Found dead chicken with serious pecking

[dakunst]

We have 5 hens and got our five eggs this morning. So sometime after that one either died or was pecked to death by the others. We are thinking it died of naturally and the others pecked it, would they do this? It has a huge pecked spot that was all bloody and featherless. Should we watch for anything else, will they possibly want to peck each other now? The other question we have is, why would it just have died? She was less than a year old, got them last spring.

 

[chickflick]

Chickens die. A lot of times we'll never know why. How old was she? It is possible that the other chickens pecked her after she died. Chickens will eat just about everything. Sorry for your loss.

 

[gryeyes]

Everybody likes the taste of chicken, unfortunately. Even chickens.

And it is far more likely, as already mentioned, your other chickens started pecking the carcass of the dead hen, rather than pecking her to death. (From the information you posted.)

 

[willowbranchfarm]

I agree with the others. To answer your question yes chickens and be pecked/bullied to death.

 

[dakunst]

Ok, starting to think we have a disease or their is a serious pecking issue. Found another dead today, same thing. . . severe pecking, bloody area around vent/anus. And, another is still alive, but has a big pecked/bloody area in the same spot. What do you think, pecking or disease? We kept the sick looking one out of the coop and cleaned the coop really well, so as of now time will tell.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Pecking. Separate the pecked hen ASAP.

 

[dakunst]

She is seperated. We have two left in the coop and it is obvious which one is doing the pecking, she has the bloody beak and you can just tell she is the dominant one. Wondering if she should be seperated? My husband is going to pick up some blu-kote, hoping that helps.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Once she heals up consider getting pinless peepers to stop her from pecking/injuring them again.