Dorothyn
In the Brooder
- Sep 11, 2016
- 9
- 0
- 10
My small flock has had a lot of upset this week, and I need some advice. Up until a few days ago, I had a 5 year old Isa Brown hen and a 4 year old Australorp hen who were first and second in the flock, plus two 9mo old Rhode Island Red hens and a RIR rooster (not by choice - chicks were not sexed).
About 4-5 days ago I noticed my Australorp was roosting separately from the rest, and then the next day I saw her comb was kind of battered and she was missing feathers on the back of her head. That day one of my RIR hens disappeared from the fenced in yard. I can only guess she flew out somehow and a fox got her, though there are no feathers anywhere within about 50m/yds of the coop.
I separated the Australorp into a neighboring coop for a couple of days to give her a break. I thought I would put the IB, her old buddy, in with her, but within seconds the IB was pecking her, so I took her back out. Then, after 2 days I swapped them, thinking I should isolate the IB.
In the yard today I saw the RIR hen rush the Austalorp with her feathers all ruffed up. Tonight the Australorp was still roosting far away from the RIR hen and rooster, so I put her close to them to see what would happen, and the RIR hen immediately started pecking her, so I moved her back to the other end of the roost.
I'm trying not to anthropomorphise, but the Australorp hen is so pitiful. She's a shell of her former self. She's like the kid who used to be popular, but has somehow fallen from grace and is totally ostracised. When I come to the coop/yard now, she's clingy with me, and even lets me touch her which she never did before. She has stopped laying.
All I've read here says you should isolate the offending hen, but both of the remaining two are harassing her. I've ordered pinless peepers, but they won't be here for 2-3 weeks (I'm in Australia). What should I do?
About 4-5 days ago I noticed my Australorp was roosting separately from the rest, and then the next day I saw her comb was kind of battered and she was missing feathers on the back of her head. That day one of my RIR hens disappeared from the fenced in yard. I can only guess she flew out somehow and a fox got her, though there are no feathers anywhere within about 50m/yds of the coop.
I separated the Australorp into a neighboring coop for a couple of days to give her a break. I thought I would put the IB, her old buddy, in with her, but within seconds the IB was pecking her, so I took her back out. Then, after 2 days I swapped them, thinking I should isolate the IB.
In the yard today I saw the RIR hen rush the Austalorp with her feathers all ruffed up. Tonight the Australorp was still roosting far away from the RIR hen and rooster, so I put her close to them to see what would happen, and the RIR hen immediately started pecking her, so I moved her back to the other end of the roost.
I'm trying not to anthropomorphise, but the Australorp hen is so pitiful. She's a shell of her former self. She's like the kid who used to be popular, but has somehow fallen from grace and is totally ostracised. When I come to the coop/yard now, she's clingy with me, and even lets me touch her which she never did before. She has stopped laying.
All I've read here says you should isolate the offending hen, but both of the remaining two are harassing her. I've ordered pinless peepers, but they won't be here for 2-3 weeks (I'm in Australia). What should I do?