Chickens killing hurt chicken?

[MaggieG0112]

Why would a chicken kill a bleeding chicken? Is it because they don't want the smell to attract a predator or are my chickens just being jerks?

 

[sourland]

The weak are attacked. Whether to keep the flock safe from disease or predators or simply because chicken society is frequently brutal ? I've had birds for 70+ years, and I am not certain why.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I agree with @sourland
Other chickens will attack a wounded chicken. It's not just your flock, they all do it.

 

[john_wrightson2003]

I agree with those answers. There not always the nicest things on the planet.

 

[Folly's place]

They are omnivores, and can act like little velociraptors. They will do this, sometimes, not always.
Mary

 

[Molpet]

Bleeding, sick and acting different.... sometimes I am not sure why they go after one

 

[Shadrach]

I see something rather different here.
I get quite a few injuries and so far I have never had other members of the flock attack another member who was injured. They also seem very tolerant of sickness in their flock mates, so much so that I try to get the sick and injured back with the flock as quickly as possible. This tolerant behavior may have something to do with each flock here comprises genetically related individuals.

 

[Quackter]

Why would a chicken kill a bleeding chicken? Is it because they don't want the smell to attract a predator or are my chickens just being jerks?

Freud was a quack, so he only left us with insight with the minds of ducks, but yes a lot of chickens seem to attack weak ones.

 

[Folly's place]

Housing, feed, and breed types all can be part of the reasons for cannibalism, or not, happening in a flock. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes not.
Mary

 

[RavalliSurfer]

Can't read some responses.... advertising covers the info and it won't click away.