Cruel behavior among hens

[mountain gma]

I'd appreciate a response from somebody who knows ASAP. I have only five hens left of the 25 Buckeyes I raised starting a year ago. Predators, autos, dogs etc. killed the rest. Today I noticed that one of the five is limping badly and the other four hens are beating up on her. I'm disturbed for a couple of reasons: 1) I'm not getting many eggs as it is, 2) I feel sorry for the hen, and 3) she seems to accept her fate when they won't let her scratch around them. I don't have the facilities to separate her as I am now raising another brood of chicks. My questions is, will the hens abuse her until she gives up and dies or will she hold her own. Thanks in advance,

 

[Ugly Cowboy]

From what I've always seen, they'll all gang up on the weak/hurt one and will usually end up killin her. After a while the weak one'll just lay there squallin and let 'em.

 

[momof247371]

TAKE HER AWAY FROM THEM right now!!! Seperate them.. the will end up killin her...

 

[mountain gma]

Thanks all. I put her in my humane animal trap and gave her food and water. I can't see anything externally wrong with her leg but she limps and favors it. I appreciate all the answers I received. This chicken thing is way more work than I thought. LOL. I spend most of the day changing out the water for the three and four week-olds. Next week my daughter and d-in-law are going to help me build a run outside that I can move around the chicken yard. I'm a trial and error kind of learner and sometimes I wear myself out. If the eggs weren't so darned good I'd forget the whole thing but even the free-range at the store aren't as rich as mine. Choices, choices. Thanks again.

 

[ChooksChick]

If you put the waterer up on a board or brick or whatever makes it so the level of water is the same height as you chicks' beaks, you'll not have to change it so often- they won't get it as dirty.

I'm sorry about your hen, but you have to isolate the weak and injured or you'll lose them. It sounds like you've got some fencing to do, because cars shouldn't be killing your birds.

It's hard work, but so very worth it!! Best of luck!