We lost a hen again - was it a fight or something else ?

[karu]

We lost a hen again today ! Last time it was in December and we guessed the hen could be eggbound (?), since no injuries..., and no sick chickens. We did not think to 'autopsy' her....This time we saw 2 SW hens fighting couple times, maybe this one got into a fight and was knocked down, so the rest of the 'friendly' flock came to see her failure...well, my husband could not save her, it was too late, other hens were pecking at her, she was barely alive.... She was a laying one too, what a shame. What else would make her weak and others to start killing her ? It is getting cold here and my husband noticed she was breathing heavily at that moment, but she was injured already and so on and so forth.

And I used to think of them as being so gentle, and somewhat affectionate.
What happened ?

 

[Josie]

I am sorry about your loss. That is no fun, especially on the heels of your Dec loss.
I've heard that chickens will peck a hen to death if they see blood. Hopefully that is all it is and not disease.

 

[karu]

I can see now how serious it can get. Seems that SW are not as friendly as I thought, so far BO are being much more relaxed.