Bielefelder is acting different.

[Sinadrea]

Thanks. I just put her in the coop before sunrise. I will monitor her again today.

Yes, she was removed from the flock for a few days, this will make it harder for her to be accepted back. Unfortunately, hens can be quite mean to one another when separated. I do not remove birds from their flock even if injured or sick. Instead, if necessary, I set up a cage or separate area within the coop/run and treat them while they are still with their flock.

I'd put her with them in the morning, observe to see how interactions go. Sounds like everything is going somewhat o.k. until it's time to go into the coop for roosting, then they may be viewing her as an intruder.

Its a little cold and windy and snow is melting out but other members of the flock are foraging and she is alone on the top roost in the coop. Her behavior seems to be the same as before I isolated her. Would this still be due to being new to laying eggs? Should I leave her be?

Thanks for all the help!

UPDATE:
*** I checked on her after sunset and she is roosting with the rest. ***

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for all the help!

UPDATE:
*** I checked on her after sunset and she is roosting with the rest. ***

Her behavior seems to be the same as before I isolated her. Would this still be due to being new to laying eggs? Should I leave her be?

I'm glad she was roosting with the others.

Did she lay an egg today?
Get out and interact with the others today?

If her behavior is the same before you isolated her and she perked up when you gave her the Calcium and she laid an egg, then I'd continue with the Extra Calcium for several days.

 

[Sinadrea]

I'm glad she was roosting with the others.

Did she lay an egg today?
Get out and interact with the others today?

If her behavior is the same before you isolated her and she perked up when you gave her the Calcium and she laid an egg, then I'd continue with the Extra Calcium for several days.

She didnt lay yesterday and spent most the day scratching the coop floor
I went to the coop twice to feed her a little bit because I wasn't sure if she was eating. I will continue with the extra calcium and see how she responds.

 

[Sinadrea]

I'm glad she was roosting with the others.

Did she lay an egg today?
Get out and interact with the others today?

If her behavior is the same before you isolated her and she perked up when you gave her the Calcium and she laid an egg, then I'd continue with the Extra Calcium for several days.

Follow up and question:

I have been continuing to watch my hen daily. The other bielefelder (her sister) has been broody since the hen in question began acting different. She is still avoiding the rest of the flock. She spent a few minutes under the coop but foraging this morning

When I go to look for her, I find her staying in the coop most of day, either roosting or being obsessed with the broody sis. She will just stare at her in the daytime and she tolerates Broody's pecking at her when she gets too close. She is now laying her egg in an adjacent nesting box.

She is even sleeping in the same nesting box, piled on top of her broody sister at night. Is this normal behavior?

It is day 10 and I am incubating some eggs for Broody for the first time. I ended up taking them in because she kept switching nesting boxes for a few days and I couldn't monitor her due to having to work.

Thank you for your advice and I apologize for so many questions, it is all new and odd to me.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

When I go to look for her, I find her staying in the coop most of day, either roosting or being obsessed with the broody sis. She will just stare at her in the daytime and she tolerates Broody's pecking at her when she gets too close. She is now laying her egg in an adjacent nesting box.

She is even sleeping in the same nesting box, piled on top of her broody sister at night. Is this normal behavior?

It can be normal especially if they are pretty close, sounds like they are.

Could be she's pre broody and hasn't committed yet.

If they are both eating/drinking, taking care of themselves, then I'd just continue to observe.

 

[Sinadrea]

It can be normal especially if they are pretty close, sounds like they are.

Could be she's pre broody and hasn't committed yet.

If they are both eating/drinking, taking care of themselves, then I'd just continue to observe.

One thing after another with this girl.

Tonight after work I found her outside the coop after the doors had closed.
Now she is injured on both sides behind her wings, missing feathers, and blood and plucked feathers are evident.
She is pecking at her right side and there is a dried trail of blood located in the general area. I think the rooster is mating with her roughly and he has 2 inch spurs.

What should I do and what do I use to treat the wounds? Bathe her, remove her again? We have a small coop so I'm not sure how to handle this situation and keep her in good spirits.

Again, apologies because she's got a lot going on but thanks a handful for putting up with all of the questions.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Now she is injured on both sides behind her wings, missing feathers, and blood and plucked feathers are evident.
She is pecking at her right side and there is a dried trail of blood located in the general area. I think the rooster is mating with her roughly and he has 2 inch spurs.

What should I do and what do I use to treat the wounds? Bathe her, remove her again? We have a small coop so I'm not sure how to handle this situation and keep her in good spirits.

Ah...
She may be trying to avoid the rooster, this is why she's acting "off".

Photos of the wounds may help. But general care is to clean/flush the wounds with Saline or Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), then apply a thin coating of triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds.

