- Sep 28, 2011
- 114
- 6
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This morning I came out to the barn to find clumps of feathers on the ground and my black star hen cowering with her comb bleeding. I had no clue what was going on, but she looked so pitiful I took her into a separate enclosure to get a good look at her injuries. Her comb had been scratched, there are several feathers broken in her saddle area, but what's more upsetting is that there's a bald spot on the back of her neck with a little scab. I believe this is where the feathers I found came from.
Anyway, I gave her food and water and a couple of hours to sit quietly and relax. By lunchtime she seemed better (I think she's going broody? Her feathers are all fluffed up and she's clucking constantly). The moment I let her out though, my rooster jumped on her. This is normal, but what was abnormal is that she screeched like he was hurting her. Normally the hens are silent when he does his thing. I thought that would be the end of it, usually he mates with a hen and then goes on his way, but after he got off her he started chasing her again, and she RAN at full speed from him. I followed, and by the time I caught up with them he had chased her all the way back to the coop. She was flattened in the grass with the side of her head bleeding! I can't believe my docile, friendly rooster would do such a thing to his hens! He's never hurt one before. Heck, he won't even attack me, let alone his girls.
She's separated now, and I'm not sure what to do next. Does he need to go in the pot? Is there any other way I can handle this? He's seen broodies before and never reacted this way. Oh, and he has 12 hens in his flock and is the only roo. He continues even now to be good with his other hens.
Anyway, I gave her food and water and a couple of hours to sit quietly and relax. By lunchtime she seemed better (I think she's going broody? Her feathers are all fluffed up and she's clucking constantly). The moment I let her out though, my rooster jumped on her. This is normal, but what was abnormal is that she screeched like he was hurting her. Normally the hens are silent when he does his thing. I thought that would be the end of it, usually he mates with a hen and then goes on his way, but after he got off her he started chasing her again, and she RAN at full speed from him. I followed, and by the time I caught up with them he had chased her all the way back to the coop. She was flattened in the grass with the side of her head bleeding! I can't believe my docile, friendly rooster would do such a thing to his hens! He's never hurt one before. Heck, he won't even attack me, let alone his girls.
She's separated now, and I'm not sure what to do next. Does he need to go in the pot? Is there any other way I can handle this? He's seen broodies before and never reacted this way. Oh, and he has 12 hens in his flock and is the only roo. He continues even now to be good with his other hens.