ChickenOwner2313
In the Brooder
We have owned chickens for a very many years, and a couple months ago, after raising 8 more chicks to add to our flock, have established a good flock of 14 hens, very nice and docile, and without problems-- until we started having problems.
First of all one hen got stuck in between the food bin and a bag of food, we think either she fell, or hid there and got stuck. She was still alive when we found her, but she died that night.
Second of all we had a hen (I'll call her hen1) who seemed almost sick, she didn't try to get to the food when the other chickens were gathering around it, and kind of walked around aimlessly. We thought she might be sick, but it didn't seems that big f a problem, yet...
Third of all we found hen1 sticking her head in the corner, looking dead, but when we pulled her out, she immediately perked up and ran to another corner with the other hens following her trying to peck her. Her crown was badly injured and she was terrified. We quarantined her for a day in our "chickery" (a small shed where we raise chicks every year) and then put her in a separate dog crate in the coop with the other chickens with her own food and water.
Fourth of all we decided to figure out who was picking on her and try to quarantine them in the "chickery" for a day or two so that when we return them they would have to reestablish their place in the pecking order. We did so about 4 days ago to two hens(hen2 and hen3), and returned them 3 days ago. When we were out there today, hen2 and hen3 seemed sick like hen1 and were being picked on.
Also, hen2 sees to have a messy bottom, and hen1 sort of, but not as bad. Both of their crowns are sort of injured.
We don't know what to do. Please help!
Here are some photos of the sick hens:
the first 3 photos are of hen1 and the rest are hen2
First of all one hen got stuck in between the food bin and a bag of food, we think either she fell, or hid there and got stuck. She was still alive when we found her, but she died that night.
Second of all we had a hen (I'll call her hen1) who seemed almost sick, she didn't try to get to the food when the other chickens were gathering around it, and kind of walked around aimlessly. We thought she might be sick, but it didn't seems that big f a problem, yet...
Third of all we found hen1 sticking her head in the corner, looking dead, but when we pulled her out, she immediately perked up and ran to another corner with the other hens following her trying to peck her. Her crown was badly injured and she was terrified. We quarantined her for a day in our "chickery" (a small shed where we raise chicks every year) and then put her in a separate dog crate in the coop with the other chickens with her own food and water.
Fourth of all we decided to figure out who was picking on her and try to quarantine them in the "chickery" for a day or two so that when we return them they would have to reestablish their place in the pecking order. We did so about 4 days ago to two hens(hen2 and hen3), and returned them 3 days ago. When we were out there today, hen2 and hen3 seemed sick like hen1 and were being picked on.
Also, hen2 sees to have a messy bottom, and hen1 sort of, but not as bad. Both of their crowns are sort of injured.
We don't know what to do. Please help!
Here are some photos of the sick hens:
the first 3 photos are of hen1 and the rest are hen2