Sick Chicken/Bullying

[cyndiherzog]

So we have a hen that has gotten very slim, thinking she might have worms but not 100% sure. Yesterday morning another hen started attacking her. Not just pecks here and there but was going after her. We separated the skinny possibly sick one in a dog crate just outside the run. Because she was so desperately trying to get away and we could not watch them all day. She calmed right down when we put her in there and ate and drank a ton! Put her back into the coop overnight and checked on them around 2am and they were all fine. Let them out this morning and the sick hen was the first to run out and began pacing. Could tell she was stressed and scared. A couple minutes later a different hen came out and began to go after her. We don’t have enough space to keep them separate in the coop overnight. And it’s starting to get cold here in Illinois. So I think for now she is going to have to get isolated in the cage in our garage at night so this does not continue to happen and she can get better. However, I’m worried about bringing her back into the flock since it is multiple hens being aggressive towards her. We got all of these chickens when they were just a few days old, they have all been together for about a year and a half with no issues. I’ve read numerous ways on how to integrate back into the flock once she is on the up and up but I’m still concerned for her. I’ve read to separate the bully hen for a few days to reestablish the pecking order but it’s multiple hens. Just not sure how to go about it all. We did get dewormer and are giving it to the entire flock. Along with probiotics to mix in their water. This will be day 2 of doing those treatments. Any other suggestions?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

we have a hen that has gotten very slim, thinking she might have worms but not 100% sure. Yesterday morning another hen started attacking her. Not just pecks here and there but was going after her. We separated the skinny possibly sick one in a dog crate just outside the run. Because she was so desperately trying to get away and we could not watch them all day. She calmed right down when we put her in there and ate and drank a ton!

Let them out this morning and the sick hen was the first to run out and began pacing. Could tell she was stressed and scared. A couple minutes later a different hen came out and began to go after her. We don’t have enough space to keep them separate in the coop overnight.

However, I’m worried about bringing her back into the flock since it is multiple hens being aggressive towards her. We got all of these chickens when they were just a few days old, they have all been together for about a year and a half with no issues.

How much coop space and run do you have? (sqft of each?) Photos of your set-up and the birds may help.

With her being stressed out and it sounds like she's being bullied - likely this is the reason she's lost weight. Maybe being kept from food - it happens sometimes.
Add another feed station or two if you have room - same with water stations.

She may be sick(?) and that's why she's being picked on, is she molting, does she lay eggs?
What do you feed.

Worms could be an issue - a fecal float can tell you that or just de-worm her - but sounds like she's hungry.

 

[cyndiherzog]

How much coop space and run do you have? (sqft of each?) Photos of your set-up and the birds may help.

With her being stressed out and it sounds like she's being bullied - likely this is the reason she's lost weight. Maybe being kept from food - it happens sometimes.
Add another feed station or two if you have room - same with water stations.

She may be sick(?) and that's why she's being picked on, is she molting, does she lay eggs?
What do you feed.

Worms could be an issue - a fecal float can tell you that or just de-worm her - but sounds like she's hungry.

We have a prefabricated coop. I can’t remember how big it is exactly at this point, but we have 4 birds and it’s made for at least 5. They are not free range either. There is not a ton of space to add additional food and water sources in but could be done if necessary. I did read that and we are currently trying to figure out how to do that.
Egg production all around has slowed down in the last month with the cold and shorter days. And we are sure at least two or three of them have recently been molting. (Feathers are everywhere!) we feed them NatureWise brand. Usually layer feed but switched to feather fixer when they started molting. (40lb bag more then halfway gone). We are deworming the entire flock currently. Her poops have been a mix of normal and watery. Not sure about a fecal float though. Would have to do a search on how to go about that. She is very skiddish currently. I had the cage she is in up against the open side of the run and she was not having it. Still acting very panicked and stressed. Moved it to the side where we have some foam installation installed for winterization purposes and she calmed right now. She can still hear them, and knows they are there they just can’t fully see each other. Hopefully pictures help! The inside of coop looks small from the angle but you can at least see the size difference in the 3 compared to her.

 

[cyndiherzog]

Overall it is not our favorite set up but it is what has worked for now while we are in between houses. Hopefully moving soon and will be able to build a new coop, with a much larger run. Originally our plan was to add on additional run space since we were not free ranging but could not do it where we moved.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We have a prefabricated coop. I can’t remember how big it is exactly at this point, but we have 4 birds and it’s made for at least 5.

(Feathers are everywhere!) we feed them NatureWise brand. Usually layer feed but switched to feather fixer when they started molting.

We are deworming the entire flock currently.

Overall it is not our favorite set up but it is what has worked for now while we are in between houses. Hopefully moving soon and will be able to build a new coop, with a much larger run. Originally our plan was to add on additional run space since we were not free ranging but could not do it where we moved.

Did they have more space before you moved?
It is tight quarters for them - sadly, I see a lot of folks seem to be unhappy with the prefabs.

Being picked at and kept from food may be the main problem for her, but re-introducing her may be a challenge.

You are worming them now - what are you using?

 

[cyndiherzog]

Did they have more space before you moved?
It is tight quarters for them - sadly, I see a lot of folks seem to be unhappy with the prefabs.

Being picked at and kept from food may be the main problem for her, but re-introducing her may be a challenge.

You are worming them now - what are you using?

This is the coop they’ve always been in, we were in the process of building an additional run to attach at the end, but it was too big to move with us unfortunately. Like I said the coop was built for 5. We just wanted them to have more space since we don’t let them free range. It definitely looks a lot smaller in the picture of the inside but they do have open run space underneath the coop as well. After over a year and a half of them being in here it’s just weird that they all of a sudden start attacking her.
We are currently using Strike III mixed in with their normal food. All our local farm store had. Just unsure if we should keep her separated until she puts weight back on, or if we should try putting her back with them and providing additional food first. Just hate seeing her get beat up in the process and suffering and not getting food.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You mentioned they were molting? This would be their first adult molt. Sometimes birds that have gotten along very well don't during molt. They don't feel well, don't like to be touched and in close quarters tempers can run high.

Hard to know about keeping her separated - re-integration is probably going to be a challenge, even more so the longer she stays out of the flock.

 

[jonalisa]

What are the dimensions of the run?