4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[susiepoos]

We've had our girls for over 12 months now - we got all 6 at the same time and never had a minutes problem with them getting on but in the last 2 days Beth and Lily have been fighting - basically Lily is having a good old peck at Beth whenever she is close by and I can't understand why. There's no blood yet but I just wonder how long it will be if I don't do something.

 

Any ideas???

 

 

Well it got worse and all the girls turned on Lily - basically pecking at her as she went by and chasing her. Yesterday my OH said he felt sorry for Lily but he was concerned because she was all fluffed up and 'clucking' a lot. Today she has stayed in the nesting box but I have put her out twice and twice the girls have picked on her and she has continued to cluck away and puff up all her feathers - tonight she started this bizarre walk when every now and them she'd stop pick stuff up from the ground and throw it over her shoulder - quite funny to watch but at the same time she seems so distressed - well the penny finally dropped - I've got a broody hen!!!!!! Do you think I could be right?? I've put them to bed tonight and Lily is back in the nesting box - so I've just put a ice pack underneath her to see if that helps - what else can I do???

Edited July 2, 2008 by Guest

[Phonix]

Hi susiepoos,

I have no idea im afraid as i don't have chooks yet or know anything much about them but im sure someone who know a whole lot more will be along soon.

 

I think the main thing that ive picked up in here is not to leave beth in there untreated if blood has been drawn as the others will be attracted to the blood and peck more (i think thats right) ANYWAYS someone who know ALOT more will be along soon.

 

Just wanted to let you know that your not alone and someone with more knowledge will be along soon!

 

Stacey

xXx

[Gamebird]

I have read that a lice infestation can make chickens very uncomfortable and grumpy which can lead to pecking their fellow flock members.

 

Are they all healthy and happy? Have you checked for lice and worms recently?

[The Dogmother]

As gamebird has said - check them over for any obvious signs of ill health or infestation. A good squirt in the face with a water spray soon stops any fighting.

[susiepoos]

see update

[Egluntyne]

Sounds to me as if she has gone broody.

 

Any changes like that can upset the pecking order.

 

Have a read of**this article** and see what you think.

[Helen&Lee]

Doris is broody again, and I'm finding she is being really picked on whenever I turf her out of the nesting box into the run.

 

I'm going to try spraying her with a diluted tea tree oil solution to make her taste horrible and hopefuul;y put them off.

 

I also have bumper bars at the ready - my OH thinks they are cruel.

 

Last night I let the others out to free range, put Doris in the run and shut the cube door for a while to let her potter about.

 

It's definately to do with the pecking order as the one whole is launching the particulary violent attacks on Doris is the one I would consider to be bottom of the pecking order (or was!)

 

Helen

[susiepoos]

Sounds to me as if she has gone broody.

 

Any changes like that can upset the pecking order.

 

Have a read of**this article** and see what you think.

 

 

Thanks for that Egluntine - she's definitely broody - totally text book. She's had the ice pack under her all night and a bag of ice this morning - we'll just have to see how things go