I let the "big girls" out yesterday, and as usual, one of the little ones had escaped and was running free also. When I went to do headcount, I found the little one had shacked up with the big girls instead of returning to her own coop. No big deal- this has happened before. But in the morning, DH let them out, and I forgot about the "extra".
I brought out their oatmeal, and before letting her out, I went to see if she had laid her egg yet. There was blood on several eggs, and all over the nesting box. There was a trail out the pop door. I looked and saw my poor little girl with blood running down her face. I went to get DH to help, and we got her inside. Yuk, I hate blood. No, I REALLY hate blood. So , I wiped her down best as I can. Blood is extremely hard to get off feathers. The blood was coming from where the comb meets the back of her head. I got the bleeding to stop, and she wanted down.
I put her outside and proceeded to make her her very own bowl of oatmeal. She didn't want it- poor thing just wanted to get into her coop to lay her egg .
I kept an eye on her all day. No one picked on her. I was concerned the rooster might break open the wound when he attempted to "love" her. Either he didnt break it open, or she resisted his advances.
Pecking order is awful! I can't believe the big ones drew such blood, when they have been housed next to each other, and have free ranged together for many months.
I brought out their oatmeal, and before letting her out, I went to see if she had laid her egg yet. There was blood on several eggs, and all over the nesting box. There was a trail out the pop door. I looked and saw my poor little girl with blood running down her face. I went to get DH to help, and we got her inside. Yuk, I hate blood. No, I REALLY hate blood. So , I wiped her down best as I can. Blood is extremely hard to get off feathers. The blood was coming from where the comb meets the back of her head. I got the bleeding to stop, and she wanted down.
I put her outside and proceeded to make her her very own bowl of oatmeal. She didn't want it- poor thing just wanted to get into her coop to lay her egg .
I kept an eye on her all day. No one picked on her. I was concerned the rooster might break open the wound when he attempted to "love" her. Either he didnt break it open, or she resisted his advances.
Pecking order is awful! I can't believe the big ones drew such blood, when they have been housed next to each other, and have free ranged together for many months.
