Bullied hen has a hole in the head

[heather134]

A week ago we tried to integrate a single hen that a friend was trying to unload. I've been keeping a close eye on the flock (7 hens, plus one new one) and things seemed to be going well until yesterday when they beat her up pretty handily (photos attached). I can't tell if it's bone or cartilage that's visible. I put some Aquaphor on it.
She's a lavender Orpington, I have other Orphingtons, Wellsummers, an Easter egger, and a Wyandotte.

Question 1 - How bad is it really? I'm hoping it looks worse than it is. She's still eating and drinking and acts normal.
Question 2 - Is it so bad that I should send her back to her original home?
Question 3 - If not, suggestions for preventing her from being beaten? I thought about a mini helmet, but not sure if those actually work! She's figured out how to get to the high roosting bars, but they must have caught her on the ground yesterday.

Biggest concern right now is that we'll be gone over the weekend. We usually have a neighbor collect eggs and check food / water, but I don't trust that the flock won't kill this new girl with us gone.

 

[Jener8or]

That should heal fine as long as it doesn't get infected. (I usually use Blu-Kote or iodine spray that would help dry it out.) I would try to find a dog kennel and keep her in that where everyone can see her for introduction, but not touch. They heal up generally a lot faster than you think, so I hope everything goes well!

 

[heather134]

Thanks! Good to know it should heal quickly.
I started with a crate in the yard, then removed it the next day and they all did relatively well together free-ranging. By day 3 the pecking was no worse than any other hen and I thought she'd be ok.
Right now they're all in the yard together and there's no issue, just when they're in the coop.