Murderous Buckeye

[Rockscout]

Hi all. This is my first post, because for the first time I have something interesting to share.
I had 5 hens; two buckeyes, and three Black Jersey Giants. All 14 months old and raised together.
Today while I was running a cultivator near their yard when I Iooked up from my work to see a buckeye viciously attacking a giant. A few moments later I was in there and the Giant was dead. The Buckeye walked around like a fighting cock, hyperventilating, and holding it's wings away from it's body for the following ten minutes or so.
All I have to go by is the location of the fight. Maybe there was a dispute over the best dust bath spot?
The smallest hen in my flock killed the largest. It certainly wasn't an overcrowding issue.
It has seemed to me that the Buckeyes are smarter and less skittish than the giants, but I never expected something like this to happen out of the blue. As far as I could tell they always got along just fine.
Anyone have a similar experience?

 

[lightchick]

Never heard of that happening before. Has it happened again?
Welcome to the forum.

 

[Rockscout]

It happened just 5 hours ago. I'll be keeping my eye on the culprit.

 

[Blueface]

I find that very hard to believe. To-date, I've never witnessed an overly aggressive buckeye female, especially a younger bird of only 14 months old. Buckeye females are simply not aggressive. It is entirely possible that internal/unforeseeable health ailments could be the culprit. I reared and have fed out hundreds of buckeye pullets/hens......the only time I've ever noticed a small spat would be when I introduce a new face to the hen lot and there is a small tussle to establish pecking order and even then it lasts all of about 2 minutes. Are there obvious signs of blood or facial damage to the comb, wattles, or eyes.....and I'm not talking about a small peck or a red spot; the damage would be very obvious?

 

[Minniechickmama]

I am with bluface3, I have hatched and raised hundreds of Buckeyes and other than some normal pecking order type stuff, I have never seen any get like you are describing here. It is possible genetics plays a role in it as well.
Also, I have my back up roosters all in the pasture together and they get along with other breeds as well as their own, so this is really a shocking story to hear.
I am sorry about the loss of your JG, they too are a wonderful breed. I hope you can get it sorted out, and that it doesn't leave you believing all Buckeyes are like that because I find that your experience is a rarity not even close to the norm.

 

[Turk Raphael]

While I'm a neophyte to the Buckeye, I've been around chickens all my life and I've seen crazier things from other breeds that are normally considered non-aggressive. ##it happens and I too regret the loss of the JG.

I don't know if it will make a difference for us or not, but while we have considered getting a second breed of dedicated egg-layers, for the sole purpose of producing eggs to sell, we've decided it would be folly and will just keep Buckeyes that will have come from a breeder with proven stock. I think keeping a single breed (of hens) housed/pastured together will mitigate our chances of having too many problems. Our prevailing theory is, "Birds of a feather.........".

Turk

 

[autumnhearth]

It happened just 5 hours ago. I'll be keeping my eye on the culprit.

I would separate, not just keep an eye. We had a little aggressive Buckeye chick, sexed as female from a hatchery that would jump at the other chicks, all different breeds. I ended up giving it away before finding out if it was a cockerel to cut the drama. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Rockscout]

Blueface, I could entertain the idea that the JG had a heart attack or something, but I did see that buckeye going at it like a fighting bird, and she was so worked-up afterwards. With the pecks to the head I saw I was expecting the giant to have serious, obvious wounds, but it just had some minor looking contusions on the comb and face. She was alive, on her back and kicking when I fist saw this going down. I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary before or since.

 

[Rockscout]

And thank you all for the condolences. I still like the buckeyes.

 

[slfarms]

Blueface, I could entertain the idea that the JG had a heart attack or something, but I did see that buckeye going at it like a fighting bird, and she was so worked-up afterwards. With the pecks to the head I saw I was expecting the giant to have serious, obvious wounds, but it just had some minor looking contusions on the comb and face. She was alive, on her back and kicking when I fist saw this going down. I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary before or since.

I would agree with Blueface a heart attack not the buckeye caused the death. The buckeye may have known there was something wrong with the bird. Animals can sense the weakest and will attack to drive off the ill one.

Sorry for your loss.