Bully chicken and injured chicken advice

[Burkeeks]

I’m a first-time chicken owner and could use some advice. This afternoon, I found one of my chickens injured, and I suspect it might be the result of pecking or bullying.

The injured chicken is about 8-9 months old, while the others are around 9–10 months, so she’s not much younger. I don’t think it’s molting since she’s under a year old, and none of my other chickens have similar feather loss.

I’ve noticed that the four older chickens sometimes pick on the two younger ones. One chicken in particular can get quite aggressive—she’ll peck at their necks and even grab hold when she’s really upset.


For now, I’ve brought the injured chicken inside and placed her in a dog kennel for the night. I cleaned her neck and applied some Vetericyn to the wound.


What would you do in this situation?


• Should I keep the injured chicken separated until she heals and her feathers grow back?


• Should I isolate the aggressive chicken?


• Would it be better to separate the two younger chickens from the older flock altogether?





I’d love to hear how others have handled similar issues. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Altairsky]

If the bully is 1 in particular, put the bully in jail for 1 week, away from the flock. Then reintroduce her. If she still bully the younger girls, get rid of her.
If there are multiple bullies, than there might be a problem harder to fix.

 

[aart]

I don’t think it’s molting since she’s under a year old, and none of my other chickens have similar feather loss.

That age bird can have a partial molt their first fall/winter.
...and that what I see in your third pic, new feathers coming with some sheathing still on.

Where was the wound, was it bleeding??

 

[rosemarythyme]

One chicken in particular can get quite aggressive—she’ll peck at their necks and even grab hold when she’s really upset.

While that sounds scary if no blood is drawn I do not consider it a problem. It's a normal way for one bird to show domination over another.

I'm not seeing the wound in the photos. Can you get a closer and clearer photo of the damage? I do see pinfeathers at the neck but that's from molt, like aart mentioned.

I do not isolate birds, not completely. If a bird needs medical treatment the cage stays in the coop or run. Reintegration can make things far worse so avoiding the need for that is one of my top priorities.

 

[Mrs. K]

Put her back ASAP, separating birds will make this worse. I too, do not see bullying, but rather molt. I echo no blood, leave them be. Introducing a single hen is very difficult, and birds forget birds they have been raised with in a short amount of time. The flock will take stranger danger at a high form and often become very aggressive to the 'new' bird.

If you have one or two that are bullying - try the pin-less peepers. They are often a great solution for small flocks.

All 4 of your birds are full size now, sometimes what happens is what was enough room for 4 birds, becomes not enough room for 4 birds as they all reach full size. However, I don't think that this is a real bullying problem, however, you are there watching them, I am not. Bullying is heartless, very aggressive, with red angry skin, bleeding and the victim cowering and taking the abuse. Your bird does not have any of those mannerisms.

The difference in age is negligible at this point in time, as chicks that is a big difference, but not now, now they really are all the same age. Like being in second grade. Some birds do a partial molt before the big molt at about 18 months of age.


Mrs K

 

[alinas2010]

Hi, sorry you are having some issues. Glad she isn’t too badly hurt. Minor and even not so minor squabbles can be somewhat normal amongst pullets to establish the pecking order. But if you truly think you are having issues with bullying, give this article a read by @azygous, I’ve found it really helpful. Good luck!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/