b2c2chicks
Songster
The same 20 chooks have been raised together. Come to find out, I had 7 roos and 13 hens. Everyone was getting along splendidly until 3 weeks ago. I caught a Black Copper Maran hen picking on a Lavender Orpington hen (she was trying to hide in the nest box). She had a hole in the back of her neck. So I locked her in the coop during the day for a few days to allow her to heal.
A few days later I left the coop open all day, and caught a hateful BCM roo pecking a hole in the top of her head. I’m used to his attacks on me but this time he got me pretty good when I took her away. I should’ve let the dogs have him. However, I felt sorry for him because apparently the other roosters picked on him which has made him aggressive...so I relocated him to my other flock. I’ve kept the lav orp in the basement since then, and she healed up nicely. So I put her back with the others during roost 2 nights ago.
Came out the next morning to find a BCM hen pecking another hole in the top of her head!! It almost appears as if an aggressive rooster is causing this same injury during a mount session. So I brought her back in the basement.
I am 2 weeks away from relocating to new coops, and splitting the breeds up. Do you think this will alleviate the pecking order issue? Or is it once pecked, always pecked?
A few days later I left the coop open all day, and caught a hateful BCM roo pecking a hole in the top of her head. I’m used to his attacks on me but this time he got me pretty good when I took her away. I should’ve let the dogs have him. However, I felt sorry for him because apparently the other roosters picked on him which has made him aggressive...so I relocated him to my other flock. I’ve kept the lav orp in the basement since then, and she healed up nicely. So I put her back with the others during roost 2 nights ago.
Came out the next morning to find a BCM hen pecking another hole in the top of her head!! It almost appears as if an aggressive rooster is causing this same injury during a mount session. So I brought her back in the basement.
I am 2 weeks away from relocating to new coops, and splitting the breeds up. Do you think this will alleviate the pecking order issue? Or is it once pecked, always pecked?