Hi every one, really need your help.
yesterday i woke up to find nigella on the patio with a very bloody behind, she had flown over the fence to get away from rosemary who had blood on her beak (obviously been pecking her bum)
nigella had layed an egg that morning and it was spotlesly clean, i can only think that the blood incident has happened after she layed it.

does anyone know if laying eggs can cause injury?
do chooks attack the behinds of others?
this happened to another before and rosemary is quite a bully, eventually she died, possibly with the stress, I dont want this to happen again.

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Forget Corrie....Tv remote is mine tonight mummy!!!

Hiya

unfortunately they do. They see something and peck at it, and as soon as it bleeds they peck more. You need to keep them separate until she has healed or she will keep pecking at it.

There are a few reasons behind this behaviour it could be either just curious pecking turning into something more when she see's blood, it could be lack of foraging opportunity (boredom which is redirected at group mates as seen a great deal in intensive systems) or it can be nutritional, if they are not getting the correct nutrients in their diet.

It then becomes habitual, sounds to me like it's a bad habit Rosemary has picked up. I'm assuming she has access to range/grass where she can forage/scratch about?

Zo
x

they are all ex-battery hens from the BHWT. they now free range in the garden where there are grass and bushes. from what you have said it sounds like maybe she has picked up a habit from the battery farm and is carrying it on here, I will try to keep them separated for a little while and keep them busy with some activities.
I did have 4 but 2 have passed away now. Im due to pick up some more ex-bats in november from the BHWT, that will be the make or break for rosemary i think!

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Forget Corrie....Tv remote is mine tonight mummy!!!