new mom hen being attacked by 'sisters' - advice?

We have 3 cochin hens, bought together as 1st year layers about 4mths a go. Wasn't long (being cochins, no surprise I guess) before 1 went broody. We eventually got some eggs in and she's done a marvelous job hatching them. Before all this happened she was the dominant hen.

5 weeks later, she's outdoors everyday with the chics in a run separated from the other 2 (has been for a few weeks), the others hadn't paid much attention other than occasionally eye-ing the chic crumbs on the other side of the wire... Today, we decided to give the new family more space and put up a chicken fence (the type you can electrify, which we've not done).

Right away, one of the other girls (who's now also broody, and has become - we think - the dominant one in the absence of the 1 who went off to become a mum, Doris), has started attacking 'Doris' through the mesh netting. Really going mad, we got her away and within a minute the other was up to the fence and also attacking Doris. We separated them for the rest of the day, putting the other 2 girls in a different yard with our ducks/geese. Came back from errands and found them back in yard 1, and again attacking Doris through the mesh - the mesh isn't much protection and I think they'll have it down - and Doris killed - in no time. Doris meanwhile is fighting back - but having been broody and then moulting (and eating too much chick crumb probably) she's looking worse for wear and I don't think can win this fight.

Can anyone offer us some advice please? We know a pecking order is the name of the game, but didn't expect this - what with ensuring the other 2 could see Doris and her brood all the time when they're out. We're wondering if we should electrify the poultry netting, but are worried if even a low voltage would be too strong for the 5 week old chicks (1 of which is quite small, we think it (barnevelder) must be a bantam)..? Anyone know about electric poultry netting and young chics?

Any and all advice appreciated. We thought cochins would be a nice docile breed to start chicken keeping with... but so far it's 2 of 3 of them broody and a massive attack game going on (and we haven't even trialed integrating the new baby chics)!

Advice on what to do with Doris' blooming head injuries also would be great

Thank you

If your chicks are 5 weeks old and have feathers the electric fence won't harm them.  I usually put my chicks, which have been incubated, out at 5 weeks on their own inside an electric net with no problems.

Your mother hen will decide at what age her chicks should be independant and you will find that one morning she will drive them away if they crowd round her expecting food.  After this she will have no more interest in nuturing them and they will learn to fend for themselves.

Doris will be accepted back again if the others are close and can see her.  Hens can behave aggressively towards broodies who leave the nest as in a flock situation the broody is expected to sit tight on the eggs.  If the broody leaves her nest the others will try to drive her back again.  It isn't this behaviour you are seeing is it?

Treat open wounds with an antiseptic such as Gentian  (Purple) Spray which discourages pecking as well as being antiseptic.

Regards

Sounds like you may need some advice on electric nets.  The voltage of the battery doesn't determine the voltage of the net as the high voltage required to make the net work needs to be generated by an energiser.  It isn't directly connected to the battery.  Heres some info.
A net needs to be electrified using an “energiser” of which there are many makes available.  The energiser applies short very high voltage pulses to the fence which are unpleasant to touch causing a sharp jolt, but aren’t high enough energy to be dangerous.  The basic decisions you need to make are whether to power the energiser from a battery or from the mains.  Most energisers these days are actually powered from a 12 volt supply which can either be a battery or a plug top mains powered power supply.  This means you have the option of mains or battery powering . Obviously which you use will depend on the proximity of a mains supply though it is worth considering a battery system for the convenience and ease of safely installing it if there’s no convenient outside mains sockets or in sheltered out buildings.  Two battery systems are usually available; a standard 12 Volt wet cell battery (as used in a car), or a 9 Volt dry cell battery using dry cell replaceable batteries (as used by torches for example).  Wet cell batteries are rechargeable and have a high capacity so are economic to maintain whereas dry cell batteries need to be replaced when exhausted but are much lighter than wet cells and are easily carried to remote locations.   For most people a 12v wet cell is the preferred choice because of the economy of use.  Although a car battery can be used they aren’t designed for deep discharging, which normally happens with electric fences, and they quickly have cell failures due to cell plate distortion.  A purpose designed “Leisure” battery should be used which has reinforced cells and will last for many years if properly looked after and charged up immediately they become discharged.  Whether you use a dry or wet battery ensure the energiser is designed for the specific voltage (12V or 9V) supplied by the battery.  To indicate when the battery is low, an energiser which includes a low voltage indicator is useful in maintaining battery life.
If you use a mains unit make sure it is powered from a propery installed socket and not from a mains extension lead.
Regards