[mlbjackson]

Hi, I'm new here.  Just found this forum.  We have 2 hens, 1 rooster, and a chick about 3 days old.

The Momma Chicken had been sitting on 3 eggs for a while when we introduced another hen who is probably about 5 months younger.  Momma Chicken, was of course, not so friendly to the new hen.

Now that a chick has hatched, Momma Chicken is quite aggressive towards the other hen & the two have been fighting.  Momma Chicken now has an eye injury.  Her eye is swollen almost shut.

How should I treat her injury?

Any ideas on how to calm the feud between the girls?  "Boo Boo" (no, I didn't name her) is smaller & usually runs away when Momma Chicken comes after her.

Thank you !

[hotterotter]

brooding hens should be kept separate or so i've read. In a totally free range scenario they try and brood somwhere hidden.

I've no experience of broody hens but have introduced new birds to an existing flock before so with a pinch of salt here's what what I'd do:

Separate the birds, chick and mum together and cock and new hen together. keep the mum and chick in as clean a surroundings as you can so mums wounds don't get infected (disinfect their accomodation new litter clean water etc.) Let the the new girl and your cock get aquainted and re-introduce them all together when the chicks about a month to five weeks old. As for the injury just let it heal if you take it to the vet, even given the cost it'll be a masive mix for the lil' un.

But bear in mind this just a mix of a little experience, some knowledge and what I beleive to be common sense, if others with more of the above say otherwise then forget all this.

[mlbjackson]

Thank you for your response hotterotter.  I'll give that a try.  Seems the rooster is now picking on Momma Chicken too.  Think he's defending Boo Boo, but all the same - seems they need some distance.

Thanks again!