chicken in flock has a missing comb and being abused by other birds in the flock

[pkupchk]

We have a flock of Rhode Island Reds, Barrod rocks and Isa brown bullets that are 21 weeks old. We started having eggs on a regular basis a few weeks ago but we're noticing more aggressive behaviors. Our smallest chicken, Who has been the smallest even when we got her at a few days old, hasn't looked healthy in quite awhile. She has a very large mass on her front that none of the other birds have and she makes a barking sound all the time. We noticed her wattle and comb color have been very pale pink for quite a while but recently the size of her comb has been getting smaller. Today when I was out cleaning the coop and feeding the chickens I witnessed one chicken grab hold of her head and swing her around the coop in a very aggressive manner. She's always been very timid to approach the other birds while they are feeding but this episode today has been the worst I've seen. We know the pecking order is alive and well and there are several birds that will nip and chase each other in a not very friendly way, but they all look healthy with bright red combs and we are not concerned about them. We're mostly wondering what to do with the small chicken who's missing her comb and seems to be the target of the bullying.

My biggest concern is keeping this pullet safe and right now I feel like the pecking order has gone beyond what it should and is now a case where she's being abused and being injured.

(These birds are the same breed and age as the pullet that's missing her comb)

 

[PD-Riverman]

We have a flock of Rhode Island Reds, Barrod rocks and Isa brown bullets that are 21 weeks old. We started having eggs on a regular basis a few weeks ago but we're noticing more aggressive behaviors. Our smallest chicken, Who has been the smallest even when we got her at a few days old, hasn't looked healthy in quite awhile. She has a very large mass on her front that none of the other birds have and she makes a barking sound all the time. We noticed her wattle and comb color have been very pale pink for quite a while but recently the size of her comb has been getting smaller. Today when I was out cleaning the coop and feeding the chickens I witnessed one chicken grab hold of her head and swing her around the coop in a very aggressive manner. She's always been very timid to approach the other birds while they are feeding but this episode today has been the worst I've seen. We know the pecking order is alive and well and there are several birds that will nip and chase each other in a not very friendly way, but they all look healthy with bright red combs and we are not concerned about them. We're mostly wondering what to do with the small chicken who's missing her comb and seems to be the target of the bullying.

My biggest concern is keeping this pullet safe and right now I feel like the pecking order has gone beyond what it should and is now a case where she's being abused and being injured.


(These birds are the same breed and age as the pullet that's missing her comb)

I been raising chickens for a 1/2 century + and I have always had a "sick" pen. A pen to put hens in when they are different. Right now I have one hen that has a severe cross beak and has to have a special feeder, another hen that was born with a crooked leg and ended up with a rooster that does not seem to have all his "marble' Those 3 get along great, but not with the others so they have their own pen. I get 2 eggs from them most days. Never allow a hen to stay in confinement with others that are hurting her---she is different for some reason and they will probably always peck on her---if one gets her to bleeding---they all could attack her bleeding area and kill her. I suggest a different pen or give her to someone as a pet. Good Luck

 

[bobbi-j]

I agree with PD. This pullet will not survive well in your flock. The others are likely picking on her because she's different and weaker. Survival of the fittest and all that...

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC....sorry you're having troubles.

What is the very large mass?
Something wrong with her crop?
Some kind of growth?

She may be irreparably ill...or just a beaten down low bird.
Might need to euthanize.......or separate, diagnose, and treat if that's the way you roll.