Hen pecked chick needs help.

[ChickenFam123]

This morning our 3 month old buff, Daisy was pecked to the point of drawing blood by a 7 month old hen. She came flying out the coop, panting and blood on her neck. We washed the area with warm soapy water, patted dry, put pressure on the puncture would and slathered with Neosporin. When her feathers dry and fluff, you can't see the injury. She's running around eating and drinking. I'm wondering if there's more we should do to treat her and going forward how to prevent. For the past two weeks we've been taking her out of her brothers coop at night and slipping her in with the older girls. At 7am they are all released in a run together and usually get an hour to free range. Today they weren't let out until 11amand the bully hen had already laid her egg, so I think being locked up too long is what triggered the attack. I'm wondering if I should put her with the girls at night, let her roost with the boys or make a temporary separate area. Another thought would be to leave the coop doors open so they can access the secure run first thing in the morning. Daisy is clean, dry and happily pecking around and we'd like to keep herthat way, so suggestions are appreciated.

Attached Files:

 

[Rickba]

I'd keep her separated 'til the would Heals completely and the feathers grow back. An open wound is a big target to chickens.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

Agreed.

 

[MrsBachbach]

This morning our 3 month old buff, Daisy was pecked to the point of drawing blood by a 7 month old hen. She came flying out the coop, panting and blood on her neck. We washed the area with warm soapy water, patted dry, put pressure on the puncture would and slathered with Neosporin. When her feathers dry and fluff, you can't see the injury. She's running around eating and drinking. I'm wondering if there's more we should do to treat her and going forward how to prevent. For the past two weeks we've been taking her out of her brothers coop at night and slipping her in with the older girls. At 7am they are all released in a run together and usually get an hour to free range. Today they weren't let out until 11amand the bully hen had already laid her egg, so I think being locked up too long is what triggered the attack. I'm wondering if I should put her with the girls at night, let her roost with the boys or make a temporary separate area. Another thought would be to leave the coop doors open so they can access the secure run first thing in the morning. Daisy is clean, dry and happily pecking around and we'd like to keep herthat way, so suggestions are appreciated.

Attached Files:

Does she not have any pen mates besides the boys? So you are trying to introduce a lone young pullet into a pen with older hens? That's not going to go well. They will peck her, reject her, for a while. She will end up bottom of pecking order and alone.
I suggest getting your friendliest least aggressive hen and penning her up with your young girl in a separate pen for a few weeks together so they can bond. Or put the older hen in with her and the boys for a few weeks. Let the girls bond then put them back with the older ones. Or better yet, put one older girl in with her and the boys, then a couple of weeks later, add another older girl (maybe one not so aggressive) and leave them in a couple of more weeks to bond. Then bring the bully in with them. She isn't likely to take on the boys and she will be more focused on pecking the most dominant of the girls to establish a new pecking order. Leave them in a week. Then introduce all the girls back in with the older flock. There will be a pecking order fight again, but your one young girl would likely not be the lone hen getting pecked by everyone. Pecking order should be sorted out in a few days and young girl will hopefully have some hens she bonded with. There is always going to be a pecking order fight that should subside in a few days, but bringing just one bird in to an established flock is always trouble for the stranger and is going to take some work. When it comes to introducing new members, numbers matter.

 

[ChickenFam123]

The three younger we're all supposed to be hens and were introduced slowly over several weeks. When we realized two of the three younger ones were roos, we started putting the young pullet in with with the two older girls at night and releasing all 5 together into the run during the day. No problems for a solid month. One morning the three girls stayed locked up together too long and the dominant hen attacked the pullet. Poor girl, she's either going to get bullied by the big girls or assaulted by the boys (they are three months, but will be fully mature soon). She's all by herself. As I mentioned, all three were supposed to be girls so she would have a flock and I read all about how and when to integrate them. Now there doesn't seem to be an easy solution. Currently we are treating her injuries and separating her in a pen within the coop during the day. In the evening we let them all free range and put themselves up to roost, then go out first thing in the morning and pull her out in the separate pen. Once she's healed the boys go.