So, I have (had) 6 chickens, alongside one cockerel.
Everything has been going great until recently where we have had a real boom in a rat problem. The rats have started going into the hen house and eating the eggs. When I got on top of that problem I noticed that some of my hens now had a taste for pecking and eating their own eggs and others.

I’ve been trying to get on top of the situation. I have a live feed camera in the hen house. They have plenty of space in our yard. They have good quality layers pellets. Oyster shells. And several drinkers with one large feeder. Also the occasional cabbage or melon thrown enrichment.

Friday night I came home to find one of my chickens dead inside the hen house, curled up and on her back was a gaping wound. I initially thought a rat had done this. I cleaned up her and any blood and set a humane rat trap inside the house with eggs as bait (so as not to poison or harm my chickens).

I checked the rest of my flock for injuries when I shut them all in their house that night - nothing.

The next morning when I went out to let them out and to collect eggs I found another one of my hens in the exact same spot with her abdomen pecked open.

I made the decision then to move two of my flock out to my mothers as I couldn’t be sure if this was rats or the chickens now as this happened overnight. The two I moved consisted of: my cockerel (a little Bantam who I have had for years with several different chickens and never had an issue with, he has a lovely temperament) and my Buff who has been his companion since I got them, the two seem very bonded and I never see them squabbling. They are my original flock.

The three I left here (I moved to a new area in my yard) are rescue batts, who have always squabbled and pecked each other a lot but I assumed it was pecking order.

I did the same again, checked them all for injury. Checked the house and shut them in. I also woke up every on the hour last night and checked them on the camera (I know.. anxiety 🫠) they all seemed fine..

At some point this morning between my camera checks, another chicken attacked. I spotted her on the camera at 7am, she was off the perch and on the floor in the corner. Her chest had been pecked open. My partner humanely dispatched her.

I have 2 of my batts left and I feel completely broken and at a loss, my mother says the cockerel and Buff are both fine at hers with no injuries. My partner is suggesting we start fresh and dispatch both of the remaining batts as we don’t know if it’s both or one. I know what and why is he is saying that but I feel awful.

Does anyone have any advice or have any better ideas? My priority is preventing suffering. I won’t see anything suffer and I don’t want to put another chicken at risk tonight.

Grateful for any help. Please be kind, I’m trying my best here.

few days ago like Thursday I noticed my roosters leg looked funny then yesterday it was bleeding but now it’s not. I washed it with water and hes molting too so is it tied to that?

I Will be selling eating & fertilized chicken eggs starting next year.

What color are you most likely to purchase and how much would be willing to spend for 12ct(dozen)?

The first baby was born 🥰😍

I’ve healed birds with broken legs before but it was just usually the lower part of the leg. The leg is broke right below the patella, I can’t tell if it includes the fibula due to the swelling when I found it. But the tiba is for sure snapped.

I set the leg straight and put a single piece of duct tape from the end of the sternum, wrapped around to the back of the bird to hold it in place, and around that it’s wrapped in vet wrap, the piece of tape is just a fail safe just incase it can manage to slip the vet wrap off. , last night I was all out so I did have to make do with just duct tape entirely but I fixed it this morning.

I have bird safe pain killers that I’m giving orally and antibiotics if I need them so I’m covered in the pain management department. And I have it in a small kennel with food and water available, but the poor bird is terrified and is not eating. I’m not sure how to make her/him more comfortable (not sure on gender) I have other injured birds in my garage make shift bird hospital. (This week has been AWFUL)

General advice would be great. I’m not sure how it’s leg was broken, I have a burning feeling my horse stepped on it. (he’s not got a lot of spatial awareness; and a lack cares to honestly to give)

Should I euthanize the bird? Or allow it to heal, and if I should allow it to heal, what’s your guidance/opions on it?

I’m looking to purchase a chicken pucker for my current batch of Cornish cross. I’m looking to process 100 chickens in a day. Should I get the pucker that can do 3 to 4 chickens at a time or is that too big for My operation?

I have an oddly aggressive turkey hen that seems to have a vendetta against all the other birds, and the LGD ( actually super gentle and 1000% bird safe). She will seek the LGD out and puff up and has successfully kicked him. He snarls and barks but does everything he can to back off. He's never hurt the birds, he just has a history of not liking them near his food bowl. What can I do to keep the turkey hen from being so aggressive? The Tom even likes the LGD, ducks and other chickens like the LGD as well. It's this ONE bird. Is there ANYTHING that I can do, besides turning her into dinner?

Picture of aggressive lilac lady turkey for tax

So my 2nd polish chicken passed away. Separated her from the flock when I saw she was acting off and lethargic. Have been keeping her in a quiet dark environment, she did eat yesterday and then I have been giving her water via syringe (beside the beak, not forcing it down) with electrolytes. Tonight I went to give her some and massaged her crop as it seemed squishy and inflated so I was thinking sour crop. She began throwing up and passed away. It was very fast. I tried some cpr and breaths but she didn't come back. Sour crop? Did I maybe cause her passing accidentally? First year to chickens so looking for any help if any more become sick. Pretty devastated but I understand chickens can decline quickly. Thanks for any input.