Molting hen attacked

[FuzzBall]

One of our six hens wanted to be a mommy really bad so she started sitting on all the eggs as if they were hers. Ever since then, the others would pick on her and peck her if she came out to drink or eat. Well she finally gave up on the motherly issue and began to molt. This sent the other hens into overdrive it seemed. She lost all the feathers on her back and belly pretty quick. Well the new feathers were coming in good until today. My wife went back to check on them today around noon and they attacked her so bad that the new feathers were all plucked out from her back and both sides of her wings. She was bleeding pretty badly too. We immediately separated her from the rest and will do so from here on out. Will the feathers regenerate or will she be missing them for good in the areas where they were pulled out? We cleaned the wounds as best as possible and she's been resting for most of the day. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I would put her on a flock raiser diet (20% protein) to help with feather production while she is separated. She probably won't lay much anyways and have read that lots of people do this with their birds when they molt.

 

[NovaAman]

Keep her separate, keep her on a clean towel, and maybe keep her warm... Poultry drench to keep her system up, scrambled eggs, meal worms and other treats. Neosporin her back... make sure does not have caine in it... Poor girl. When her skin looks healthy, maybe pick one of the more docile hens to be with her for company. I would think they'd grow back in. I had a coon rip the tail out of one of my pullets completely, and they are growing back. ALSO, I had a silkie rooster completely scalped by a young hawk, and his whole crest has grown back. SO, she should be ok.

I wonder why they did this to her... Chickens can be a puzzle...

 

[real_redhead]

Poor thing, yes chickens do crazy things.