Janis...Mutt hen, unknown age (adult atleast 1.5years old) A large bantam or small standard size, healthy, dewormed a little over a month ago, some stress diarrhea
She was in with 4 other hens and 1 roo, when it got cold here they got grumpy and started picking on her to the point where she would avoid all of them except the roo. In my stupidity, I took her out of that coop and put her in the other flock I have (mostly bantams). They are more her size and not as mean in general.
Well, I went about it in the wrong way. I just put her in the coop at night to roost with them and saw what happened in the AM. It didn't go too badly, the roo chased her until he mounted her, chased her some more and was done. She has been in with that flock for 2 1/2 weeks now, but is hiding from them. When she comes out she roosts real high and avoids all of them if she can. But some days she doesn't come out of the coop and she can't get to the food and water without a conflict. I have been hand watering and feeding her to be sure she is getting all her nutrition to fight off the new crowd.
We haven't been able to free range much cause of all the snow and cold. They don't want to leave the run even if I offer some free range time. I was able to free range last sunday and let her out to decide which flock she wants to be with since it's not workin out for her in the new group. Well, she wanted neither, had a confrontation with Fancy from her old flock which was just a lot of jumping and feather fluffing. She ran away from all of them and we ended up putting her back in the new flock since it was obvious that the old flock is not willing to take her back and they are bigger and meaner.
So, I noticed her lookin thin despite my twice daily feeding and watering and Avain super pack vitamins. I took her out of the coop and put her in the garage with food and water and such. Already have 2 coops (cause I couldn't get them to get along either!) can't have another coop. I have been all sorts of late to work lately with all the water and food prep in the AM having to hand feed and such.
so....How do I get her into a flock. Should I take another flock member to put with her so that she can have a friend when I re-introduce them? I would like to try the cage in the run idea, but I really can't do that in this weather and the crate I would like to use is too big to get in the coop door for nighttime. please help, I am very fortunate that this is my DH's favorite chicken or he would be having a cow that she is free ranging in the garage! Thank you in advance for all your ideas!
She was in with 4 other hens and 1 roo, when it got cold here they got grumpy and started picking on her to the point where she would avoid all of them except the roo. In my stupidity, I took her out of that coop and put her in the other flock I have (mostly bantams). They are more her size and not as mean in general.
Well, I went about it in the wrong way. I just put her in the coop at night to roost with them and saw what happened in the AM. It didn't go too badly, the roo chased her until he mounted her, chased her some more and was done. She has been in with that flock for 2 1/2 weeks now, but is hiding from them. When she comes out she roosts real high and avoids all of them if she can. But some days she doesn't come out of the coop and she can't get to the food and water without a conflict. I have been hand watering and feeding her to be sure she is getting all her nutrition to fight off the new crowd.
We haven't been able to free range much cause of all the snow and cold. They don't want to leave the run even if I offer some free range time. I was able to free range last sunday and let her out to decide which flock she wants to be with since it's not workin out for her in the new group. Well, she wanted neither, had a confrontation with Fancy from her old flock which was just a lot of jumping and feather fluffing. She ran away from all of them and we ended up putting her back in the new flock since it was obvious that the old flock is not willing to take her back and they are bigger and meaner.
So, I noticed her lookin thin despite my twice daily feeding and watering and Avain super pack vitamins. I took her out of the coop and put her in the garage with food and water and such. Already have 2 coops (cause I couldn't get them to get along either!) can't have another coop. I have been all sorts of late to work lately with all the water and food prep in the AM having to hand feed and such.
so....How do I get her into a flock. Should I take another flock member to put with her so that she can have a friend when I re-introduce them? I would like to try the cage in the run idea, but I really can't do that in this weather and the crate I would like to use is too big to get in the coop door for nighttime. please help, I am very fortunate that this is my DH's favorite chicken or he would be having a cow that she is free ranging in the garage! Thank you in advance for all your ideas!