What's wrong with my chicken???

[Pork Pie]

So far Emergency & Desease thread hasn't told me anything just asked if it was hard or squishy. It's squishy.
I'm going to keep an eye on Mable the next few days and see if it changes. She's been fighting a lot lately with my Top hen Penelope so maybe she got hurt from that. I'm glad no one is alarmed by it. I love my ladies, she stayed in last night I had to give her a bath cause the back of her comb had a chunk missing she's white so the blood splatter everywhere wasn't pretty. But it amazed me how long it takes to blow dry a chicken, I got her almost all dry but her down feathers were still a little damp, it's cold her at night in Ohio I didn't want her to get sick, so my first time having one of my girls spend the night inside.

I'd advise against giving her a bath, but removing blood from her feathers is a good idea, since red to a chicken is like a "red rag to a bull". Do you think that the fighting may be caused by space issues? I have read that chickens appear to spend more time in the coop during inclement weather. Similarly, chickens being prevented from exercising their normal behaviour (e.g. dust bathing) can also lead to negative displacement behaviours. It could be that she is either challenging your alpha hen, or maybe she is being picked on?

 

[N F C]

Hope Mable will be fine soon. CTKen's concerns make a lot of sense to me, how large is your coop/run and how many chickens do you have?

 

[Mcatgirl]

I think it's a double issue. I have 8 hens, I started with 4 and they had enough space. I added extra roosts and another section to the coop. They free range, but it's snowing here and they don't like snow! They've never fought like this before, but when the snow came the fighting started. Today they are happy, running around the yard. It's 50 today, snow melting.

I'm going to make them a bigger coop come spring. Wish I could now but I need to move some things around.

Their coop is 6ft long 4ft wide, run is 10ft x 10ft, bought the coop off the net regretting it now. Learning a lot in my first year. Built the run myself.

However Mabel has been trying to fight her way up to the top she's gone from 5th hen to 8th and she's trying hard to take first place.

I had already gave her a bath learned a lot from that. Next time just wipe off. But it's been 3 days now and she's happy and running around.

 

[Pork Pie]

If you can try and provide "diversions" in your coop, e.g. perches, hanging cabbages and anything else you can think of, it may reduce conflict. Try searching "entertaining chickens" for other ideas.

 

[Mcatgirl]

If you can try and provide "diversions" in your coop, e.g. perches, hanging cabbages and anything else you can think of, it may reduce conflict. Try searching "entertaining chickens" for other ideas.

Thanks yesterday I added 4 more roosts and another section, now there's a dust bath for them, and several distractions, i'm going to try some of those boredom busters, with treats in a ball. They haven't had anymore problems. If I just had the 4 chickens they'd be ok but my neighbor had a heart attack and had to move and gave me 4 more so it complicated things over the summer and I added space but looks like not enough. I was cleaning out my shed today I'm going to try and build them a new coop during this month. It'll be much bigger for them.

Learning experience. The run is completely wrapped in a tarp and has a roof so there's lots of room for them to move around. And they get the run of our huge yard. But the snow limited them space for running around.

 

[Pork Pie]

We have all had more chickens on our metaphorical plate at one time or another (as i do right now). The main thing is to cope as best as we can and you are doing just that. I use my shed as a coop - works perfectly (but sure ain't pretty

)

 

[Mcatgirl]

T

We have all had more chickens on our metaphorical plate at one time or another (as i do right now). The main thing is to cope as best as we can and you are doing just that. I use my shed as a coop - works perfectly (but sure ain't pretty

)

Thanks I'm trying, plus side it's winter and I must be doing something right my layers are still giving me eggs everyday. I feed them all organic feed & organic kale and treats. (Not to many)

My 3 Easter eggers haven't started laying they are 7 months old but I think they won't lay till spring. My neighbor gave those to me with my Road Island White.

I read Easter Eggers don't lay well in winter.

But my 4 original Golden Commets lay every day, huge brown eggs. They are like my kids. Love them all!

 

[Pork Pie]

Seems like you are doing just fine!

 

[N F C]

Thanks yesterday I added 4 more roosts and another section, now there's a dust bath for them, and several distractions, i'm going to try some of those boredom busters, with treats in a ball. They haven't had anymore problems. If I just had the 4 chickens they'd be ok but my neighbor had a heart attack and had to move and gave me 4 more so it complicated things over the summer and I added space but looks like not enough. I was cleaning out my shed today I'm going to try and build them a new coop during this month. It'll be much bigger for them.

Learning experience. The run is completely wrapped in a tarp and has a roof so there's lots of room for them to move around. And they get the run of our huge yard. But the snow limited them space for running around.

One idea I read on another thread...to encourage chickens to get outside their coop when the snow is on the ground, spread some hay out going from the entrance to their coop. That might help entice them outside.

 

[Mcatgirl]

One idea I read on another thread...to encourage chickens to get outside their coop when the snow is on the ground, spread some hay out going from the entrance to their coop. That might help entice them outside.

Yep I did that and shoveled them a path, but it was pretty cold here so they weren't having it.