Sudden Aggressiveness??

[Lolliegee]

Some of you may have read about my poor little teenaged hen that got attacked by an opossum...well, the one of the other two Aracaunas in the flock has suddenly started chasing the other. Could this be because the injured one is not out there? Could it just be that their balance has been upset and will hopefully return to normal when the injured youngster has healed and been returned to the flock?

If anyone has suggestions on how I can discourage this at least for now, I'd sure appreciate it!

 

[speckledhen]

When birds are removed or added to a flock, the hierarchy will change. So that may be what you're seeing.

 

[Lolliegee]

Thanks for the input. That makes sense. When my injured hen is recovered

will I have to do anything special to reintroduce her to the flock? Will it be as if she had never been there before?

 

[speckledhen]

They will know her, but she will have to become reestablished. I have one Buff Orp who was broody and gone from the flock for two months. She's having a heck of a time getting her place back and is chased all the time. I took to feeding her extra away from the others because she seemed to have trouble gaining her weight back.