This morning let the hens out of the coop without mishap, or noticing anything off. Returned to clean coop around noon, and the Buff Orphington is hiding under the roost. She came out, and was talking a bit. I put her on the roost, checked a few basics-- she feels like she's lost weight, but crop felt empty (not squishy or water filled) Comb is red, and upright, eyes are bright. No discharges or injuries. She does have a very loose poop, pretty much liquid-- but normal color. At that point, my most timid hen, came into the coop and attacked the other hen. Knocked her off the roost, on top of her flapping and pecking. The Buff Orphington did not seem to offer any resistance, I had to get that other hen off her. She remained puffed up and threatening to attack again so I kicked her out of the coop.
I know chickens are pretty vicious when another hen is vulnerable but this suprised me, and of course confirmed Buffy is not well. I've put her in a hospital cage, with layer pellets, a bit of scrambled egg drizzled with pedialyte vitamins, and water laced with vitamins/electrolytes. With no clear "problem" I'm not sure what else to do but supportive care.
This hen has not laid in more than a year. Her comb is red, and she occasionally demonstrates the submissive squat like a layer will. But she doesn't lay. If memory serves, she's probably 4 years old. She laid well at 1 and reasonably well at 2 but no eggs last year or this year.
The timid hen that attacked her is not attacking the others, and has never demonstrated a hint of aggression before.
I know chickens are pretty vicious when another hen is vulnerable but this suprised me, and of course confirmed Buffy is not well. I've put her in a hospital cage, with layer pellets, a bit of scrambled egg drizzled with pedialyte vitamins, and water laced with vitamins/electrolytes. With no clear "problem" I'm not sure what else to do but supportive care.
This hen has not laid in more than a year. Her comb is red, and she occasionally demonstrates the submissive squat like a layer will. But she doesn't lay. If memory serves, she's probably 4 years old. She laid well at 1 and reasonably well at 2 but no eggs last year or this year.
The timid hen that attacked her is not attacking the others, and has never demonstrated a hint of aggression before.