Hens attacking each other

[enemyofmine]

hello
I have a batch of 9 mixed isa browns and rhode island reds, both a little more than 2 years old and all girls. I’ve never had problems with them until yesterday. Yesterday afternoon, six of the nine all started to attack one hen, and i had to pull her out. When I did, she had a large cut on her wing, a toe missing, a large cut on her head and a bruise on her back. Today she is not really waking up, and I can tell she has an egg stuck and she won’t open her eyes. She is throwing up and I’m not sure she’s going to last too much longer. What causes hens to do this? They have plenty of stimulation toys; i hang apples from a tree branch for them to peck at, they have a swing, and they are (mostly) free range. The only change in their environment is that last week the neighbors across the river got a rooster; they’re far enough away where he can’t get to them, but they can definitely hear him. Please help as soon as you can, I don’t want this to happen again.

 

[Aapomp831]

When chickens suddenly turn on a flock member, it’s usually because they know that particular chicken is sick / injured. It was probably already sick or injured - chickens don’t like a vulnerable flock member because it draws in predators. I would address this chickens health; it sounds like it may have sour crop if liquid is coming out of the mouth which may be why the flocked turned on her.

 

[enemyofmine]

When chickens suddenly turn on a flock member, it’s usually because they know that particular chicken is sick / injured. It was probably already sick or injured - chickens don’t like a vulnerable flock member because it draws in predators. I would address this chickens health; it sounds like it may have sour crop if liquid is coming out of the mouth which may be why the flocked turned on her.

hi !! to clarify for future replies, she wasn’t behaving sick before the attack. her throat was likely damaged when she was being attacked or when I pulled her out; the other hens had ahold of her comb and were twisting her head all around. She also has a large cut on her stomach that i found a few minutes after writing this. If she was sick prior, she didn’t act like it.

 

[Aapomp831]

hi !! to clarify for future replies, she wasn’t behaving sick before the attack. her throat was likely damaged when she was being attacked or when I pulled her out; the other hens had ahold of her comb and were twisting her head all around. She also has a large cut on her stomach that i found a few minutes after writing this. If she was sick prior, she didn’t act like it.

Hmm.. well I know that chickens go to great lengths to hide their illnesses, injuries and distress to avoid others turning on them. Have you checked her crop? I would withhold food and water overnight and make sure her crop is empty in the morning.

 

[enemyofmine]

Hmm.. well I know that chickens go to great lengths to hide their illnesses, injuries and distress to avoid others turning on them. Have you checked her crop? I would withhold food and water overnight and make sure her crop is empty in the morning.

her crop is normal and her throat is clear as well. we will see if she makes the night I guess; my biggest concern is making sure they don’t do this again.