Did I do the right thing?

[ChickenMammX4]

Yesterday when I went to check on the chicks (5weeks) midday, one of them was caught in the welded fence seperating the chicken area from the storage. She must have felt adverturesome and caught her leg while trying to get through.

I freed her, no visible injuries or blood but she was limbing. The other chicks started piling on her and pecking so I brought her inside and she spent the night in the brooder tub. This morning her foot/leg is much better. I put her, in the tub, in the storage area of the coop so she didn't feel so alone and plan to put her with the other later today and she how she does.

Did I do the right thing? Will the longer I keep her seperated make going back to the flock harder? She is the biggest chick. She's a Buff Orpington, her name is Wanda.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Yes you did the right thing if they were pecking her.

I would be a bit roundabout in the way I would reintroduce her since there was a problem with pecking last time. I would pull one or two chicks out of the pen and put in with her for a few minutes, then put all three at the same time into the main pen with the others - so there is not just one addition.

Yes the longer the separation the harder it is on a chicken. So the sooner the better but make sure she isn't bullied. The normal pecking order business is OK but they should not be causing injury.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

UPDATE ...

Wanda is back with the others. ChickensAreSweet, thank you for your reply.

Around lunchtime I put her with the others and brought along a chair so I could sit and watch for awhile. We were also working back around the barn area this afternoon, so I could check on them often. The other BO gave her a little grief, it was as if Lois (the other BO, the rest of the flock are smaller BSL) took over as "top chicken" and had her beak out-of-joint because Wanda was back. It all settled down and harmony was restored.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

UPDATE ...

Wanda is back with the others. ChickensAreSweet, thank you for your reply.

Around lunchtime I put her with the others and brought along a chair so I could sit and watch for awhile. We were also working back around the barn area this afternoon, so I could check on them often. The other BO gave her a little grief, it was as if Lois (the other BO, the rest of the flock are smaller BSL) took over as "top chicken" and had her beak out-of-joint because Wanda was back. It all settled down and harmony was restored.

Good news! Thanks for the update!