Older hen attacking younger hen, time to go?

[FunnyFarm17]

I think you have a few choices on what to do with "Blacky".

Enchiladas or green chicken chili would be my preference. If you don't like spicy then cranky hen and dumplings, good ol' noodle soup or pot pie are good too.

OMG thank you for this, I needed to laugh

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am hoping the young bird made it through the night.

Any update?

 

[FunnyFarm17]

I am hoping the young bird made it through the night.

Any update?

She (or he?) did, but I'm a little worried. It's been laying on it's side since yesterday. When I try to prop her up, she's unsteady and can't stand for long. Still eating and drinking though, still alert. Going to give it another day or two. Don't want to give up on her, poor thing. She's still really sweet, even after all that.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would pick up antibiotics for her asap.

I thought about her today and wondered if perhaps she had permanent damage.

 

[FunnyFarm17]

I would pick up antibiotics for her asap.

I thought about her today and wondered if perhaps she had permanent damage.

I'm worried about that as well. She's having tremors in her legs when she's on her side. If she makes it tonight I will pick up first thing in the morning!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Poor thing.

Did you isolate Blacky?

 

[FunnyFarm17]

Poor thing.

Did you isolate Blacky?

Yes, hubby came home, took one look at the chick, and sent Blacky to the giant free range farm in the sky. The straw that broke the camels back and all that.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am sorry you are dealing with such a difficult situation. I do really hope the injured one recovers.

 

[FunnyFarm17]

I am sorry you are dealing with such a difficult situation. I do really hope the injured one recovers.

Thank you so much, it's been a very stressful 24 hours! I'm pulling for her big time. I will post updates when I have them

 

[chickengeorgeto]

View attachment 1060999 Hi all, I believe I may have posted this question in the wrong category earlier, sorry about that! Figured I'd try here, since it's more a behavioral thing than an emergency.

I just discovered one of my approx. 5 month old EE hens being attacked by the head hen "Blacky" who's about 5yo (I don't know what breed she is, we got her from a friend a few years ago, but she's all black with a green sheen to her when she's in the sun).

Poor little EE is in bad shape. The entire top of her head has been pecked off. I've got her separated from the flock and got the wound cleaned up as best I could, and she's resting with food and water.

All of my other chickens, and even my two turkeys, are scared of Blacky as well. They all run when she comes around (we have a very large coup.) She's always been a bully, but she's never attacked the others before. She's currently stalking the injured EE through the fence, like she's obsessed with finishing her off.

Do I need to eliminate her from the flock? All 16 (3 older, 13 younger including the 2 turkeys) have been together in the same coup for about a month and a half now. Before we merged the flocks, they were separated but visible to each other for the first 3-4 months, and this happened out of nowhere. I'm not even sure Blacky lays anymore, might just be a freeloader at this point?

I guess I'm just looking for confirmation that it may be time to put her in a pot

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

At 3 to 5 weeks most of my young stuff will look like your EE. Of course these biddies are all the same age and they all tied up at one time. You will have better luck by culling all of your older hens every year and raising all new replacement pullets. The hen known as "Blackly" is only acting on her chicken ethos. Once my young stuff get this stage behind them they will live peacefully until they become adults. At this time they will go at it again to rehash the pecking order. It doesn't help if you have a Dukes mixture of strains, or breeds.