Hello! We have four bantam hens (white Silkie, black Cochin, and two Rhode Island Reds). They've always gotten along well with absolutely no fighting. We have a small A-frame coop and run for them, but they generally free-range around our suburban yard when we're home from work.
A couple of months ago we lost our rooster and two other hens to a fox. As our hens were constantly trying to go broody, we bought some hatching eggs from Boggy Bottom Bantams and decided to let the hens try to replenish the flock with them. By the time the eggs arrived, all four hens were broody. One had a nest to herself, and the other three were piled on top of each other in a corner of the coop sharing a nest. We went ahead and divided the eggs between the two nests; trying to wrestle some of the hens off the nest seemed like too much trouble.
They hatched four chicks between the four of them, and until yesterday were sharing the chicks quite happily. It was rather sweet to watch. Now the other three hens have formed a sudden aversion to the second RIR hen. I can't see any weakness or physical change in her, but they're all attacking her and driving her away from food, water, and the babies.
Any ideas about what might have caused the change, or possible solutions?
A couple of months ago we lost our rooster and two other hens to a fox. As our hens were constantly trying to go broody, we bought some hatching eggs from Boggy Bottom Bantams and decided to let the hens try to replenish the flock with them. By the time the eggs arrived, all four hens were broody. One had a nest to herself, and the other three were piled on top of each other in a corner of the coop sharing a nest. We went ahead and divided the eggs between the two nests; trying to wrestle some of the hens off the nest seemed like too much trouble.
They hatched four chicks between the four of them, and until yesterday were sharing the chicks quite happily. It was rather sweet to watch. Now the other three hens have formed a sudden aversion to the second RIR hen. I can't see any weakness or physical change in her, but they're all attacking her and driving her away from food, water, and the babies.
Any ideas about what might have caused the change, or possible solutions?