hens dying from being pecked

[loanwizard]

Additionally, a talon would leave a "peck" looking puncture.

 

[BOrion]

Thank you all so much for your advice. The first one attacked has been on antibiotics for about 36 hrs. now and isn't really showing improvement. I stopped force feeding her today, but am holding water up to her and she is drinking a little.
I do believe in putting animals out of their misery, but have only had goats and dogs, and have always had a vet do it. Seems silly to take my chicken in and I haven't been able to figure out how to do it myself.

We do have hawks here, but since I have seen no feathers, I guess I figured it was another hen. Seems like it would be a rather brave, stupid or young (which we do have) hawk to attack with goats and a guard puppy (not very intimidating yet) on duty. The hens do free range during the day, but the area is pretty protected by trees and a four ft fence. Still easy enough for a hawk.

 

[BOrion]

Thank you all so much for your advice. The first one attacked has been on antibiotics for about 36 hrs. now and isn't really showing improvement. I stopped force feeding her today, but am holding water up to her and she is drinking a little.
I do believe in putting animals out of their misery, but have only had goats and dogs, and have always had a vet do it. Seems silly to take my chicken in and I haven't been able to figure out how to do it myself.

We do have hawks here, but since I have seen no feathers, I guess I figured it was another hen. Seems like it would be a rather brave, stupid or young (which we do have) hawk to attack with goats and a guard puppy (not very intimidating yet) on duty. The hens do free range during the day, but the area is pretty protected by trees and a four ft fence. Still easy enough for a hawk.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Thank you all so much for your advice. The first one attacked has been on antibiotics for about 36 hrs. now and isn't really showing improvement. I stopped force feeding her today, but am holding water up to her and she is drinking a little.
I do believe in putting animals out of their misery, but have only had goats and dogs, and have always had a vet do it. Seems silly to take my chicken in and I haven't been able to figure out how to do it myself.

We do have hawks here, but since I have seen no feathers, I guess I figured it was another hen. Seems like it would be a rather brave, stupid or young (which we do have) hawk to attack with goats and a guard puppy (not very intimidating yet) on duty. The hens do free range during the day, but the area is pretty protected by trees and a four ft fence. Still easy enough for a hawk.

If you have trees a Coopers Hawk will use them to get closer and ambush a lone bird. I have trees and have seen them watching my flock. My cockerel is pretty good about getting them to safety before it attacks, but I know the day will come when I loose one to a hawk. Ground predators are deterred by my large dog, but aireal attack only my roo can deal with that.

 

[soler]

I only put forward the hawk idea because of what happened to me - i would not have guessed my hen's injury to be from a hawk had the gardener not been there to see it happen (and he didn't stop it!!!). It might not be the case for yours. Mine was either a cooper's hawk or sharp shinned hawk. They are very mobile around trees and branches and occasionally catch the mourning doves at the feeders (which i have relocated far away).

Anyways!

36 hours is not very long on the antibiotics - i think you should maybe try a little longer, give her a chance. Did you check her body for puncture woulds? they can be hard to see under the feathers. MY hen fully recovered and i never put her on antibiotics, but i got to the wounds right away with iodine and neosporin and kept an eye on them. I gave her electrolytes, vitamins and probiotics to help her out, and isolated her, keeping her in peace in a darker spot in the garage with a mirror in the cage (to feel less lonely). I have had chickens recover on me that i really thought were spoken for - they can make a turnaround!

Can you describe in more detail what the symptoms are now?

 

[TheReadyBoys]

My hens are pecking another hen, too. Although, the pecking is on it's back. It could be some form of dominance in the group. The biggest hens in my flock enjoy to pick on the smaller ones. I don't know what to tell you, but just to keep a very close eye on them all, and you may be able to find out what hen(s) are pecking. Sorry for the losses.

