Aggressive Hen?

[Anapsid]

Hi everyone. New chicken mom here. I had to isolate one of my hens due to illness. The re-introduction process has not been very good. At first everyone seemed pretty ok. A few pecks here and there, but nothing major. Then one of the BO hens attacked the one I had isolated. This was not you're average chest butting feather fluffing fight. The one that had been isolated tried to get away, but the aggressor wouldn't relent. Blood was everywhere! The aggressive hen even went after me as I was trying to get out of the yard with the injured bird.
I've tried separate fences. The evil queen persists with her ruthless attacks.
Just for giggles I pulled the aggressor out and there was no problem between anybody.
Any thoughts?
All the hens were brooded and hatched together.
They're 28 weeks old.
No behavioral issues or aggression prior to this.
The aggressive hen is not the top hen in pecking order.
Please help. Selma can't live in the garage forever.

 

[JaeG]

Isolate the bully in a small cage within the run or just beside it so that she loses her social standing. A day or two isolated from the general goings on should bring her down a peg or two. I hope so anyway.

 

[Anapsid]

Thank you! I will try this tomorrow. If that doesn't work...soup pot?

 

[chicks are life]

That should work you just may have too lengthen the time depending on her social status.

That injured hen Selma? Is and was trying to move up past the bo in the order so the bo has to fight her more to keep her social status up and high

 

[Anapsid]

Thanks so much guys...
Should I wait to put the injured bird back after her face heals or do it now?

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd wait till the injured bird's face heals. I'd segregate the aggressor out of sight from the rest of the flock for a good long while, at least a week after you've re-introduced the injured bird. Keeping her segregated, and totally away from the rest of the flock will force her to have to work her way up in the flock again, and will give the injured girl time to establish before that happens. If she still won't play nice, I'd eat her or rehome her to an other flock.

However, I have a few questions about your set up: do you have a coop with at least 4s.f. /bird of open floor space? Roosts at least 18" above floor? A run of at least 10 s.f./bird ? Have you set up coop and run so there are multiple height and out of sight (but no dead end spaces) areas, and multiple feed/water stations? Is your run bare soil? Modifying your flock space can go a long way towards ensuring that your girls play nice.

 

[Anapsid]

I'd wait till the injured bird's face heals. I'd segregate the aggressor out of sight from the rest of the flock for a good long while, at least a week after you've re-introduced the injured bird. Keeping her segregated, and totally away from the rest of the flock will force her to have to work her way up in the flock again, and will give the injured girl time to establish before that happens. If she still won't play nice, I'd eat her or rehome her to an other flock.

However, I have a few questions about your set up: do you have a coop with at least 4s.f. /bird of open floor space? Roosts at least 18" above floor? A run of at least 10 s.f./bird ? Have you set up coop and run so there are multiple height and out of sight (but no dead end spaces) areas, and multiple feed/water stations? Is your run bare soil? Modifying your flock space can go a long way towards ensuring that your girls play nice.

Good morning: the coop has at least 4 sq feet per bird. I only have 4 birds. The coop has 3 roosting bars all over 2 feet off the ground and 3 nesting boxes. The outdoor run is 240 sq feet has bushes, natural branch/trunk roosts and bare soil ground. There are two feeding areas and one watering system.
I want my flock happy...what can I change?

 

[lazy gardener]

Good morning: the coop has at least 4 sq feet per bird. I only have 4 birds. The coop has 3 roosting bars all over 2 feet off the ground and 3 nesting boxes. The outdoor run is 240 sq feet has bushes, natural branch/trunk roosts and bare soil ground. There are two feeding areas and one watering system.
I want my flock happy...what can I change?

Sounds like you have the environment covered. Except for the bare soil ground. I'd work on turning that bare soil into deep litter: toss in your grass clippings (if from untreated lawn) garden debris, leaves, litter from the coop, a few hay bales for them to spread out. The goal will be to make a deep litter that is a minimum of 6" deep. They will stay busy shuffling through the litter for goodies, and the compost will help prevent pathogens. A covered soil is a healthy soil.

 

[Anapsid]

Thanks for the suggestions! We live in Southern California and have no grass. Just rocks, barks and xeriscape. Would shavings and hay be sufficient?
Also, would adding a couple more outdoor roosts and hiding spots be a good idea?
Despite all the places the injured girl could have gone, she refused to back down. Neither girl would relent.