Hens pecking injured chicken....

[Mcw2019]

I have 7 hens and one of them can be a bully. She usually just pecks feathers here and there but one time she seriously injured another hen. Ripped open the skin on the back of her neck. I brought the injured hen inside, kept her wound clean while it healed. Now I’m trying to reintroduce her to the flock and everybody is pecking at her scab.

I removed her again. Put pinless peepers in the others temporarily. They seem to be working, except one hen that keeps taking hers off. She’s not a bully hen but I think she can’t help the temptation of a scab??

I’m at work all day and am afraid to leave the injured hen outside with them without supervision, but she can’t live in a dog crate in my house forever!

Can I somehow cover her neck so they can’t peck it?

 

[ChickNanny13]

I've heard some use Blu - Kote to "hide" the scab. Another thing you could try is a wire cage with food & water for the injured hen, put it in the coop. It works for integrating and a "broody jail".

 

[Ebony Rose]

I'd spritz the wound with blu-kote (or purple) (anything but red). How long was she isolated away from her flock? If it was approaching a week (or longer) she may need to be reintegrated. Best I can reckon, after a week, chickens forget that their long lost buddy was their buddy.

 

[Folly's place]

How about having the injured bird in that dog crate in the coop? As long as the wound is healing, and no flies, she will be integrating better with her flockmates.
If you have a nasty feather picking bully, and she can't be managed with the pinless peepers, get her out of your flock! She's a menace, and stressing everyone out, and needs to be gone.
Mary

 

[aart]

How about having the injured bird in that dog crate in the coop? As long as the wound is healing, and no flies, she will be integrating better with her flockmates.
If you have a nasty feather picking bully, and she can't be managed with the pinless peepers, get her out of your flock! She's a menace, and stressing everyone out, and needs to be gone.
Mary

Ditto Dat!^^^

Crate in coop or run would be best while you're away, then put the mean hen in the crate while the injured mingles with the others.
Pics of your coop and run might help garner even more viable solutions.

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