 

[BOrion]

I only put forward the hawk idea because of what happened to me - i would not have guessed my hen's injury to be from a hawk had the gardener not been there to see it happen (and he didn't stop it!!!). It might not be the case for yours. Mine was either a cooper's hawk or sharp shinned hawk. They are very mobile around trees and branches and occasionally catch the mourning doves at the feeders (which i have relocated far away).

Anyways!

36 hours is not very long on the antibiotics - i think you should maybe try a little longer, give her a chance. Did you check her body for puncture woulds? they can be hard to see under the feathers. MY hen fully recovered and i never put her on antibiotics, but i got to the wounds right away with iodine and neosporin and kept an eye on them. I gave her electrolytes, vitamins and probiotics to help her out, and isolated her, keeping her in peace in a darker spot in the garage with a mirror in the cage (to feel less lonely). I have had chickens recover on me that i really thought were spoken for - they can make a turnaround!

Can you describe in more detail what the symptoms are now?

My first hen is barely standing. Can hardly keep her head up or steady. Very, very thin. I have been feeding her with a syringe for three days. Just stopped today. I'm putting water to her beak and she drinks a little. Thought maybe I was being cruel to keep feeding her. She is the one on antibiotics now for about 40 hrs.
The second one I found this morning has two holes in her head and has probably lost an eye. She is up and eating and drinking. I don't think I'll lose her, unless I can't stop the bully. But the first one I'm very concerned about. I've been keeping her in the coop at night (in a dog crate so she can be with the others)and in the secured run alone, but now with the other injured hen. Guess I'll put them together in the crate tonight. Should I start force feeding the first one again?

 

[soler]

What are her injuries? Just pecking? I am surprised she's not eating by herself after three days.

Have you tried mixed her feed with yogurt and some water and extra vitamins? or some scrambled eggs or just raw egg yolks. A lot of the experts here recommend that. Maybe you need to really get her interested. What is the antibiotic you are using? It might be making her stomach unsteady and not want to eat.

 

[CTL7]

I don't know what you are feeding her, but I wouldn't think force feeding would be bad if you are gentle. I've had to force feed a couple of my hens that got sick and wouldn't eat, and I've force fed a chick that wouldn't eat. They all lived. Here are a few things you might try feeding her to give her some strength, it's worked for my birds. Chicken broth, I know, weird, but it really works, the best way is to buy your own chicken and boil it with a little salt and butter and any other herbs you might add for flavor. You can freeze it and use it in alot of recipies too. Egg yolk is another thing that is really good, either raw or boiled, and mix it with some water, and sometimes I add powdered milk to it also. Another thing that is recomended, is a childrens vitamin, Poly vi sol, you put it in their water, or give them a few drops straight. I hope they get better.

 

[BOrion]

I don't know what you are feeding her, but I wouldn't think force feeding would be bad if you are gentle. I've had to force feed a couple of my hens that got sick and wouldn't eat, and I've force fed a chick that wouldn't eat. They all lived. Here are a few things you might try feeding her to give her some strength, it's worked for my birds. Chicken broth, I know, weird, but it really works, the best way is to buy your own chicken and boil it with a little salt and butter and any other herbs you might add for flavor. You can freeze it and use it in alot of recipies too. Egg yolk is another thing that is really good, either raw or boiled, and mix it with some water, and sometimes I add powdered milk to it also. Another thing that is recomended, is a childrens vitamin, Poly vi sol, you put it in their water, or give them a few drops straight. I hope they get better.

What are her injuries? Just pecking? I am surprised she's not eating by herself after three days.

Have you tried mixed her feed with yogurt and some water and extra vitamins? or some scrambled eggs or just raw egg yolks. A lot of the experts here recommend that. Maybe you need to really get her interested. What is the antibiotic you are using? It might be making her stomach unsteady and not want to eat.

I've been feeding her yogurt and applesauce. The only thing I can draw up in a syringe. I've tried eggs, oatmeal, softened layer food, meat of all kinds, peanut butter, just about everything in the kitchen. But....I have not tried chicken broth. She's so thin, and just lays her head down on her neck bone, or on my hand. So sad.