Dog traumatised hen is now odd hen out

[Eurekahens]

This is my first post! [With all the warnings about wrong posts, I'm a little nervous.] I got a little flock of 4 hens a couple of weeks ago. They were raised together and are a year old. The girls were loved pets by their original people. They have all laid well immediately. They have a nice size coop at night for safety and during the day have free range of my rather large-for-a-city yard and garden. Their pecking order seemed very clear from the start and they all seemed to feel very comfortable.

A few days in, I am sad and embarrassed that my little old terrier bolted out behind me and (in an amazing show of professionalism I've never seen in 11 years) he chased around, traumatized, and made contact with the lowest girl in the peck, who left a lot of tail feathers, but we could not find that she was physically hurt (poor girl!!)

. For a few days everything seemed fine, and about 5 days later, the other 3 hens began to badger her. Mostly they would chase her from their immediate circle in the garden. But when it was bedtime, they would not let her come in. And when they did, they got her in the corner and pecked at her (still no blood or obvious injury). I rescued her and put her into a hutch I had close by that I pushed very close to them so that they would be sharing space and sight

. I did this for a few days, but had to further stress the girl by catching her to get her in out of the bushes. The next couple of nights she went in herself, and last night all the hens were together again--- yay! But tonight, she was in her isolation coop alone again (yet safe). She still continues to lay as normal too.

Sorry this is so long, but since I do not see any evidence of injury or really any balding spots to heal, is there anything I can do to help her join the clique again? The separation doesn't seem like a very good permanent solution. I love this site! Thank you!

 

[wullus]

I'm not really an expert, but what if you waited until later at night, then put her on the perch with the other hens? They don't seem to peck when up there (well, when I've done it I haven't noticed anything), and at the most, she might stay there until morning to see how it goes. Maybe they won't peck anymore?

Like I say, I'm also knew to chickens so i'm probably not very good source.

 

[dainerra]

if there's no blood, just leave them be. As long as she has access and is able to eat/drink they will work it out.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

I think given time the 'disputes' will work itself out. Chickens do the darnest things! You could try sitting her up on the roost with rest of the flock.. Doubt they would peck her after dark and then just let them be chickens!

 

[Eurekahens]

I feel silly that I didn't know how to check replies to my question! So without the benefit of your advice (bummer) she did, in fact, get welcomed back to the roost a few days later! She is also part of the pack wandering around looking cute and eating bugs in the garden again. Thanks everyone! I'm so very pleased to be part of this community

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Oh that's OK, you have to be pretty bad to get a warning, and if you post in the wrong place, they'll just move it or else tell you where you can look for stuff, it's pretty congenial here. Glad to hear they worked out their problems, I've read that you should separate/isolate the troublemaker, but I figure they have their own order and rules that I don't always understand.
Welcome to the wonderful world of chickens and the people who love them!