Help with aggressive hen

[Wyatt0224]

I rinsed it off but I wasn't quite sure what to use on it..I googled a bit and found a chicken with identical injuries and I think they were using Underwood. I'm not confident that I can find that but I will see what they have at the feed store tomorrow. Anything specific I should be looking for? She is also currently isolated in a quiet spot.
I didn't even really want her - I was trying to get 2 wyandotte pullets but she said she couldn't find the other pullet so she handed me that hen instead and assured me she was a good layer. I had driven 30 min to get them and I didn't really feel like arguing so I agreed.

That just seems weird. It sounds like the previous owner might've pulled a fast one on you. I would tell the feed store you situation and see what they say about it. I'm not a medical expert so I have no idea what kind of medicine you're supposed to use but I do know with any wound you should clean it out. Having her isolated is also good. What are you going to do with her now? (The older hen)

 

[kristan72]

I'm generally pretty good with wounds...my aunt was a vet tech and I've treated some pretty nasty horse and dog injuries..and snakes, I feel pretty comfortable with reptile injuries.... but I've just never really tried to treat a chicken. I'm not sure what to do with the older hen yet. I will probably try her out and see what happens...my rooster won't let her get away with too much. It she continues to be aggressive she will probably make a fine chicken dinner.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What I think happened is you were given two birds of different clutches or groups and the two birds didn't hang out together or even know each other too much. The bigger bird did what was natural to her and she attacked the smaller one who couldn't get away, once blood is drawn chickens will keep pecking.

I wouldn't blame the white hen as she did what many chickens would do in the same situation.

Chickens can heal up from pretty nasty wounds, if she doesn't appear to be suffering I might see how it goes, if you can see her spine it's probably best to cull her.

Next time try to make sure you get birds that were raised together and preferably ones that hang out together. Sorry, I have seen such behaviors and the wounds are disturbing.

 

[billygoat162]

I'm a fan of blue kote, but I've never used it on an injury that severe. After dealing with an aggressive hen for a couple months, I've lost a lot of patience with bullying. You could try pinless peepers, but the only thing that's been effective for me is letting a broody beat the snot out of the hen for getting too close to her chicks. She won't go near the broody or her chicks now, or any of the pullets that were near the broody for that matter, even for scratch. I'm guessing a very attentive and protective rooster could have the same effect, but my broody really did have to chase the mean hen for a few solid minutes on more than one occasion before she learned.

 

[kristan72]

Thanks everyone for the input. The previous owner offered me a different pullet from another clutch to compensate me. However I do believe that the white hen was not raised with the pullet as was already stated, plus the pullet is very gentle....just a bad combination. The pullet is still alive and, despite looking horrible, is behaving pretty normally do we'll see what happens. Plus I don't want to make the 30 min drive again just to pick up one chicken.

 

[kristan72]

Just wanted to let everyone know that, despite looking absolutely horrible, this hen healed up fine with minimal assistance from me. She is now laying and has become quite the bossy little hen. I also still have the white hen that did the pecking and she is pretty placid...probably one of my more laid back hens. Weird.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you for the update, I'm very glad to hear things are doing well. It's funny how they have switched roles a bit.