. I would use some triple antbiotic cream on her legs until they heal.
if you have a bully hen, let her wear a pair of pinless peepers for a while. Its quite the humbling expierence and they come thru it with a new attitude.
Your coop setup is nice, you just need to keep the rigtht amount of hens for the space you have to avoid overcrouding.
Also try some boredom buster ideas, like the hanging cabbage, or they make these balls that you put scratch feed in that the chicken has to move around a lot to get the seeds out. Give them some alfalfa hay to scratch around to get the tiny leaves out of. Its great nutrition for them when there is no fresh grass to eat.
good luck!