Hen fights

[gossamer]

Hello. I had three hens. Two orpingtons and one Rhode Island red. A little back story is that one of my orpington's has been broody for a couple weeks. Yesterday, my RIR hen passed away abruptly overnight she was my oldest girl. No sign of trauma. She was the leader of the brood. This am I went out to the coop and the broody hen was off the nest pecking the other hens comb. I work at a vet clinic so I took her to work and got her fixed up. I have them separated. Where do I go from here? I assembled an outdoor run that I can use tomorrow. It is to storm here all night. For now I have the injured hen in r house. Thanks!
Jessica

 

[Jener8or]

I'm assuming you aren't allowed to keep a rooster? I feel like my hens rarely fight since there is a rooster around (you'd want more hens, of course, too). But with the passing of your RIR (which I am sorry to hear about) they are probably just reestablishing their pecking order, especially since the RIR was the leader.

Once the hen-pecked one is feeling fine (all healed) I would just let them sort it out under supervision. They should work things out and hopefully everything is peaceful in the hen house after that!

You might have to give them some more alone time if that one is still cranky, but best wishes for your flock!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Between the passing of the head hen and the fact that broodies have hormones on overdrive, they were probably fighting over their placement in the shifting pecking order.

Unless the damage to the comb was severe I personally wouldn't have separated them unless they wouldn't stop going after each other. Comb injuries bleed a LOT but most birds recover from comb damage very fast. They will need to fight out the pecking order at some point one way or another.

 

[aart]

Between the passing of the head hen and the fact that broodies have hormones on overdrive, they were probably fighting over their placement in the shifting pecking order.

Unless the damage to the comb was severe I personally wouldn't have separated them unless they wouldn't stop going after each other. Comb injuries bleed a LOT but most birds recover from comb damage very fast. They will need to fight out the pecking order at some point one way or another.

Ditto Dat!

Was the broody setting on eggs..if so, how far along was she and did she go back to her nest?

 

[gossamer]

Thanks for your input. My broody hen was not sitting on eggs. She is up and about now. The comb damage was pretty bad. Will keep you posted.
Thank you
Jessica

 

[gossamer]

No rooster's for now. Jessica

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since you're not hatching I'd break the broody for peace in the flock (and would do the same if she goes broody again in the future, if there's no plan for chicks). She might break anyway due to stress with the changes in the pecking order.

 

[Mrs. K]

Get them back together ASAP. Separating birds causes a lot of problems. However, now would be a good time to put the hen in a broody breaker in coop/run. Together but separate. I think when the broodyness is gone they will be fine together.

If she is not hatching eggs, you need to either break her, or give her a day old chick if you can get one.

 

[gossamer]

Will adding a chick cause more drama? How do I go about doing that?
Ty
Jessica

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will adding a chick cause more drama? How do I go about doing that?

Depends on how you plan on adding it. If you're going to tuck it under the broody, that's one route, though you must be prepared to raise it yourself in case she does not accept it.

If you plan on raising it yourself, then you will need an integration plan for adding it to the flock as chickens will more readily accept newcomers with an extended introduction period and ample space, feeders and clutters to maintain the peace.

In either of the above cases it's not recommended to add only 1 bird. 3 is the usual recommended "minimum" recommended (in case something happens to one along the way).