Help! The predator is one of my hens..

[CrazyTalk]

Crowding definitely isn't the issue then.

 

[nayeli]

I am having trouble with my black laced Wyandot, Shirley. She is a bully to the other hens when the rooster is mating them. She stays next to the rooster wherever he is and she pecks the hens' heads during the mating process. This morning, I noticed one of my Easter Eggers was running into the run to get away from such an attack occurring in the covered coop. She appeared to be hobbling and this attack occurred again only worse. Shirley got another hen involved too and when the rooster got off then Shirley jumped on her back and continued to peck her. I shooed them all away. My Easter Egger, Zsa Zsa, just laid on her side. I didn't know what to do but I picked her up and removed her from the others and placed her in our 'chicken jail,' a large dog cage in the yard. Please advise. Should I isolate Shirley, the bully instead?

I'm so sorry you lost her! I think it was probably due to Shirley! I would isolate her and if when you add her back it continues I'd rehome her and might even suggest she be turned into food (I can't kill my animals personally =/). I might also supervise the flock and flick her when she goes for another hen.. not to seriously damage her but chickens are smarter than we give them credit for! I think she could be taught...

 

[EIEIOchick]

Okay. Flick her with my hand? Right now she seems very humbled in the cage. I wonder if she has enough room. It's a 3'x4' cage, 3' tall. We have a roost in it and food and water, of course, but no nesting box. I'm not sure she's laying right now anyway as she's finishing up a molt.

 

[nayeli]

Okay. Flick her with my hand? Right now she seems very humbled in the cage. I wonder if she has enough room. It's a 3'x4' cage, 3' tall. We have a roost in it and food and water, of course, but no nesting box. I'm not sure she's laying right now anyway as she's finishing up a molt.

I usually just push them away with my hand... I think flick was the wrong word but I would softly thump her chest with my finger and tell her no! Is the cage a shared one or did you seperate her out? Them being crowded can cause aggression.. but if she is only doing it when the rooster mates them I don't think that is the issue.

 

[EIEIOchick]

She is alone in the dog crate which we have placed inside the floor of the coop for her protection from predators. The rest roam in and out of the coop and the large run during the day.

 

[chicmom]

TY chicmom! I feel so badly as I should have paid attention sooner and maybe I could have prevented the loss of life. Hard lesson.

Don't blame yourself....sometimes you just don't notice these things until a problem arises. And I think almost every chicken owner here has had a different problem pop up at one time or another.....