They attacked Penny again! HELP!

[Ms. Cluckingly]

SO last night was my girls first night out in their coop. The low was 38 and I had a 100w light in there and they did great. However, around 11pm, I went out to check on them, and they had attacked Penny (RSL) so bad that they ripped out ALL of her tail feathers... AGAIN!!! I do believe she was in shock and in a lot of pain. I brought her inside, and I know this is odd, but I cleaned her up, and she cuddled up right next to my neck... in bed.

She just seemed so scared and lonely. Just like if one of my kids had been attacked, or my cat, she's no different..except that she's a chicken and all.

SO, there she slept...ALL NIGHT LONG. I woke up this morning to her trilling right next to my ear. She wouldn't eat or drink or even lay down last night. She layed on my hand though. So, I laid her on a an old cloth diaper with the waterproof liner. But she didn't poo all night.. to my happiness. When she did poo this morning, in her little designated area, her poo was bloody...which may be normal, since she had her bum feathers pickedout.. but her vent looked fine. Should I worry? Since this is the second time, I'm worried about reintroducing her to the flock. I'm probably going to have to make her own chicken tractor. So she won't be lonely, should I get her a chick? So at least she'd be on the top of the pecking order in her tractor?

 

[Imp]

Ms. Cluckingly :

SO last night was my girls first night out in their coop. The low was 38 and I had a 100w light in there and they did great. However, around 11pm, I went out to check on them, and they had attacked Penny (RSL) so bad that they ripped out ALL of her tail feathers... AGAIN!!! I do believe she was in shock and in a lot of pain. I brought her inside, and I know this is odd, but I cleaned her up, and she cuddled up right next to my neck... in bed.

She just seemed so scared and lonely. Just like if one of my kids had been attacked, or my cat, she's no different..except that she's a chicken and all.

SO, there she slept...ALL NIGHT LONG. I woke up this morning to her trilling right next to my ear. She wouldn't eat or drink or even lay down last night. She layed on my hand though. So, I laid her on a an old cloth diaper with the waterproof liner. But she didn't poo all night.. to my happiness. When she did poo this morning, in her little designated area, her poo was bloody...which may be normal, since she had her bum feathers pickedout.. but her vent looked fine. Should I worry? Since this is the second time, I'm worried about reintroducing her to the flock. I'm probably going to have to make her own chicken tractor. So she won't be lonely, should I get her a chick? So at least she'd be on the top of the pecking order in her tractor?

Boy taking a chicken to bed with you. You like to live dangerously.

Bloody poo- Watch her, If it continues might be a sign of disease. If the outside of the vent looks fine I'd be inclined to think this.

Reintegration- You could try knocking the other hens down a peg or two before trying to reitegrate Penny. If they are just bullies to her, seperation and/or rehoming may be your best bets.

Good luck

Imp​

 

[Cetawin]

Watch the bloody stool...if the vent area looks good, you may want to use a rubber glove and a lubed finer...gently check inside the vent and see if there is blood inside. If inside and not out, it may be cocci...you cans earch here for it and the treatment. it comes from the soil....watch your other girls too for signs of it.

Also check her tail area and vent and below really well for any abrasions or blood areas from the pulled feathers. Do not introduct her again until you deal with bullies. I made that mistake and my SF was killed. They went after her tail feathers and such and ruptured an air sac and she died a few hours later. You might consider finding a docile girl to put in with her. But she will need someone very laid back that will not pick on her.

 

[Ms. Cluckingly]

So I did the drastic method and I got rid of the troublesome chicken. She is now going to a family with 80 acres where she'll be able to free range. Anyway, so I reintroduced Penny back to the girls (with rooster booster on her bum) and they've been great all day! I'm still going to keep an eye one them, but Yoshi was such a troublemaker, that the coop is SO quiet now that she's gone.

And I checked Penny's vent, and she actually had a small laceration right on the outside of her vent, it is scabbed over now, and I've watched her poo quite a bit since this morning. lol And no more blood.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[b.hromada]

I hope your girl gets better! Poor little thing. Bless you, thinking that you took her to bed with you.

What a good girl, didn't poo in your bed.

 

[Imp]

I'm glad she's doing better.

Imp