Chaos in aftermath of fox attack - best housing & care for orphaned 3m old chick/young pullet?

[yardranger]

Care of 1 injured hen Phoebe and another 3m old Dotty is going reasonably well, they’re hospitalized since the Tuesday attack in my laundry room. My broody hen Edith was killed, and the fox took the third of her three 3m old chicks, Susanna (I put them under her as day-olds in June). That left a single unharmed but very traumatized young one, who we found hiding in underbrush yards away from the coop after the attack, Marsha. She is not tame at all because Edith did such a marvelous job as a momma.

I have three other mature hens, varying in temperament. Since it was dark by the time we found Marsha, I put her between the two nicer ones on the roost. Next day I decided to try creating a new alliance by putting Titi (nicest) and Marsha together in one section and leaving the other two, 1 not as nice (Bonnie) and 1 really mean (Cheryl), in the other section. The dang shutter blew open somehow even though hooked, so they mingled by the end of the day when I had a chance to check on them.

Cheryl keeps Marsha away from food, bites, and bullies her in general. Cheryl also bullies the other two hens, pecks at their feet to get them away from her preferred roosting spot. In a fit of annoyance with this extra hardship on top of the disastrous results of the attack, I put Cheryl into the other section of the coop by herself last night. Edith was her bestie and now that the chicks are bigger, she was starting to be able to hang with her again. So I’m sure she’s stressed too

Sigh. Anyway, as I write this I can hear Marsha shrieking from being pecked on and off. I know it’s part of re-establishing order, but I am hoping to make it as least harmful as possible. I’d love your all’s input on that, thanks so much

 

[coach723]

You have 3 mature hens and 3 chicks? Two injuried chicks and one that was not? Just trying to clarify. How badly are the two injured? Can the third be with the two injured ones without causing them harm? If that will work I would do that, and then integrate the three of them together with the other 3 adults at the same time, when it's safe to do that injury wise. It's harder to integrate a single bird, they have no buddies, especially when they are a juvenile. When it's time to integrate, put the new/young birds in crates, or a smaller fenced area within the bigger run, so everyone can see everyone, but no one can touch or hurt each other. They stay that way until they are kind of ignoring each other, no posturing or displays of bad behavior, then you give them periods of supervised time together to see how it goes. Pecking order spats should just be a peck and a squawk and done, if it's more than that then they need more time.

 

[yardranger]

Thank you so much - here’s the flock, health status and update on where they are:
Three mature hens, uninjured: In the coop
One injured hen, one injured juvenile and one uninjured juvenile: Outside in an enclosure with me now

I took your advice and scooped up the juvenile that was in the coop. She was very relieved and hardly bit me at all, then settled in my arms. She and her little sister perked up a lot when they saw each other & have been foraging & resting contentedly together - really warms my heart and I so appreciate your response!

Now I just have to do some adjusting in my coop and pen sections to make it so the patients can rehabilitate and live alongside the others safely. I can screen off the thru-way windows again (like it was when the chicks were younger with Edith) no problem, I’d just be concerned about the juvenile’s wound healing with more dirt, flies and her healthy sister possibly pecking at it. Gonna wait a few more days and keep these three together in the laundry area at night for now.

 

[coach723]

Sounds like a good idea to keep them in until they are healed enough that flies and dirt are not an issue. If the adult hen gets along with the younger ones, then you can put her with them (she may get lonely enough that she's happy with them). If not then I'd keep the two young ones together and reintegrate them as a pair, it will be easier for them. The adult hen may go back into the adult flock pretty easily, just depends on her and them and how long it takes her to heal. Just do trial and error and let it take as long as it takes. Sometimes I've been able to put them right back with no issues, sometimes it takes longer. Best of luck with them, hope everyone heals and soon you have one flock again.