Help! Everyone picking on her

[cowgirl2629]

I have 9 2 month old pullets. Several different breeds. My 1 buff Orpington hurt her leg and wouldn't use it so we had her separated for about 1 week. We just tried to put her back in the coop today and almost all the other chicks are attacking her!! They won't leave her alone at all! It's awful! They have all been together since they were 3 days old so I feel like they shouldn't forget her after a week! I took her back out (she actually lept in my arms) and tried again 2 hrs later. They just started picking her again. And she is a very sweet timid girl to begin with. Before this they all loved each other. Do I just need to leave her in there and let them work it out?! I can't keep her in he house for good even though that is now where she prefers. Lol they are all roosting now but she is sitting all by herself and not laying with the others like she used to.

I'm so sad for her. A couple of them are ignoring her. The worst ones are 2 that I actually think might be Roos not hens. Still hard to tell for sure on them but they are getting bigger combs so it's looking like its goimg that way. I just am not sure what to do. I'm going out of town tomorrow and my in laws will be caring for them. It will freak my mil out if they are fighting.

 

[GitaBooks]

Many animals react this way upon a former friend being reintroduced. They don't consider it part of the flock anymore. However, there are ways to integrate them back into the flock. Try putting her in a large crate or pen so that they can see her for a while. They will get use to her sight and sound this way and should learn to ignore her. Let her out when everyone is calm and feeding, so they don't notice her. Make sure there is plenty of perching space, multiple feeding spots and multiple waterers so she gets enough to eat and drink.

She may remain at the bottom of the pecking order, but chickens in a flock shouldn't attack one another. If they attack her by leaping at her, grabbing with their beak, chasing her with her running away, then it is too soon to introduce them and she may become overly stressed or injured. Some bullying of the lowest chicken happens, but it isn't usually aggressive, just dominant.

I hope everything works out!

 

[aart]

I'd keep her in a wire crate in the coop for a week or more before trying to integrate them physically again.

How long will you be out of town?