Challenging introduction

[Pent]

So here's the deal; I bought three mottled houdans to add to my current flock of three, queen wyandotte, an ee, and a maran. They turned out to be two boys and a girl, which was fine, I'd keep the boys until they were big enough to protect the pullet at intro time, then sell them. Problem is, I had a predator come along and kill both of my boys, leaving my pullet. She's a sweetie, and by far my favorite bird I have. Sits and cuddles with me for ages, but the other girls will not tolerate her. The Queen seems to remove anything that makes another bird different, which includes keeping my EEs beard plucked, but apparently also extends to a houdan's crest. I tried putting her in a cage in the coop overnight, and the Wyandotte plucked a big bald spot right on top of the houdan's head through the bars... Any advice for tricky intros? Should I just wait until the Houdan is full grown? I tried to rush things because she's by herself now, poor thing. Used to free range with the boys. Just follows me around the yard now, looking kinda lost. Im also worried about sunburn on her bald spot, it looks bruised... my poor girl.



The culprit.


The tolerant.

 

[Tuhmu]

It really is a tough introduction, one I wasn't able to overcome myself. I had a trio of black crested white polish and recently sold them because of the same problem. Hopefully someone else can have an answer for you.

I was also having other problems, that's why I just went ahead and said no more polish. They would get lost etc., just disappearing and then showing up at my neighbors a 1/4 mile away. Always laid their eggs on the floor in the poop. It just wasn't working out, but the hens sure were nice. The one would always sit on my lap and "talk/chatter" the whole time.

 

[Pent]

I'm thinking if I let my other girls out of the coop, it might be more neutral turf, and more space with distractions... I just don't have a fence, so I worry about them wandering.