Ok I'm still learning about chickens but. I have a Black Australop (Alice) that is attacking my Golden Comet (Debbie). Both are pullets and about Debbie 25 weeks Alice 28 weeks. They live in a 32 sq foot coop and are free range during daylight hours. no one is laying yet. These birds have grown up togethor and havent really had a problem till thursay. Debbies face was scabby and her eye was foamy. So off to the vet (I work with a vet that does exotics) and she is now on antibotic ointment, and seperated from the rest of the flock (all 4 of them) otherwise she is fine. I was cleaning her kennel today and had her out in the fenced in dog yard when Alice hopped the fence and came after her. She backed Debbie in the corner and she now has a huge peck mark on the side of her face and is not a happy camper. Will she keep doing this or am I going to have to find her a home. She is otherwise a great chicken.
I wish I could help..... I don't know, it is my first year with chickens. I know that for the most part, any who have taken a disliking to one another don't seem to change their minds. But sometimes it just takes them a while to establish order, which may be needing RE-established since removing for treatment? It just depends on the animals..... sometimes they are quick to fall into line, sometimes not. Sometimes they will just decide that they do not like a particular bird, end of story. I hope yours is a short lived pecking order issue.
It may be that Alice is getting close to laying. Some of mine got really cranky (does PMS come to mind?) with their sisters when they first started laying. It settled down pretty quickly. Also none of mine got to the point of hurting each other. Just pecking and being grumpy. I hope yours is a temporary issue too.
Alice needs an attitude check and go to chicken jail. Put her in confinement. I agree with gritsar's Roo reform page.
