Hen with wry neck; can I ever return her to the flock?

[Erinjmiller]

Hi all! I have a 10-month-old ISA brown who, out of the blue, didn't put herself to bed one night (and my husband didn't count them all in the hen house so he missed her when he closed the doors). We had power-crashing freezing rain that night, and the poor girl was out by herself all night. She survived, but when we found her, her neck was essentially turned backwards. We thought she'd been attacked, but after bathing and drying her and then calming her down, we did some research and realized it was likely wry neck. For the past week now, she has become a house chicken and has been sleeping in a huge Tupperware tote. I have been giving her vitamin E and selenium in her food daily. We bring her outside a few times a day to free range, and she seems absolutely happy and fine, and even looks normal. Her neck is nearly normal and she is bright-eyed and active. She even lays daily.

My problem is that when I try to return her to the flock, the others gang up on her, and she flops over and they attack her neck and face. Even if I let them free range in our enclosed garden, there are two bully hens who seek her out. Because of this, I'm not sure she'll fare well if we put her back into the flock. They seem to be aware that she is different / injured / sick. Will I ever be able to return her to the flock without the others harming her, and if so, do you have a way to do it that would ensure she won't get attacked? I'm 8 months pregnant AND have 3 dogs in the house, so keeping a chicken safe and engaged is getting more and more challenging. Thanks so much!

 

[Smileybans]

The rest of the flock might know she is sick and that’s why they’re attacking. Or she could have been away for too long and they no longer recognize her as part of the flock. The best way that I have found to introduce new, and old, members of the flock is the look but don’t touch method. Set up a dog crate for her in the chicken coop, if it accommodates that, so the other chickens can see her but not attack her. It may take weeks for them to get to know her again and for her to integrate back in.

I have been using this method with two light Brahmas I have for months and my two laying hens still chase them down. With my hens though it’s light pecks to tell the Brahmas who is boss. As long as no blood is being shed I leave them be.