One hen attacking another

[thomase]

Hi folks, first time poster here. One of my hens is behaving in a very odd manner, and I'm wondering if it may be related to them feeling broody. To summarize, I have 4 hens (a barred rock, buff orpington, easter egger, and blue langshan) all about a year old, they were all raised together from week old chicks. They all started laying last October and non-stop recently, and they have always gotten along, never seen one chase or peck another. About 2 months ago, BL got broody and stopped laying, and preferred to sit on any egg or rock. About 1 month ago, EE stopped laying too and sat a bit too. BR and BO are still laying. A few days ago EE started chasing BL mercilessly and pecking behind BL's head. Today BL is bald and bleeding bad. EE only chases BL, totally ignores BR and BO. BL is totally scared of EE, and ironcally BL, is almost twice the size of EE. BR and BO are buddies, and get along with EE and BL.

Why does EE hate BL so much? Is it because they were both broody, and became unfulfilled (no rooster)? Any insights into this sudden animosity between hens raised their whole lives together? I need to temporarily set up a separate pen for EE before she kills BL.

 

[azygous]

I sympathize with you for this problem. Chickens can sometimes have personality conflicts just like people do, taking an extreme dislike for another for no good reason.

I have two Wyandottes, a SLW and a GLW, who were raised as brooder mates and are now three years old. The SLW was originally lowest in the pecking order, but has moved up over the years to the top. So every now and then she chases the GLW, nipping at her hind quarters. Sometimes they'll have a violent rooster-style fight, but not to the point of injury like your two.

When it gets that serious, you need to protect the injured hen, but removing her from the flock will make her situation worse when you put her back. It's better to remove or isolate the bully for several days. That will give the injured hen time to heal, and when the bully goes back with the others, she'll have lost a bit of her "seniority" and might be less agressive.

This is a heart-breaking problem with no easy solution. Just hope that time and distance may temper the situation some. Good luck.