What in the world? Was this caused by a predator or is it within the craziness of flock dynamics?
I'm posting here b/c I hope some OTs (or those who wanna be one when we grow up) will have some input.
I let the 12 POL hens out to range a little this morning, filled up the feeder, and then ran my kids to school. I didn't go in the chicken yard when I got home, but I did start using power tools in the nearby garage (very noisy). After a while, I decided to see what they were up to and I wandered in there...
1) I could tell they were freaked out by their locations and body language. One had a feather glued to her beak and comb with blood, comb was detached at the back. The one with the feather bloodied to her face is not high in the pecking order from what I can tell and I have seen her be chased by one of the top hens. Top hen was in nest box (I assume she laid the FIRST egg of the group...she sat on it for a while).
a few of the higher ranked hens have a small bloody spot on the top, middle of their beaks which leads me to think there was a pecking order issue, but...
2) feathers were EVERYWHERE in the hen house and even more so in the attached run (which was wide open so they could forage) definitely colors from multiple chickens (one of which is near top of pecking order, but seems unscathed)
Anyway, I figured I'd get the feather off and access the damage of the one with obvious injury. Well, turns out she is gashed all over...around her vent she has a gash going down and one going up plus her back is missing a lot of feathers and has another gash. at least half her tail feathers are missing. I did see her poop a big, but healthy poop (fermented feed), but then she seemed to limp a little.
So, my gut instinct tells me that maybe it was some huge chicken scuffle, possibly pertaining to the first egg laying, BUT is there a chance it was a predator (neighborhood cat?)? The chickens just seemed so freaked out, but maybe a fight would be upsetting? Ugghh, I don't want to ascribe chicken emotions, but I'd like to know if it's safe to leave them out or if they should be confined to the run and house area only. And if it's flock dynamics, will confining them lead to more problems?
BTW, I soaked the hen in warm epsom salt water to clean the wounds and then squirted on some providone (things I would do for myself for a gash). She was really upset when I tried to crate her to keep her clean and the others weren't bothering her while I got supplies together so i let her back with the flock. not sure if that was the correct choice. sigh. what in the world?
edited to add: it's been a couple hours, but they are all peacefully huddled together in the safest area (under the hen house)
edited again: I'm about to leave to go out of town...should I cull her for food or she if she heals without much intervention while I'm gone (my mom will be here). this is a small laying flock and I am frustrated that once they're finally ready to lay I might need to eat one (already ate cockerels)