One of my hens just attacked another for no reason!

[SwampPrincessChick]

With Herm being on the bottom of the pecking order, the original incident probably happened like this: one chicken pecked Herm's comb as a normal warning, but drew blood in the process, causing the attacker and the others to go into a blood frenzy (then is when chickens see blood and start attacking because they want to have a pecking order punching bag and they want to drink blood), getting Herm beat up. Your most recent update says that it happened again, and I am sorry! It happened again this time probably because of the same thing I already explained. Her flockmates will continue using her as a pecking order punching bag unless she is separated.

 

[Barnette]

With Herm being on the bottom of the pecking order, the original incident probably happened like this: one chicken pecked Herm's comb as a normal warning, but drew blood in the process, causing the attacker and the others to go into a blood frenzy (then is when chickens see blood and start attacking because they want to have a pecking order punching bag and they want to drink blood), getting Herm beat up. Your most recent update says that it happened again, and I am sorry! It happened again this time probably because of the same thing I already explained. Her flockmates will continue using her as a pecking order punching bag unless she is separated.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Also, Herm hasn't laid an egg in four months.

Stress can cause a hen to stop laying.

She is four or five years old.

That is old for a chicken. Her egg production would be dramatically decreased due to age.

I would be surprised if we was broody but it's a possibility

Are you talking about Herm? If so, Herm is not broody unless you see all of the broody signs: fluffing up to her fullest length and dropping her wings to look intimidating, refusing to be touched by humans and other chickens, doing the broody clucks/growls and roaring/screaming at random. I have not seen you mention any of these and I do not see Herm fluffed out in any of the pictures.

 

[Barnette]

Stress can cause a hen to stop laying.


That is old for a chicken. Her egg production would be dramatically decreased due to age.


Are you talking about Herm? If so, Herm is not broody unless you see all of the broody signs: fluffing up to her fullest length and dropping her wings to look intimidating, refusing to be touched by humans and other chickens, doing the broody clucks/growls and roaring/screaming at random. I have not seen you mention any of these and I do not see Herm fluffed out in any of the pictures.

I was talking about herm, and she does not show any of the signs of broodiness

 

[aart]

Herm's health may be fading, not obvious to you but is to the flock.

 

[Barnette]

Herm's health may be fading, not obvious to you but is to the flock.

Noo!!! She's my favorite!!! What should I do? Her poop is normal, she is eating well, she's a healthy color...?????

 

[ACS285]

Thank you. She seems okay now. The bleeding has stopped. Is there anything I should put on the wounds if she'll let me? I have bird-safe antiseptic wash and antibiotic cream. I'll keep her where she is right now, but like I said, there's a blind hen (Pinky) and her part-time buddy Gail there, so that can't be a permanent solution...unless Herm and Pinky get along, but I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

I don't know much as I'm new to chickens also, but I have discovered a product that could maybe help you. I can't comment on behavioral issues but I noticed chickens almost seem offended when another bleeds in their presence... I have a bird jail for future spats. All mine are young yet.

I got it at tractor supply, but it's available on Chewy also. It dyes the wound blue so the chickens leave it alone. I imagine the other chickens will still react to her as if she's a new bird. I understand that chickens can memorize hundreds of faces... I hope that helps a little bit.

 

[Barnette]

I don't know much as I'm new to chickens also, but I have discovered a product that could maybe help you. I can't comment on behavioral issues but I noticed chickens almost seem offended when another bleeds in their presence... I have a bird jail for future spats. All mine are young yet. View attachment 3860853
I got it at tractor supply, but it's available on Chewy also. It dyes the wound blue so the chickens leave it alone. I imagine the other chickens will still react to her as if she's a new bird. I understand that chickens can memorize hundreds of faces... I hope that helps a little bit.

Thank you so much! I'll get that right away. We are going to TSC soon so I'll get it then

 

[aart]

It dyes the wound blue so the chickens leave it alone.

That's the theory...oft repeated but not accurate.
I, and others, have found that the blue coloring can attract as much attention as blood might. And if you're treating a wound it can interfere with monitoring the wound by the discoloration.
...and gentian violet has recently been found to not be healthy.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Noo!!! She's my favorite!!! What should I do? Her poop is normal, she is eating well, she's a healthy color...?????

Unfortunately, humans have no way of causing a change in the pecking order unless they add to the flock or subtract from the flock. In this case you would need the subtracting, because it does not seem like Herm's flockmates will ever stop picking on her. It is better off for Herm's health if she gets separated. There is really nothing else to do. You can find out who is the most dominant hen, or who keeps started the attack on Herm, separate them and add Herm back to the flock, but then . . . the pecking order needs re-established all over again because one of the hens got taken out, so either way Herm would be picked on.