My chickens are savages!

[Jamin Mayer]

I went to a coffee shop this morning to meet with buddies of mine. Well, I forgot to let out the chickens. I normally let them out at 6 or 6:30am. I had one of my kids do it for me at 8am. (I know, I'm horrible). My kids noticed later in the morning (maybe 10am) that one of our chickens was being attacked by all of the others. They were pecking it in the breast/neck area. They plucked a fair amount of feathers off of it. We set the chicken in a tote with bedding, water and food. I allowed little sunlight to get inside the tote (to calm the victim). I took her and washed off the blood with water and a sponge. Besides the plucked feathers, the chicken looks fine. She has a calm behavior and is standing just fine. I haven't put her back in with the general population.

I believe that they got hungry and started randomly picking on this particular chicken. Do you all think this is true?

When should I reintroduce her back to the mean savages?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Tiss]

Don't beat yourself up. I don't let mine out until 8:30 or 9am. What can I say, I'm not a morning person.

I'd let any wounds heal and then reintroduce her on the roost at night.

 

[Alabama ee]

I would make sure there are no red spots or blood showing before putting her back. If they see red on her, they will attack her again.

 

[Jamin Mayer]

Thanks. How long do you think it will take to heal? I have no idea with this stuff.

Thankfully, I can close off a portion of the chicken run for the injured chicken to be alone and run around. But, I wonder if they will try to get her again if I had them roost together...

 

[Alabama ee]

HOpefully, it has healed by now. How is she doing?

 

[joebryant]

Are you sure that your other chickens are getting enough protein in their feed?

 

[CMV]

That behavior seems a bit extreme for a couple hour delay in opening up the coop. Do they have enough space in the coop? I also would be looking at their feed to see if they are getting enough protein or enough food period. I have never had any birds be feather pickers, for which I am thankful. Your hen that is pecked- any wounds can be covered with a spray called Blukote. You can get it at any agriculture store and it covers the red of the wounds so other birds won't continue to pick at the victim. (Well, they may continue to pick at her, but it won't be because of the wounds. At that point it will just be because the chickens are being brutes.) I use Blukote on wounds so I don't have to separate any birds out of the flock unless its an extreme case. Blukote is an antibacterial/antifungal wound dressing and can be used on any animal in the barnyard. Just don't get it on yourself or you will be purple spotted forever.

Good luck.

 

[prancie]

yeah bluekote or the brand i get here "woundkote" is an indispensible necessity of chicken keeping

 

[4 luv of eggs]

There's another product call Rooster Booster Pick No More. It not only protects the area but it tastes awful if they decide to pick on her again.

 

[Larkin]

Just wondering if you use Blukote on any bird that you will consume? I have read conflicting reports on this.

I'm having the same plucking problem with my birds right now and have tried Hot Pick and they still do it.