Please help: Sudden bully behaviour in three hens who have always been together

[SFLund]

Hi there,

New to the forum.

I have kept hens with my mum for 7 years and now have my own little flock of three (small becuse I want them to make the most of the space we have at my place). My girls were bought together from a local breeder and have always spent time togther. There have never been any issues with establishing a pecking order, barely anything more than the odd 'squaring up' to each other.

They are all about 30 weeks now and one of the three has suddenly taken a bit of a beating (her comb has been nipped rather badly but no feather damage). Were this a case of introducing new hens I'd know what to do and how to go about integrating them, but as my girls have had an amicable relationship that has suddenly changed I have no idea what's going on.

The bashed hen is currently the only one laying but that's been the case for about a fortnight so I doubt it's that. They are all in excellent health too.

I am going to work out who's doing the pecking asap and separate that bird until I know what's what.

Any advice?

 

[chikkenfriend]

Could you have a broody on your hands? My Rock Blackie went broody about that age. Changed her name to Biting Blackie! She got mean at first, then the other hens beat up on her.

 

[aart]

Could just be 'coming into lay' hormones....they can get a little weird when they have just, are about to, started laying.