Henicide, Self-Defense, or Accidental Henslaughter?

[ShotgunDog]

I'd like to hear your thoughts on a recent event with my all-girl flock. My girls have just wrapped up their first adult molt, and it appears to have upset the pecking order. My flock has always been very 'chlll' with each other, and most of the time there didn't even seem to be a particular pecking order. The exception was that Molly was definitely the top hen and she kept the others in line. However, Molly seemed to be the last one to finish her molt and she hasn't yet come back into lay. She slipped from the top, all the way to the bottom. She was so distraught that she began roosting in the nesting boxes (something I have not had a problem with ever). And there has been a good bit of tension in the flock--little spats breaking out here and there, more squawking, etc. Recently there was a particularly loud fight that broke out, but as usual, it was over in 2 seconds, so I did not investigate. That night, when I went to close in the girls for the night, one was missing. I found Annie dead in the chicken yard with what I believe was a broken neck (rigor mortis had begun to set in, but there was movement in only one place in her neck). It definitely was not a predator, there was no other sign of trauma (no feathers missing, no blood...nothing). It had to have been a flockmate that did it, and I'm about 99% sure that is what I heard earlier in the day. I'm still not sure if I'm glad I did not investiate when it happened, or regretful (could I have prevented her death, or would I have found her gasping for her last breath?). Anyway, since the 'event' my flock is, once again, very 'chill' with each other. Molly is now roosting with the other girls and they are all very quiet and content like before. Could Annie have been an instigator, creating tension and stirring things up? Have any of you had experience with a fight breaking out to the point of death? I will say, they are not over-crowded (they have lots of room and this fight happened outside in a very large fenced in area). They are well-fed, plenty of water, open space, etc. They are very well cared for...a bit spoiled, actually. So, what are your thoughts? Do I have a murderer among them, or did Annie's death possibly resolve an issue? Thank you in advance!

 

[saysfaa]

I don't know. My best guess is that Molly just let things go while she didn't feel so well (from the molting) and didn't have a lot of hormones circulating (from the not laying). As she recovered, she started wanting her top spot back.

Meanwhile, Annie discovered she liked being higher in rank than Molly. So they contended for the higher rank. I deliberately said contended rather than fought because most of the contention would be nonphysical unless they were closely matched in strength of will. And maybe also in political skill.

My guess is Annie's neck was broken by accident. It may have been while they were physically fighting but that Molly was not trying to do that; she was just trying to convince Annie to give way.

It does sound like Annie's neck was broken; in that case, there is nothing you could have done if you had been there.

I've not heard of one chicken killing another that way (doesn't mean it has never happened). I think when they kill each other outright, it is usually by pecking or raking each other with their spurs or claws, maybe. But a push while the spine was in just the wrong position would probably break without a whole lot of pressure.

 

[ShotgunDog]

I don't know. My best guess is that Molly just let things go while she didn't feel so well (from the molting) and didn't have a lot of hormones circulating (from the not laying). As she recovered, she started wanting her top spot back.

Meanwhile, Annie discovered she liked being higher in rank than Molly. So they contended for the higher rank. I deliberately said contended rather than fought because most of the contention would be nonphysical unless they were closely matched in strength of will. And maybe also in political skill.

My guess is Annie's neck was broken by accident. It may have been while they were physically fighting but that Molly was not trying to do that; she was just trying to convince Annie to give way.

It does sound like Annie's neck was broken; in that case, there is nothing you could have done if you had been there.

I've not heard of one chicken killing another that way (doesn't mean it has never happened). I think when they kill each other outright, it is usually by pecking or raking each other with their spurs or claws, maybe. But a push while the spine was in just the wrong position would probably break without a whole lot of pressure.

Thank you for your reply. Annie was found under a young cedar tree, the lowest branches probably being just a bit above the height of a chicken's head. I was thinking along the same lines as you--that maybe a push, a jump, or a twist in just the right way could have resulted in an injury of this type--perhaps even against a low branch. Either way, though, I appreciate your thoughts and insights, which helps to reaffirm my thoughts as well (and makes me feel loads better about not having a murderer amongst them!). I have cameras on my chickens and ran the batteries to the point of empty while checking on them after the incident! When I check on them now, though, they are just quietly and calmly doing their 'chicken stuff.'

 

[Ridgerunner]

When there is a change in the pecking order, especially if it involves the dominant chicken, you can have fighting and skirmishing as it sorts itself out. Different flocks handle this different ways, some more physical than others.

You read about this a lot when it is roosters involved but it applies to hens as well when there are no roosters in the flock. If the dominant chicken gets dethroned the one that overthrew them sometimes takes a strong dislike to the loser. They do not give them a chance to regain the throne. They may run them out of the flock or even kill them. With that hen sleeping in a nest I think some of this might have been going on.

It sounds like her neck was broken. I've had that happen twice. I did not see either of them happen but my guess is that one was trying to get away from another chicken and banged into something in her panic. I'm pretty sure one was a hen trying to get away from an amorous rooster. I'm not sure what happened with the other but maybe something similar. No apparent injuries on either other than a broken neck.

 

[ShotgunDog]

When there is a change in the pecking order, especially if it involves the dominant chicken, you can have fighting and skirmishing as it sorts itself out. Different flocks handle this different ways, some more physical than others.

You read about this a lot when it is roosters involved but it applies to hens as well when there are no roosters in the flock. If the dominant chicken gets dethroned the one that overthrew them sometimes takes a strong dislike to the loser. They do not give them a chance to regain the throne. They may run them out of the flock or even kill them. With that hen sleeping in a nest I think some of this might have been going on.

It sounds like her neck was broken. I've had that happen twice. I did not see either of them happen but my guess is that one was trying to get away from another chicken and banged into something in her panic. I'm pretty sure one was a hen trying to get away from an amorous rooster. I'm not sure what happened with the other but maybe something similar. No apparent injuries on either other than a broken neck.

Wow--thank you. I knew there can be competition in establishing the order, but I had no idea that the dethroner could be so aggressive to the dethroned. Molly was so proud and strong and it was so sad to see her become so timid. And I had no idea what the whole "roosting in the box" was all about. So thank you for that!