My chickens are just over 1yr old. I started with 11 but, culled one roo last summer then the other about a month ago after he started to get way too aggressive with people. I also had one hen die a couple of weeks ago. She had been "unwell" most of her life after battling sour crop at about 12 weeks old. I didn't realize she was getting sick again and found her dead one very hot day a few weeks ago. Also, over the winter I think I had a space issue and feather picking became a problem that I have yet to solve. All my chickens have feathers missing from their saddle and rump areas. I let them free range as much as I can (only a few hours 2-4 days a week). My coop is 4X8 with a 10X6 run attached. With only 8 chickens it "should" be enough space. My feeder is inside the coop and water in the run (changed at least once a day). I also feed them treats that is mostly my kitchen scraps and fridge clean out. During the day, right now, I give them a large zip-lock bag of frozen squash to keep them occupied and cooler.
A week ago heard a commotion in the coop and went to check it out. 2 hens were "sharing" the one nest box (of 3) they all lay in. But, one was really picking on another and had almost opened a wound on her head just behind her comb. So, I sprayed her with blu-kote. The next night I put stop-pick on everyone. Within 2 days it was all gone.
Yesterday I noticed the picked on hen inside the coop while all the others were dust bathing in the run. I thought, no big deal. I let everyone out to free range. When I put them away (lured with corn, their fave) the picked on hen did not want to go in the run at all. I really had to work at getting her in. Later I went out with left over steak to give them. When this one hen tried to get some one of my Colombian cross hens yelled at her and pecked at her. They all then chased her away. So, I saved back one piece and took it to her in the coop.
This morning when I went to give fresh water this picked on hen was inside the coop, on a roost again.
I just don't know what to do for her. I hate seeing her shunned like this. She is a Barred Rock. I also have 2 black sex linked, 1 RIr, one other BR and 3 colombian crosses.
A week ago heard a commotion in the coop and went to check it out. 2 hens were "sharing" the one nest box (of 3) they all lay in. But, one was really picking on another and had almost opened a wound on her head just behind her comb. So, I sprayed her with blu-kote. The next night I put stop-pick on everyone. Within 2 days it was all gone.
Yesterday I noticed the picked on hen inside the coop while all the others were dust bathing in the run. I thought, no big deal. I let everyone out to free range. When I put them away (lured with corn, their fave) the picked on hen did not want to go in the run at all. I really had to work at getting her in. Later I went out with left over steak to give them. When this one hen tried to get some one of my Colombian cross hens yelled at her and pecked at her. They all then chased her away. So, I saved back one piece and took it to her in the coop.
This morning when I went to give fresh water this picked on hen was inside the coop, on a roost again.
I just don't know what to do for her. I hate seeing her shunned like this. She is a Barred Rock. I also have 2 black sex linked, 1 RIr, one other BR and 3 colombian crosses.