Getting Eaten Alive! HELP! (Grapic pics. coming)

[WhySayWhat]

Just a thought, but I did read in the Dummies book, that there is a predator that attacks that way at night when the chickens can't protect themselves because they're asleep. I believe it was rats, but I would have to dig back through the book. Anyway, it may not be the other chickens doing it, but they sure will help after it's started. Best of luck with your gals!

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
I heard rats will attack chickens on occasion. Rat bites are easily identified by distinctive " V " shaped marks. (I had 1 or 2..ok...21 back in my animal rescue days.)

 

[Leah and peeps]

Hi Everyone,

UPDATE:

We have had her isolated from the rest of the group for a while now, and she has been healing up very nicely! She has lots of feathers growing back on her (especially on her back) and has been eating and drinking fine. It really hit me that she was on a great road to recovery when we found two eggs in her box yesterday after not laying for weeks!

Though one of the eggs had some blood on it I know that this little one id a fighter, thats for sure! I finally found out who the killer is. Believe it or not, it is the other black one that is getting picked on! Therefore, the isolated one (Halle) is being picked on by the other black on (Abigail) and the others are just following Abigails lead. But who is picking on Abigail is my question.. My chanteclers are great! They havent touched anyone, as far as I can see, when i take out Halle its only the SL's that go after her. I will get some pics to you guys ASAP.
Thanks for your help!
Leah

 

[the duck whisperer]

Chickens, like turkeys, tend to be cannibalistic sometimes. One speck of blood and there instantly pecking. Till it gets worse and worse. separate her until it heals and it will be up to you to decide wether or not to put her back in with the others. Good Luck!

 

[Leah and peeps]

Hi,

She has a nice scab going on, and has laid an egg everyday since this weekend!

I do plan on putting her back in with the others once she is 100% healed and has all her feathers back, and putting her enemy (the other pecked one) in isolation to heal up. Are there any problems that I should be worried about regarding reintroduction to the flock? ( there are only 5, not including her and the other pecked one) They seem to leave her alone but who knows what will happen since the other one will be separated.. Any tips? Will isolating the other pecked one help her learn a lesson to not pick as well?
Does nayone have a experiance with this?
Thanks!

Leah

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you chickens have free time out during the day? if so that would be a good time to reintroduce, that way she's with them through the day and will just go into roost with everyone for the night, you'll have to watch for a couple of days to make sure they don't gang up on her. And be sure to keep the bully separate long enough to throw the pecking order out of wack, so she won't be top hen when put back in. Someone not to long ago was having this same problem and they ended up having to cull the mean one, hopefully it won't come to that here. keep us updated to the progress

 

[flgardengirl]

You could put a chicken saddle/apron on her and make sure to add an elastic piece on the bottom of the center of the apron that you can slide her tail feathers through in order to keep it in a secure position. I had a hen this happened to and I treated the wound and put the apron on and that way I could keep her with the main flock. Sometimes when you keep them out for quite awhile they lose status and will be picked on again. If some of the hens pick on her because of her apron, make sure to put aprons on a few of the other hens as well, especially the top ranking hen.

 

[chkn]

Keep an eye on the reintroducing. Someone here lost there's after the second time around. What I do is give the picked on hen special treats (trying to make them strong). Also make sure there are no other stresses, treat for worms, lice, mites, add little touches to make their pen more interesting. Make the coop as comfy as possible. Oh, you know what someone said here is give them a little protein because it helps stop the picking. I feed them crumbled hard boiled eggs, put a little extra calcium or oyster shell in there plus some vitamin supplements (you know, the Poly Vi Sol without the Iron). Try that a couple times a week until everyone settles in. You know I really think it worked for me. It took several weeks but now they all get along. Also let them free range because it's a great 'socializer.' If everyone is healthy and happy, they will all free range together.

 

[ultasol]

Did you ever mention the protein percentage in your feed?

 

[RedneckChikns]

AHHHH YUCK. And welcome to the world of chickens, cannibism is common, esp when in too small a space. Happens on commercial chicken farms ALL THE TIME. There are egg eaters and then there are ones who eat each other. Get poor bloody out of there and ANYONE who has any open wounds and they will KEEP eating them. Try to watch who find out WHO is the instigator...may want to put her in the pot or find her a new home...once the behavior starts its hard to stop it. Free range them if you can.... or give them bigger space. Careful using Blue Kote...some rumors it causes breast cancer....Ive heard that too many times to use it anymore...be it fact or fiction. Toad Juice and Vet Rx can be discouragments from eating each other and help...Id put it on all your chickens and good ol fashioned neosporyin one or 2 days and bloody will heal right up over time...dont keep messing with the sores...let them scab and heal. But you gotta get bloody and other potential bloody out of there-once they get a taste for blood there is, in my expereince, no going back...and saddles dont work in that situation...you would need head to tow chicken armor! Ack!