- May 10, 2013
- 80
- 7
- 43
hello. This week, we shifted the power balance in our (mixed) flock drastically. I culled 4 of my oldest hens, and introduced 3 new pullets as soon as the old ones were gone. First several days went fine, but yesterday, my husband looked out and saw that the girls had one of the oldest remaining hens down on the ground and were beating the snot out of her. He wasn't sure which one, since when he broke it up she got up and ran off. Everyone roosted together fine. But this morning, I found her lying in a corner of the run and acting almost inert. When I pulled her out, I discovered it must've been her that got mugged, since she has many broken feathers and some impressive (quarter size +) scabs. I separated her for a while, treated her scabbed spots with vetericyn. I thought it might go okay to reintegrate later, and it did for 4 or 5 hours, but then they were all at her again (not the newbies, but the ones just younger than her). At least two of them cornered her and just attacked. Do I pull out both of them and see how she does with everyone else? Or pull out both of them and keep her separated too? Help! If it was just one aggressor, I'd know what to do, but it's at least two, and maybe more! Please help poor Lina. She's a sweet girl and one of my very best layers.
