Have you had to separate a bird for injury?

[devora]

We’re having to separate an injured hen w/ a deep cut the other keep pecking at.

The poor thing seems so sad (I know how ridiculous that sounds but there is).

I was hoping to hear your experiences w/ having to do this. Does the injured bird re-integrate easily, even after weeks? How did you feel about the process? Just anything to help us understand this better would be helpful.

 

[Wolfpacker]

See the thread under Predators and Pests titled "Friday 13th." My "one-winger," Chicken Matthews lived inside with us for about 2 weeks. Each night, she hung out in my office and on my desk with me. I was apprehensive about putting her back with the flock, but there were no problems whatsoever. And despite all the time she spent with me, she's now one of the most skittish.

I would recommend that you watch her closely when you do reintroduce her. Just keep her company as best you can while she's separated and watch her closely when she returns.

Good luck!

 

[speckledhen]

Same here. One of my Ameraucana chicks was pecked bloody twice by some "vampire chicks" I had. She was brought inside just like Wolf says, had no problems going back in with the flock, but she's the most skittish of that age group in spite of being very friendly and petted when she was inside with us.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi!
Re-integrating birds can be tough. I'd pull out another hen (high in the pecking order) and keep them together for a few days. When you put the put the 2 girls back with the flock it might be easier.
I'm dealing with a situation with a feather-picker ( and right down to bloody-tail picker).
I haven't indentifed the culprit, but when the victims are recuperated, I'm putting them in a different pen with another group. (I think I know the picker, it's hard to say if she was the 'instigator' or just has the bad habit, pecking at the bloody-butt. She seems to pick mostly on the roost --- anyone roosting next to her is subject to abuse. In the run, everyone else notices and has to get in on the 'action'.

Good luck,
Lisa

 

[JackieK318]

I have mine in the garage. She's with one roo, so she has company. I'm not sure about reintroducing, but just make sure you can observe them throughout the day when you do put your chickie back.

 

[devora]

We put Blu-Kote on the wound and thought we could let her hang w/ the others for an hour before sunset. Wi/ a few mins they’d pecked it open.

For the maggot thing (thnx Wolfpacker; great info on that thread!) we’re keeping it clean. Our house is really a shack so inside is much like outside.

I let the injured baby sleep in the house (chicken house) and the others (five birds) sleep in the run.

Man, this is so stressful! How you all deal w/ this w/ such aplomb is amazing. Thanx for sharing b/c it really helps us know we’re not the first to deal w/ this!

 

[ashbourn]

I have had 2 birds that were injured by other birds.
The first is a very very small Barred Rock hen. She is always at the bottom of the pecking order and was almost featherless, she learned to deal with the others by going to places they could not fit and did well in the group for about a year. I check on them on day and she was walking around and the top of her head was gone almost down to the bone. I took her in and cleaned the wound and placed her in her own cage, 1 month later the wound has healed over with only a very small dent where the deepest part of the wound was. She is doing very well now and is starting to grow her feathers back.
The second was during breeding. I had a rooster in an area with 4 other hens. I came in to feed the birds and the hen ran up to greet the feed scoop when the rooster took to mounting one. That bird hopped over the others, making 2 of the 3 jump out of the way. The third did not move in time and cut up a bit by the rooster charging to get to it's hen. I took the rooster out and checked up on the hens and saw a nice gash on her head from a spur and a couple of small scratches from the claws. This birds has been healing in her own cage for almost 2 weeks and is doing well but does not like to be handled as much as before.
Joe Fox

 

[devora]

ashbourn-Welcome to BYC! Holy cow you've had a lot to deal w/. Did you re-intoduce the BR to the flock?