thecatumbrella
Furiously Foraging
We're at a very difficult crux in our chicken journey.
My 17 week-old pullet, Willow, has suffered from some bizarre neurological habit since birth. She'll tuck her head into her body and back up until she bumps into something. As a chick, it was triggered by eating, drinking, or exiting the heat plate. As a pullet, it's mostly triggered by stress. Willow has, unfortunately, been under a lot of stress. She is on the smaller side and lowest on the pecking order, mostly because of her condition. She'll start out going toe to toe with a brooder-mate, but then that pesky behavior kicks in, sending her bowing and backwards. Her challenger will see this as a weakness and strike.
But this goes beyond simple pecking order. In my small flock of 7, 4 different chickens have tried to chase her off over the last few weeks. She cannot share a feeder. She cannot enter the sandbox. She cannot roost in the coop. There's always someone there to either put her in her place, or run her off. Occasionally, they'll even form mobs and gang up on her. The more she's harassed, the more she backs up, triggering more harassment. I truly believe the flock wants her out because she's a liability.
Willow is currently in our isolation pen next to the main run. She hates it. I feel horrible.
Part of me wants to put her out of her misery. The vet believes it's brain damage, so she'll likely be this way for life. If her own brooder-mates won't accept her, how could she possibly have a chance with a new flock? My husband's slightly optimistic that she could outgrow it at point-of-lay, or at least get enough hormones to hold her own (she used to be a high-ranking bird). But that could be weeks or months from now. Is it really worth keeping her separated for only a small chance of success?
I'd like to hear how you'd handle it.
My 17 week-old pullet, Willow, has suffered from some bizarre neurological habit since birth. She'll tuck her head into her body and back up until she bumps into something. As a chick, it was triggered by eating, drinking, or exiting the heat plate. As a pullet, it's mostly triggered by stress. Willow has, unfortunately, been under a lot of stress. She is on the smaller side and lowest on the pecking order, mostly because of her condition. She'll start out going toe to toe with a brooder-mate, but then that pesky behavior kicks in, sending her bowing and backwards. Her challenger will see this as a weakness and strike.
But this goes beyond simple pecking order. In my small flock of 7, 4 different chickens have tried to chase her off over the last few weeks. She cannot share a feeder. She cannot enter the sandbox. She cannot roost in the coop. There's always someone there to either put her in her place, or run her off. Occasionally, they'll even form mobs and gang up on her. The more she's harassed, the more she backs up, triggering more harassment. I truly believe the flock wants her out because she's a liability.
Willow is currently in our isolation pen next to the main run. She hates it. I feel horrible.
Part of me wants to put her out of her misery. The vet believes it's brain damage, so she'll likely be this way for life. If her own brooder-mates won't accept her, how could she possibly have a chance with a new flock? My husband's slightly optimistic that she could outgrow it at point-of-lay, or at least get enough hormones to hold her own (she used to be a high-ranking bird). But that could be weeks or months from now. Is it really worth keeping her separated for only a small chance of success?
I'd like to hear how you'd handle it.
and also, 
. Please know that whatever you choose to do for poor Willow, we will understand and nobody will fault you. Be at peace, no matter what you decide. 
