i somehow acquired 2 runaways and i have questions. please help

[RoyalChick]

louise keeps beating thelma up.
sometimes because she doesn't want to share any treats. and sometimes for no reason at all.
any suggestions?
this time (was a for no reason at all time) i separated her because i thought she was really going to hurt her bad. but i am not sure what to do.

How badly? If blood drawn then it is an issue that needs solving. If no blood drawn it may be hard to watch but ‘tis the way of the chicken.

 

[pollipazzi]

she's been in the run for an hour by herself. is that too long? not long enough? should i have done something different?

 

[RoyalChick]

she's been in the run for an hour by herself. is that too long? not long enough? should i have done something different?

I wouldn’t separate them unless blood is drawn. By all means distract and break it up but don’t separate them or it will be worse later.

 

[pollipazzi]

How badly? If blood drawn then it is an issue that needs solving. If no blood drawn it may be hard to watch but ‘tis the way of the chicken.

no blood drawn, but i think there might have been if i didn't break it up. she was in a murderous rage! then kept going back for her like she wasn't finished yet. i have seen her peck her before but nothing so extreme.

 

[pollipazzi]

I wouldn’t separate them unless blood is drawn. By all means distract and break it up but don’t separate them or it will be worse later.

i should let her out, so?

 

[pollipazzi]

thank you for being here so fast. i was fretting.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Pecking order can be brutal, but if they aren’t drawing blood I’d leave them be.

Also, she may be detecting an illness in Thelma, that’s why my #2 hen went after my head hen.

 

[pollipazzi]

what do you do if they do draw blood?

i hope thelma isn't sick

 

[pollipazzi]

she doesn't seem sick. i know that doesn't necessarily mean she isn't.
but it seems more like greed.

 

[RoyalChick]

i should let her out, so?

I would let her out and observe but don’t separate unless there is blood drawn.
I hate to say this, but you do need more chickens!