My normally peaceful flock of 5 chickens have been exceptionally quiet during this, their first molt- then this morning we were awakened by a ruckous so loud we thought a predator had gotten up in the top of the ark with them. My DH ran out first to let down the ladder and only one hen came down - the GLW (who is second from top of the pecking order) while the noise was still intense in the top, he quickly opened one of the nest boxes to peer upstairs and our SLW flew out- (the one at the top of the pecking order) then the rest of the girls came down the ladder. Then Halo- an EE who is usually second to last or last in the pecking order- we can never tell- "stalked" and cornered Lacy the SLW and attacked her! She then chased her back up into the top of the ark and attacked her up there.
They are in a catawba style ark and have a nice sized run attached to it with straw, roosting logs, a flock block and dusting bath. I have given them treats today to "distract" her, but Halo (who is no angel today) is just hell-bent on attacking Lacy who wants nothing more than to hide from her. No one else is doing this.
Halo lost a lot of her feathers last week- but the only way I knew this was seeing them everywhere- she never exhibited baldness- Lacy on the other hand, lost most of her feathers last week and looks like an almost bald pin cushion.
My questions are this: Should I isolate Halo (the mean one) with her own food and water in the ark- while keeping the rest of the flock in the run with their own food and water for today- while Halo is being mean? Is this normal behavior for one of them to attack her previous superior during a molt when when they are normally very peaceful and friendly and know their place in the order? Is it unusual for the bottom hen to bbe attacking the top hen? Is this because the top hen looks so bad and small because of her feathers? Only one other hen lost her feathers this badly two weeks ago (another EE) and she just kept to herself while they were growing back and no one really bothered her- she sort of stayed "under the radar" - she is second to last on the bottom.
Sorry this is so long, but it's upsetting to see such a violent-loud attack on the top hen who rules the roost with grace and peace. They have been together since hatch and always peaceful and friendly. Thankfully, there is no blood that I can see- at least not yet. Another thing that may be of note- it's particularly hot here today- although they have plenty of shade and places to hide under the trees.
Thank you in advance for any advice and thoughts you all have on this - I LOVE this forum!!
They are in a catawba style ark and have a nice sized run attached to it with straw, roosting logs, a flock block and dusting bath. I have given them treats today to "distract" her, but Halo (who is no angel today) is just hell-bent on attacking Lacy who wants nothing more than to hide from her. No one else is doing this.
Halo lost a lot of her feathers last week- but the only way I knew this was seeing them everywhere- she never exhibited baldness- Lacy on the other hand, lost most of her feathers last week and looks like an almost bald pin cushion.
My questions are this: Should I isolate Halo (the mean one) with her own food and water in the ark- while keeping the rest of the flock in the run with their own food and water for today- while Halo is being mean? Is this normal behavior for one of them to attack her previous superior during a molt when when they are normally very peaceful and friendly and know their place in the order? Is it unusual for the bottom hen to bbe attacking the top hen? Is this because the top hen looks so bad and small because of her feathers? Only one other hen lost her feathers this badly two weeks ago (another EE) and she just kept to herself while they were growing back and no one really bothered her- she sort of stayed "under the radar" - she is second to last on the bottom.
Sorry this is so long, but it's upsetting to see such a violent-loud attack on the top hen who rules the roost with grace and peace. They have been together since hatch and always peaceful and friendly. Thankfully, there is no blood that I can see- at least not yet. Another thing that may be of note- it's particularly hot here today- although they have plenty of shade and places to hide under the trees.
Thank you in advance for any advice and thoughts you all have on this - I LOVE this forum!!
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