eekay
In the Brooder
Hello all,
4 black Sexlinks, approx 1 year old.
Most guides have suggested if I don't fix this problem now then I will likely soon have dead birds.
About 4 days ago I Noticed a bald spot on top of one of my girls heads, around her comb, kept eye on it, thought maybe molting. No blood or broken skin.
Three days later I Spent an entire day outside in the yard prepping my garden, the girls are confined to a 60sqft run as per bylaw. No issues all day long. No fighting.
Late in the evening they're all stuffing their faces as per their norm, when suddenly a massive brawl breaks out. Our dominant hen is chasing and pecking at our most timid one, ripping her head feathers out. The other two join in, they then all begin turning on eachother. I have to stand in the run for a solid hour just til things settle. The dominant hen was militantly stalking the littlest one, the littlest one was pecking at our biggest one.
After an hour they settle, they all behave, preening and eating. The only incident after that is the littlest one pecks at the largest and most timid one. They all go to bed, no issue.
I'm petrified I'm going to come home to one or more severely injured or dead girls if I'm not there to break it up.
Food and water are normal. Weather has been significantly warmer. There have been no major changes to environment aside from The day after discovering the bald spot I did remove the plastic sheeting that was surrounding the run.
The fight did appear to break out when they were all eating (if one eats then they all want some) , the feeder in question is a bucket style with two ports. One port faces a corner and any bird eating from it has nowhere to go if a more dominant bird steps in. I relocated the feeder a short distance away.to avoid anyone getting cornered.
im going to spend today implementing as many boredom Buster's as I can. There are no visible signs of illness.
ANy thoughts? Input? Advice?
4 black Sexlinks, approx 1 year old.
Most guides have suggested if I don't fix this problem now then I will likely soon have dead birds.
About 4 days ago I Noticed a bald spot on top of one of my girls heads, around her comb, kept eye on it, thought maybe molting. No blood or broken skin.
Three days later I Spent an entire day outside in the yard prepping my garden, the girls are confined to a 60sqft run as per bylaw. No issues all day long. No fighting.
Late in the evening they're all stuffing their faces as per their norm, when suddenly a massive brawl breaks out. Our dominant hen is chasing and pecking at our most timid one, ripping her head feathers out. The other two join in, they then all begin turning on eachother. I have to stand in the run for a solid hour just til things settle. The dominant hen was militantly stalking the littlest one, the littlest one was pecking at our biggest one.
After an hour they settle, they all behave, preening and eating. The only incident after that is the littlest one pecks at the largest and most timid one. They all go to bed, no issue.
I'm petrified I'm going to come home to one or more severely injured or dead girls if I'm not there to break it up.
Food and water are normal. Weather has been significantly warmer. There have been no major changes to environment aside from The day after discovering the bald spot I did remove the plastic sheeting that was surrounding the run.
The fight did appear to break out when they were all eating (if one eats then they all want some) , the feeder in question is a bucket style with two ports. One port faces a corner and any bird eating from it has nowhere to go if a more dominant bird steps in. I relocated the feeder a short distance away.to avoid anyone getting cornered.
im going to spend today implementing as many boredom Buster's as I can. There are no visible signs of illness.
ANy thoughts? Input? Advice?