Are the wounds somewhat hidden under the wings on her sides? If so, then yes, that location can be from spurs or nails. I've had that happen. Monitor the wound for any smells, under wings it's somewhat warm and can lock in moisture, if you note an odor, then swab/clean with Chlorhexidine (my go to), let that dry and don't apply ointment for a couple of days unless she's picking at it, just swab at least once daily with the Chlorhexidine. (make sense?)

For any wounds/scrapes on the head if near the eyes, just clean with saline, then apply your ointment.

Ideally...she needs to be near the flock so she doesn't become too isolated. Removing a hen can cause re-integration issues. IF she has obvious wounds that the others will pick at, then she needs to be protected in a cage or separate run/housing. IF her wounds are hidden, then move the rooster to his own space and let her rejoin the ladies. Observe heavily to see if the others are picking at her.

How old is the rooster?

 

[Sinadrea]

Ah...
She may be trying to avoid the rooster, this is why she's acting "off".

Photos of the wounds may help. But general care is to clean/flush the wounds with Saline or Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), then apply a thin coating of triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds.

Are the wounds somewhat hidden under the wings on her sides? If so, then yes, that location can be from spurs or nails. I've had that happen. Monitor the wound for any smells, under wings it's somewhat warm and can lock in moisture, if you note an odor, then swab/clean with Chlorhexidine (my go to), let that dry and don't apply ointment for a couple of days unless she's picking at it, just swab at least once daily with the Chlorhexidine. (make sense?)

For any wounds/scrapes on the head if near the eyes, just clean with saline, then apply your ointment.

Ideally...she needs to be near the flock so she doesn't become too isolated. Removing a hen can cause re-integration issues. IF she has obvious wounds that the others will pick at, then she needs to be protected in a cage or separate run/housing. IF her wounds are hidden, then move the rooster to his own space and let her rejoin the ladies. Observe heavily to see if the others are picking at her.

How old is the rooster?

Rooster just turned 2. Yes, the wounds are hidden under the wings but wings have dried blood on them. She is pecking at the right side.

How long would I separate the roo from the hens? How many hours a day and how many days? Should I put him in a gated area?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, it's like from spurs or nails.
I'd clean the wounds really well and if she's picking at it, then apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds to help soften them and soothe them. Could be itchy like healing wounds can be or she's trying to pick at the dried blood on the wings, hard to know, but I'd monitor it close. Do watch for any signs of maggots in the wounds as well.

For the rooster, you do not want him mounting her until she heals up completely. She'll likely also grow in some new feathers (eventually) to cover those wounds too.

You can put him in a gated area so he can see them. Separating out a rooster can disrupt the flock a little, but it's not that hard to reintegrate them with the ladies like removing a hen, ime. Hens have their own pecking order and the rooster somewhat revolves around that bringing companionship and keeping order.

You may find that he can be out with the hens and roam with them, caging her for a few hours during the day so she's protected and giving her a break too. Sometimes you have to experiment and find what works for your setup and your flock. The ladies may be more relaxed with him separated or they may get stressed especially if they seem to adore him, a lot depends on so many factors, it's hard to come up with an answer that fits all situations.

View attachment 4096121View attachment 4096123View attachment 4096124View attachment 4096122Rooster just turned 2. Yes, the wounds are hidden under the wings but wings have dried blood on them. She is pecking at the right side.

How long would I separate the roo from the hens? How many hours a day and how many days? Should I put him in a gated area?

 

[Sinadrea]

I agree, it's like from spurs or nails.
I'd clean the wounds really well and if she's picking at it, then apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds to help soften them and soothe them. Could be itchy like healing wounds can be or she's trying to pick at the dried blood on the wings, hard to know, but I'd monitor it close. Do watch for any signs of maggots in the wounds as well.

For the rooster, you do not want him mounting her until she heals up completely. She'll likely also grow in some new feathers (eventually) to cover those wounds too.

You can put him in a gated area so he can see them. Separating out a rooster can disrupt the flock a little, but it's not that hard to reintegrate them with the ladies like removing a hen, ime. Hens have their own pecking order and the rooster somewhat revolves around that bringing companionship and keeping order.

You may find that he can be out with the hens and roam with them, caging her for a few hours during the day so she's protected and giving her a break too. Sometimes you have to experiment and find what works for your setup and your flock. The ladies may be more relaxed with him separated or they may get stressed especially if they seem to adore him, a lot depends on so many factors, it's hard to come up with an answer that fits all situations.

Thanks again, I think it's dried blood too but must have happened a few days ago, maybe when she started sharing a brooder box with her sister.

My rooster is a pain so I will see who I can isolate first. I'm not sure if the hens all adore him, he's semi-aggressive.

I have a pen set up for younger chicks so I may put one in there. I do feel bad but she's always hiding in the coop so it may be more beneficial for her to go outside and be isolated a few hours a day until she heals up.

I appreciate all the advice!