6 weeks later

[Greaner_pastures]

6 weeks ago I took her out of the run. Since then she’s been getting a constant diet of meal worms, oats, the occasional egg and other scraps. She’s definitely been spoiled. I’m here to ask your thoughts though on when she can move from a dog crate in my basement back to her nice big run/coop with her 3 other sisters? Also how should I go about the reintroduction? Stick her back in at night and then keep a close eye on her from there or reintroduce slowly? Pic is from the day I took her in to today.

 

[nuthatched]

Oats aren't good for chickens so I'd not let her have anymore.
You're going to have to set up an area where they can all see each other but not get at, like a dog kennel. For a week or two.

 

[Greaner_pastures]

Oats aren't good for chickens so I'd not let her have anymore.
You're going to have to set up an area where they can all see each other but not get at, like a dog kennel. For a week or two.

Interesting ive read opposite about the oats. So like start bringing her in and out for a while I assume is what you mean?

 

[nuthatched]

Interesting ive read opposite about the oats. So like start bringing her in and out for a while I assume is what you mean?

Oats contain beta glucans, making them nutrition blockers and cause digestion issues.
Not, just put her where everyone can see each other (on the other side of a fence etc) but not touch because after 6 weeks, she's a stranger and they'll kill her if not introduced properly.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Look in the Articles section for topics on Integration, there are several good ones. You'll want to use the "see-no-touch" method. I believe it's @aart that also describes how to put a hen in with her from the middle of the pecking order at some point and then integrating the two of them together.

 

[Greaner_pastures]

Look in the Articles section for topics on Integration, there are several good ones. You'll want to use the "see-no-touch" method. I believe it's @aart that also describes how to put a hen in with her from the middle of the pecking order at some point and then integrating the two of them together.

I was actually reading that last night. This is what I’ve come up with. My run is two sections as I extended it later on. To Save some hardware cloth cardboard up top between the two sections of run then hardware cloth on the bottom so they can see each other. They will be fully seperated and I’ll be bringing out the bird every morning and bringing in the bird I’m reintroducing every night.

I don’t have the hardware cloth attached yet but it will be today

 

[Greaner_pastures]

Final solution…wish I thought to fill there water and food before I fenced them off lol. Guess I’ll be undoing and redoing the hardware cloth fasteners tonight and crawling under lol

 

[Greaner_pastures]

First day out, brought her right out around sunup. One bird took an issue with her being back and they yelled at each other for a bit. Still seem to be doing a tiny bit of back and forth. She will be coming back in around 5pm est just cause I don’t want her being forced to roost alone and getting cold, and going back out every morning around 630am est. This was the first pic of the day after some bickering!

Any tips tricks or advice are all welcome.

 

[BDutch]

Good to keep her warm at night if its freezing cold where you live. Can you add your country/state in your profile?

And I miss info why she was sick or injured.

Best give her mainly chick feed as long as she isn’t laying.

How long you need to ‘see don't touch’ is hard to predict. But there will be some pecking for sure if they join.

I have been reading a good way to integrate is to give the ex-sick chicken 1 easygoing friend as companion after a week or 2 behind fences. Then the recovered hen is not alone when you integrate with the rest of the flock.

Unfortunately this didnt work for me with a new bossy hen I rescued/adopted. But it might work for you. Finally I only used the ‘see dont touch’ and started to integrate when they all could free range.

Think in weeks, not days.

 

[Greaner_pastures]

Good to keep her warm at night if its freezing cold where you live. Can you add your country/state in your profile?

And I miss info why she was sick or injured.

Best give her mainly chick feed as long as she isn’t laying.

How long you need to ‘see don't touch’ is hard to predict. But there will be some pecking for sure if they join.

I have been reading a good way to integrate is to give the ex-sick chicken 1 easygoing friend as companion after a week or 2 behind fences. Then the recovered hen is not alone when you integrate with the rest of the flock.

Unfortunately this didnt work for me with a new bossy hen I rescued/adopted. But it might work for you. Finally I only used the ‘see dont touch’ and started to integrate when they all could free range.

Think in weeks, not days.

She started molting and I wasn’t pushing enough protein with it being winter so her three sisters saw it and started picking on her. We live on the east coast MA to be exact and yea I was definetly planning on bringing her in at night. Last night was like 18 degrees and a week ago we were in the single digits and below at night so I didn’t wanna risk it. Plus we have snow on the way for Thursday as well.

I was hoping maybe it would go smooth with the reintroduction, was shooting for a week but obviously if more times needed it’ll be given. They all have been together since birth so I’m hoping that sort of plays to my advantage with the integration. One chick in particular was definetly checking her out this morning and poofing up to establish that order but I threw some worms in and they kind of stopped caring as much lol.