Just a rant...First-first hand observation of chicken savagery!

[petrel]

Wow, I'd read on BYC that chickens were ruthless to the weak and injured, but I thought my harmonious little flock was immune. I was very wrong! Even though my Delaware hen is one of the biggest hens, and they are all the same age, she has been singled out and chased since she suffered from pasty butt as a chick.

Sometime late Saturday afternoon one of them tore the base of her waddles so badly that she turned the entire run and herself into a blood spattered mess! The other members of the flock were taking turns pecking at any place on her now blood soaked head!

We pulled her out and it must have taken a half an hour to stop the bleeding and clean her up. When I went to return her, in hopes of finding the main offender and isolating her, four hens were waiting for her at the gate! Fortunately, once they inspected her thoroughly and could not find a juicy spot to attack, they lost interest and things returned to normal occasional harassment with no clear leader.

My Delaware hen seems fine today, but I'm not feeling the love for the rest of my flock right now. If they hadn't given me 12 eggs today I wouldn't even be speaking to them. Doggoned bunch of cutthroats!

 

[Manningjw]

Wow, I'd read on BYC that chickens were ruthless to the weak and injured, but I thought my harmonious little flock was immune. I was very wrong! Even though my Delaware hen is one of the biggest hens, and they are all the same age, she has been singled out and chased since she suffered from pasty butt as a chick.

Sometime late Saturday afternoon one of them tore the base of her waddles so badly that she turned the entire run and herself into a blood spattered mess! The other members of the flock were taking turns pecking at any place on her now blood soaked head!

We pulled her out and it must have taken a half an hour to stop the bleeding and clean her up. When I went to return her, in hopes of finding the main offender and isolating her, four hens were waiting for her at the gate! Fortunately, once they inspected her thoroughly and could not find a juicy spot to attack, they lost interest and things returned to normal occasional harassment with no clear leader.

My Delaware hen seems fine today, but I'm not feeling the love for the rest of my flock right now. If they hadn't given me 12 eggs today I wouldn't even be speaking to them. Doggoned bunch of cutthroats!

Be glad you found her before it was too late.

I had 2 young pullets I put together with the adult hens and a rooster at night (my mistake) they seemed to be getting along OK. The next morning I found one of them on the ground outside the coop with her skull showing from beak back to her neck, the rooster and hens attacked her until they got to bone. I had to put her down there was no chance she could recover from that.

 

[petrel]

Quote: I am glad. Had we just been out on errands or something, it could have ended differently. Sadly, I doubt it is over either.

Sorry to hear about your pullets.