I've really had a tough time since my vacation. I came back to a stressed and sick flock, broken coop door and a raccoon that visits nightly now.
I've lost 2 hens and I'm worried for the rest.
I brought in a dutch bantam because she was thin and feathers ruffled. She and her sister, another dutch bantam, we're bullied bad in their old flock so we took them in. They always stuck together and were not bothered by our girls or rooster.
When she had put some weight on I decided to put her back out. But her sister went straight for her. And would not quit! Taco was retreating and submitting but Tico was relentless. I watched for a few minutes and then stepped between them. Stepped back and Tico went for her again so I decided Tico needed to be brought in so I could watch Taco with the rest of the flock. She is terrified, submissive and vigilant but no one bothers her. I'm sure she feels lonely because Tico was her buddy.
Why would this change happen? How long do I keep Tico in? I've not dealt with this kind of bullying, ever, so I'm at a loss.
So many changes happened and I'm really starting to rethink my capabilities. I felt like we had a healthy happy flock before I left but now I'm at a total loss. The raccoon keeps coming despite fixing the door and making sure no food is left out. I've lost 2 hens and now I have an extreme bullying case to deal with. What gives? Any words of wisdom to help get my flock back on track?
I am waiting on a necropsy report from one of the deceased hens and the other was taken by the state to test for AI, which was negative. I did find out when I took a girl to the vet that my flock is MG positive.
I've lost 2 hens and I'm worried for the rest.
I brought in a dutch bantam because she was thin and feathers ruffled. She and her sister, another dutch bantam, we're bullied bad in their old flock so we took them in. They always stuck together and were not bothered by our girls or rooster.
When she had put some weight on I decided to put her back out. But her sister went straight for her. And would not quit! Taco was retreating and submitting but Tico was relentless. I watched for a few minutes and then stepped between them. Stepped back and Tico went for her again so I decided Tico needed to be brought in so I could watch Taco with the rest of the flock. She is terrified, submissive and vigilant but no one bothers her. I'm sure she feels lonely because Tico was her buddy.
Why would this change happen? How long do I keep Tico in? I've not dealt with this kind of bullying, ever, so I'm at a loss.
So many changes happened and I'm really starting to rethink my capabilities. I felt like we had a healthy happy flock before I left but now I'm at a total loss. The raccoon keeps coming despite fixing the door and making sure no food is left out. I've lost 2 hens and now I have an extreme bullying case to deal with. What gives? Any words of wisdom to help get my flock back on track?
I am waiting on a necropsy report from one of the deceased hens and the other was taken by the state to test for AI, which was negative. I did find out when I took a girl to the vet that my flock is MG positive.