Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Sometimes the head feathers and combs can be damaged by a cockerel figuring out how to hold on when mating also.I am seeing little holes on combs, tiny head feathers missing and nose injuries. Nothing too serious.
I know this thread is a month old, but I was about to post a new thread and decided to reply here. My crew of ladies are acting bonkers lately. I have 10 girls and one maturing cockerel. 7 of the 10 hens are about to be a year old, 2 are around 8 months and 1 is 5 months. Other than the occasional pecking order "reminder", there have been no serious aggression among them. A few weeks ago, the 7 older ladies started randomly fighting with eachother. The fights were not prevoked, just random stare downs followed by neck stretching and spiky feathers, then blam, flat out jumping at eachother. I am seeing little holes on combs, tiny head feathers missing and nose injuries. Nothing too serious. It didn't make sense to me, until I read this thread. I think the coming of Spring with the addition of a crowing cockerel, may have them competing and being hormonal. They are laying great and noone is broody. After reading this thread, I have decided to just let them be and just spray their little injuries when needed. Maybe add some things in various parts of the yard to keep them occupied. Suggestions??Sorry you're ladies are going at it!
Welcome to spring and raging hormones plus maturity.. they may be vying for top spot in the flock..
to me, and having kept roosters as well.. separating prolongs the fight.. and if done without sight of each other may actually intensify it. Let them work it out.. it rarely if ever truly results in death.. a little blood is not nearly as scary as it looks! They are equally matched, Same skin thickness, strength, wits, etc.. and should have this worked out within a few days if not sooner.
Remove one bully or one victim and there will often be another target.
Make plenty of obstacles to break up the direct line of sight, add in extra feeders, or other enrichment, and have plenty of escape routes so nobody gets cornered,
Of course I would keep an eye out make sure everybody makes it back to roost, Even the roosters (and cockerels) *usually* work it out and live more or less happily ever after. Chickens are literally always looking to one up the other and get what the other has..
One way to create diversion and cohesion.. give them something to fear/fight together.. If I got my broom after the boys when they were fighting their new focus (short term) was the broom and not the flock mate, they could care less about me. If I can see an obvious and relentless aggressor verses the one just standing their ground and trying not to get beat up.. then I will put the chase to them.. let them get their run on and redirect the focus.
Fence fighting results in injuries with no clear winner and no clear loser.. while "look but don't touch" is great option for integrating and protecting new, juvenile, or injured birds (all are usually scared and have no reason to fight) most of the time.. with both birds being strong and having claim to the same territory already, this may not be the right time for that tool.
Time is your best tool in this instance AND according to MY experience. The blood very likely looks worse than it is.. When they're mad, they're hot and every little scratch bleeds what looks like a large amount, because to most of us ANY is a large amount. Yes they may lose some comb or wattle.. it happens, even in the best managed flocks and they heal usually without any issue or assistance.. Full actual maturity doesn't come until closer to 18 months +. Live with anybody 10 months, it's enough to cause some tension.
Hope this helps ease your fear and gets your flock back together sooner than later!
Give it time together first.. worst comes to worst.. some people have successfully used a product called Peepers.
ETA: change up the territory some *might* help.. take out old stuff, move things around, add something new, turn a shovel of dirt.
i have them both separated ones in a dog kennel the other outside the fenceGet them outta line of sight of one and other. They could really injure themselves on the fence.
I feel you. I've 47 and several acres reserved to them, 11 are roos. Each roo has his own pack of ladies, 2, 3, 5 - and they spread out all over the property, then crow at one another. Partly my fault, I took out the top three Roos all at once last culling, about 2 weeks back. This week, I plan to take 5-6 more males plus 2-3 females, and force another mix of the pecking order.Great comments and observations from everyone!
My hens have been acting bat**** the last two weeks, and I mean truly bat****!! The lead hen was knocked off her pedestal leading to a cascade of flying feathers, and general nastiness. I’ve kept the wound spray at the ready, since ”it” actually does roll downhill. Pecking order, indeed!
My chickens have divided themselves into two flocks. One stays inside the pen with Rocky (barred rock roo), the other free ranges with Walter (RIR roo). The only time they all get along is bed time, and first thing in the morning when they are eating. That’s just weird. Then, there’s looking over 2 acres for eggs. . . . but that’s for another post.