I returned from a 10 day vacation, and found one of my girls plucked above the rump
Does anyone know is this something she may be doing to herself. She is the only one like that I see. Is there anything I should do? She wasn't low in the pecking order when I left. Is there a disease that could cause this formation of loss?
Secondly, I found an eggshell in one of the nests. I know what that means. Is there anything I can spray on the eggs right away to make them taste bad? I would rather try to break this habit than get rid of the culprit. I noticed my turken is hanging around the nests, I do suspect her. She was even sleeping in there when the lights went out. That is odd too! Is that normal that one hen will roost in a nest?
I will be home for another 5 days, trying to take care of everything that seems to have gone askew. Enjoyed the vacation, but not coming home to new chicken challenges.
UPDATE 12/28 I went out to the coop this morning, and she won't come down from her roost, which tells me she is getting picked on, I moved this post from Behaviors to Injuries in hopes SOMEONE will help me.....Do I need to treat this? Is this many picking on her, or the rooster? Ahhhh. The changes in the dynamics of the flock after only 10 days!

Does anyone know is this something she may be doing to herself. She is the only one like that I see. Is there anything I should do? She wasn't low in the pecking order when I left. Is there a disease that could cause this formation of loss?
Secondly, I found an eggshell in one of the nests. I know what that means. Is there anything I can spray on the eggs right away to make them taste bad? I would rather try to break this habit than get rid of the culprit. I noticed my turken is hanging around the nests, I do suspect her. She was even sleeping in there when the lights went out. That is odd too! Is that normal that one hen will roost in a nest?
I will be home for another 5 days, trying to take care of everything that seems to have gone askew. Enjoyed the vacation, but not coming home to new chicken challenges.
UPDATE 12/28 I went out to the coop this morning, and she won't come down from her roost, which tells me she is getting picked on, I moved this post from Behaviors to Injuries in hopes SOMEONE will help me.....Do I need to treat this? Is this many picking on her, or the rooster? Ahhhh. The changes in the dynamics of the flock after only 10 days!