Hen pecking and bloody combs

[gander007]

Always

gander007

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[RichtmanRanch]

They are in a draft free coop. What are pin less peepers? Are they like blinders for a horse? My hen, Dottie, is doing better, I put blukote on, which was an experience in and of itself. But when I put her back two other hens pecked at her comb right away. I have a red light in there but there is also plenty of natural light too. They were all rather feisty today. There is one 2x4 perch and there is also space for them to hop on top of one of the nest boxes. I put a kitty litter box with sand in it for them to take a bath. They really get into it The temps will be warm for the next 3-4 days for them to go outside, but then we get a real cold snap again. Dottie is laying so perhaps that is part of the reason for her read comb

 

[drumstick diva]

do the two hens that have been pecked at- get along with each other? Maybe you could separate the two walking wounded from the two others, for awhile. If would give one group the chance to heal and the other group a chance to forget they were being mean.

I don't think the nest box is the cause for this behavior. Usually chickens like to use the same nest box even if there are several, identical ones. They either wait in line to use the favorite box or just climb in on top of the present resident and lay an egg on top of her. How rude?

Maybe the breed of hens you have is an aggressive one and they don't need a reason to bully.

 

[RichtmanRanch]

I have 4 different hens, RIR, buff orpington, barred rock, and a California white (which I think is a variation of leghorn). They were never aggressive until around the time they started laying. They are using both nest boxes now. But I have also noticed them "waiting in line" or even trying to kick the current bird out. But it seems to be less of an issue now they they have two options.

The two getting pecked at I guess get along alright, I would say they are in the middle of the pecking order. However the top hen and the lowest hen get along just fine. Its weird. I hope that things will even out, but I think my next step will be to separate the dominate girls for a few days. The hardest hit hen seems to be just fine, the blukote seems to be working for now.