Hen Fights - Help!

[BogFlock]

New Mumma to nine six-month old ladies: three RI Reds, three Rocks, three Buffs. All raised together from days old, first three months in our spare bedroom (MA Winters/Springs are cold!) before transitioning to their outdoor coop/run. All are laying beautifully. A few weeks ago I noticed one of the Rockies looked like she was missing feathers (they looked shorter) above her tail and a couple of days later she had a quarter sized hole in her side. I quickly separated, treated the wound daily and switched to a higher protein food - she healed up very quickly with lots of new feather growth. We tried to reintegrate our healed up Norma into the run this morning and all was well for about ten minutes until one of the Reds picked a fight with her. Before I could jump in to break it up another Red joined in attacking Norma. So, Norma is currently back on her own and we're unsure of how to proceed from here. Any/all advice would be so very appreciated!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You should never totally remove a bird if possible. You will probably need to separate by a fence for a bit and hopefully they will work it out through the fence. How big is their area? Pecking, and aggression can be from a lack of space and exercise too.

 

[ronott1]

She needs to be integrated again

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/

 

[BogFlock]

She needs to be integrated again

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/

This info was great - thank you. We'll move her XL wire dog crate up against the run in the morning. We're currently in the process of building a huge upgrade in run space (10x size). Should definitely make the girls much more happy and relaxed.

 

[BogFlock]

You should never totally remove a bird if possible. You will probably need to separate by a fence for a bit and hopefully they will work it out through the fence. How big is their area? Pecking, and aggression can be from a lack of space and exercise too.

Thank you - very much a learning experiences!

 

[drumstick diva]

OR you could put the offenders into solitary confinement in crates to let them cool off.
When you return them to the flock in a couple days or more they will have lower standing.

IF it is a persistent problem you can get "pinless peepers," to put on them. The peepers keep them from seeing straight ahead so their aim is off. Also they will be mad about the peepers and forget about their prior victim.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you - very much a learning experiences!

There's always something new to learn with chickens. After 20 years I'm still learning stuff.

 

[aart]

We're currently in the process of building a huge upgrade in run space (10x size).

That's good!
But....how big is coop and run, in feet by feet, now?
Dimensions and pics are very helpful.

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