Hen is suddenly attacking other hen

[crissy1079]

My Australorp had suddenly started attacking my little bantam girl. She is constantly going after her and it looks like she wants to kill her. She jump on top of her with all her weight and pecks her head untill I stop it. They are separated now because I can’t constantly be out there watching.

So here’s some back story. I have a flock of bantam and full size hens they have all gotten along and have lived together around 2-3 years. They free range all day. In the past 2 months I’ve lost 2 hens. Then this bantam jumped the fence went to the neighbors yard and got attacked by a predator and had a big gash on her neck and wing. Well she was inside healing. After healing I put her in the large dog crate in the coop to re introduce her. Well every time I try and let her out my Australop who I have never had a problem with goes straight after her viciously. I tried locking up my bantam back in the cage a few days but every time I try and let her out she gets attacked. So now I’ve put my Austrlorp in the cage and left the bantam out. And the rest of the flock is completely fine with the bantam. So it’s just the Australop. I’m not sure what to do. I can’t constantly be outside watching them and it’s not fare one has to live in a cage. If I get a few new hens could that possibly help the situation? I thought maybe flock balance is off after I lost the 2 a few months ago and maybe after the one was injured it did something to make my Australop aggressive. It really looks like she wants to kill her.

 

[azygous]

Keeping the Australorp in the cage during the day for a few days won't hurt.

Getting new chickens will upset the social order the same as removing a chicken to treat her. The social order is upset and needs to reorder each time there is a change. Getting new chickens is never a solution to anything other than satisfying the need to increase your flock for the sake of more chickens.

Is the bantam still healing? Any wounds still visible? If so, that could be a reason why the Australorp wants to remove the bantam. Her size could also enter into it, and if she is still feeling weak from the attack, her behavior can also be a factor along with visible wounds.

You might consider, instead of a cage, a dedicated pen within your run to ease a chicken back into the social order slowly and safely. This article of mine on bullying might give you additional understanding of this issue. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

 

[crissy1079]

Keeping the Australorp in the cage during the day for a few days won't hurt.

Getting new chickens will upset the social order the same as removing a chicken to treat her. The social order is upset and needs to reorder each time there is a change. Getting new chickens is never a solution to anything other than satisfying the need to increase your flock for the sake of more chickens.

Is the bantam still healing? Any wounds still visible? If so, that could be a reason why the Australorp wants to remove the bantam. Her size could also enter into it, and if she is still feeling weak from the attack, her behavior can also be a factor along with visible wounds.

You might consider, instead of a cage, a dedicated pen within your run to ease a chicken back into the social order slowly and safely. This article of mine on bullying might give you additional understanding of this issue. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

She is healed no visible signs of weakness either. I just thought new chickens would take the pressure off her, distract my mean girl from wanted to attack her all the time. So far I’m trying the dog crate for a few days.