HENPECKING

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HHBaker

HHBaker

In the Brooder
Feb 15, 2017
8
0
15
Chriesman, TX
Hello, I am new to the group and look forward to participating. I am also new to raising chickens, but, I am learning fast! I have a problem. I have 3 Australorp hens, that have been raised together since hatching. It is almost time for them to begin laying. This morning I noticed that two of them have head injuries. One has a raw wound, and her comb is half way detached and flapping around. The other ones injury is less severe as the comb is still be attached, but a wound seems to be beginning in that area.

Why would they begin picking on each other at this late date, and what do I do about i?
 
I've never heard of such severe pecking before. You may need to separate the one that is pecking the two others until their wounds have time to heal, and try introducing her back to the flock after they have recovered. The one that is pecking the others may just be a mean, dominant hen, so you might just have to get rid of her.

Hope this helps
 
Hello,
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I haven't heard of hens pecking this badly before either at this age, especially ones that were raised together. I would do what Table4Six suggested and get rid of the bully. This will get rid of the tension and stress in your flock.
I hope your chickens get better!
 
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Those sound like some painful wounds, try posting on the ER forum for some advice on how to treat them (if you have questions about that).

Can you give us a photo with the dimensions of their coop? It's possible they've grown too large for their environment. Have they been cooped up due to winter weather or are they getting out into a run and/or free ranging?

Just trying to get a fuller understanding to try and figure out what may have brought this on.

Good luck to you, hope things settle down soon.
 
G’Day from down under HHBaker
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Welcome!

At the risk of sounding like an echo, I too have not heard of such severe injuries in hens raised together.

Besides the great advice you have already received, any chance these wounds were not inflicted by the hens themselves but by an opportunistic predator? May be a Hawk? I believe they attack the head region.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun. Unlike non chicken loving friends, family and colleagues, BYC’ers never tire of stories or pictures that feature our feathered and non feathered friends
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It's very unusual that hens raised together since hatch would behave like that. Are they free ranged or kept in an enclosed pen? If the run is covered that would eliminate raptors attacking them. If your run fencing has wide spaces between the wire, raccoons love to bite any body part they can reach. If it is one of your hens doing the damage, she would be the one that is untouched.
 

It is 8'X8'. I don't see any additional injuries this morning. I am wondering if they got their heads caught up in something, like a crack. I keep their feeder filled with non-GMO organic Layer Crumbles, I put out scraps, hen scratch and gravel daily.
 
That doesn't seem like a crammed area. Have you ever seen one of your hens pecking another really aggressively?
 
That's good. Then I would just continue to watch for any signs of aggression, but from what you've said your flock seems to be happy and healthy again.
 

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