Help my hen!!

[flopsy]

I had separated two hens, one with a hurt leg and one that had molted really badly. I reintroduced them after a few weeks. One is doing fine, the other would not come off the roost and if she did, she got into a nest, not to lay an egg, but to get away from the other hens. Hubby and I put her out into the run this afternoon. Not only did the roo go after her, but the other hens were pecking and chasing her. I removed her to the other pen again. What can I do to help her. She acted as if she was starving when I put corn out. Help, quickly, please!

 

[Mrs.Puff]

Maybe you could try isolating her from the other birds in some kind of a cage inside the big coop. That way they can see her, but not peck at her. they should get used to her being there after a while. Is she the one that was molting? Molting birds are more skittish, and I think the other ones can sense this and pick on that one.
good luck

 

[Jenski]

I agree with Mrs.Puff. If you remove a chicken from the flock for weeks, you are pretty much starting over when you reintroduce. I prefer to let them see each other for awhile first; it seems to keep things calmer. I have a couple of old wire cages, one of which I can remove from its bottom tray. I stick that in the pen or yard with the others, and add food and water containers, of course. (I also make sure the confined animals have sufficient shelter from the elements and predators.)

If you do something like this, you might try placing the "new" chickens in the coop last at night, once every one has settled down, and then whisk them into their private quarters in the mornings. After a few days of this, things should begin to settle down.

Good luck! Please keep us posted.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Quote:
You need to reintroduce her in an isolated cage, like a small dog cage. Give them food and water seperate from the rest. Let the other see her at all times. After they loose interest in her, introduce her during nite nite time when everyone is roosting.

 

[Mrs.Puff]

Yeah, and avoid the urge to remove her from the other hens over and over. She will have to endure a little bit of hassling from the others just to reestablish the pecking order. Every time you take her away and bring her back, she has to start from the beginning.