[Mickle]

She likes the taste of blood, time to introduce her to the Coconut curry sauce bath, Markw will supply you with the recipe :-)
Failing that the roasting pan should spices be not to your taste.

[joyfull]

if the other hen has had an egg break on it's way out all hens would peck away at it to remove the evidence and to get the extra protein - this is perfectly normal as they have to remove any evidence in case a predator comes near. Sadly in their haste to clean up they can nick the skin which would cause the bleeding and all hens go berserk for blood. Fitting beak clips would stop this. Also if the hen is still bleeding than dab with wound powder (id you don't have any then cornflour (not ordinary flour) would suffice. Spray the rest of the area with gentian violet (also known as purple spray) to disguise any redness.
Do your hens have access to crushed oyster shell for the calcium they need to help produce strong egg shells.?
There is no need to cull this bird if you don't wish to.

[Mickle]

Its developed a Cannibalistic tendency brought about by a inquisitive first peck at a twitching vent, they do this as easy as pecking at a twitching mouse to finally consuming the mouse,

The same applies to this hen, she will not stop, the workings of the victim will be open to display shortly, its wings will be down and if left in the pen consumed.

Either De-beak them, BIT, them or put them in Spec's, and if they persist Wring their necks,eat them and start again with other birds

You need to act straight away when this starts.

The problem is BOREDOM related and has nothing to do with pecking eggs or an abused chick-hood

Grumpy
     

[M1CYO]

I have just got some beak clips so will try them and hopefully this will stop the problem..

Thanks again

Mike

[Mickle]

Best of luck M1cyo,
The Mandible will eventually grow to meet up at the tip again and if they revert to their anti-social ways you can either get a bit the next size up or take the tip (1/8"-3/16"no more) of its Top Mandible off with a hot blade, Nail clipper's (side cutters)would probably work but I have never tried them.

Spec's are an alternative that can be left in place

I've had this problem start in 4 and 5 week old Pheasant poults, and when you run 1000 to a pen prior to release at 6 weeks it soon get's out of hand.
Consequently bitting early was necessary, and de-beaking at 6 weeks depended on the release pen and the cover it afforded.
Never had it start in my Chooks though as they were always free range.