Hen keeps getting bullied

[HarryF1]

One of my hens is unwell, she has loose stool, seems generally weaker than the other four and weights lighter, so I decided to separate her and give her extra food hoping that she's put on some weight and gain strength. The problem is that whenever I open her cage so that she can come out out for a stroll, three of the other hens constantly chase and attack her. Have you experienced a similar scenario? If yes, how have you dealt with it?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It is flock behavior at work. The flock will drive away the weaker bird to protect the flock from predators as the weak bring predators.

You can only isolate her until she is stronger than reintroduce her to the flock. She will be hazed until they accept her. How much depends on the other birds.

It can help to take one of the milder tempered birds and place a buddy with her now to integrate them both later. You will be exposing the other bird to whatever she may have...but they've likely been exposed already.

I would worm them all. Loose stool, losing weight, weak, may be from worm overload. Her system may simply be more prone to worm build up.

It could also be coccidiosis.

How old is she? How long have you had her?

Something is going on, and she needs to be treated, and likely the whole flock if worms or coccidiosis.

LofMc

 

[HarryF1]

I would worm them all. Loose stool, losing weight, weak, may be from worm overload. Her system may simply be more prone to worm build up.

It could also be coccidiosis.

How old is she? How long have you had her?

Something is going on, and she needs to be treated, and likely the whole flock if worms or coccidiosis.

LofMc

Thanks for the reply. What product would you recommend for worming them?

They're meant to be under 1 year old according to the person who I bought them from, but I'm not sure about that since they only laid 1 egg per day among the 5 of them during summer, so I suspect that they may be quite old. Is there a way to determine if it could be worms or coccidiosis?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings HarryF1,

You should take some poop samples to a vet. Have them run a 'fecal float test', this will tell you if the chickens are infected with worms or coccidiosis. The cost is nominal, I pay $10 at U.C.Davis, and $20 at the vet's office.

The hen that is being attacked, may be sick with an infection. This is why it's important to get the fecal float test done. If she doesn't have internal parasites, she most likely has an infection of some kind, and will need to be treated for that. It's not good to worm a sick chicken, as this can cause the sick chicken to go down hill quickly.

I agree with Lady of McCamley. It is common for a flock to attack a sickly member, to push out the weak or prevent disease in the flock. I am currently caring for a hen, that had that exact thing happen. She was being mounted by the oldest hen, and pecked by another when I found her, stuck half way under a ramp.

I separated her in a hospital pen on my patio, so I could observe her. I cleaned her up, and attended to her pecking wounds. She was eating, and drinking, but no egg after 2 days. Her poops looked OK. But, I know my hens and their personalities. Something was not right with her. Her eyes also looked almond shaped. So off to the vet we went.

An x-ray revealed no egg in the oviduct. So, it was determined that infection was brewing. After three days on antibiotic, she is doing great. She spends half of the day, in the hospital pen, for treatment and observation. Afternoons, out with the flock for supervised foraging. She is sleeping in the coop, in a small crate till I know she is strong enough to defend herself.

Also, anytime you get new chickens, it's good to quarantine them for a few weeks, before integrating them to an existing flock.

New Chicken Checkup:
- Examine them for internal (fecal float test) and external parasites (mites/lice).
- Check the vents for irritation, feces accumulation, or swelling.
- Check the keel bone, to see if it is sharply protruding, this indicates malnourishment.
- Look under the wings for lumps, or injury.
- Check inside the mouth for growths or discolorations.
- Feathering should be smooth.
- Leg scales should be smooth.
- Eyes should be round and glossy, bright.
- Wattles and comb are red.

These are my thoughts on your chicken's issue. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless