How do I reintroduce an ex-broody to the flock?

[krstms]

I had a hen that hatched a clutch of eggs. The baby's were over 3 week old and feathering so I seperated them from momma. I tried putting her in the coop again with the other birds and they attacked her. I then tried putting her in a cage in the coop so they would get used to her. I gave it a few days and then let her out. They didnt really like her but didnt attack her. She spent most of her time on the perch. Today I had to go somewhere and when I got back they had attacked her. They pulled all of her feathers out in a 2x3 area on her back and it's bleeding. I put lidocaine ointment on it to stop the pain and then put sulfadene that I have for the dog on it. She seems ok but I'm worried about infection. What should I do about the wound and also how do I get the flock to accept her again without attacking her? She is the sweetest of hens and it breaks my heart for her.

 

[rancher hicks]

I would keep her seperate until the wound heals. I would then try to reintroduce her by putting her in the coop at night when it's dark. Do you have a roo? Roos usually don't like chick fights and break them up. Do they have a lot of room? I would also put a red light in the coop for a time.

 

[krstms]

They all attacked her even the roo. When I put her out of the cage we did it at night. They have room to roam and have a run but wherever she is they run to her and viciously attack her.

 

[rancher hicks]

I am sorry but I have no idea then. I've had 4 go broody and hatch chicks but they all got accepted back. Perhaps you can find something on the net.

 

[andalusn]

My hen hatched her peeps in the hen house and then I moved her and the chicks to a pen that is across from the main hen house. After she was isloated for 2 weeks I opened the pen and it's been open round the clock since then. The two hens in this pen have their own dog crate or box to sleep in with their peeps but in the mornings they are up and clucking in the same spot where I have always spread scratch corn when the girls of the main coop are let out to roam everyday. Everyone is waiting at the door to the run to get out. The two with chicks have mingled with everyone daily and when they want alone time they toddle off. Just this past week the Cochin that hatched her peeps in the coop has gone in every morning to sit in her favorite nest and is starting to lay again. She catches up with her forlorn peep when she's done. I have no idea when these two are going to move back in on their own but they have always mingled and some of the hens and once in a while the roo gets an attitude but they always calm down. Maybe you can setup someting where she can be in her own space that is close to the others and work her way back in.

This setup is directly across from my hen house that is outside the roofline of the aisleway of the barn. Not fancy, just a Xpen. It stays dry and they can come and go as they want. As you can see the rooster is checking out her digs and sampling her food, same as his but it must be better

The open space is where I sprinkle the corn as it's under cover and stays somewhat dry on rainy mornings.

 

[MissJenny]

I don't have any experience with this, but everything I've read says to NEVER use a medicine, ointment, creme or salve that has "caine" in it. For some reason it is deadly to chickens.

As for reintroducing her to the flock, I suggest penning her with a flock mate who is the least aggressive, so she has an "Isolation Buddy". Keep them in a cage in your run -- the Isolation Buddy is the link between the Loner and the Flock.

Jenny

 

[krstms]

OH NOOOO! I hope I didnt hurt her by using the lidocaine. I was just trying to ease her pain. I only used a tiny bit and she seemed ok last I checked on her.

Please dont let me have hurt her!!!

 

[MissJenny]

Here is a quote from someone who used a salve on her roo's comb and wattles

Quote:
Someone else has said that they use a lidocaine product "moderately and in a pinch" with success.

I've read another post where the pain killer in, say, Neosporin, is a product called "promoxine" (I'll have to check the spelling on that) successfully.

Traditional practice condemns the use of "caine" products. I don't know the difference between lidocaine and benzocaine.

This is why I LOVE this website -- I would never have guessed this would be a problem, yet here is all this valuable information. I would think if the product you used would harm your bird the result would have been much like the above poster -- immediate.

Jenny

 

[krstms]

I sure hope she's ok. I checked on her a few minutes ago and she is fine thus far. It's been since about 1:00 I think. Hopefully she's in the clear. I just put her back with her babies. They all seem very happy to be together so I think I'll leave well enough alone until she weans them herself or I can sell them whichever comes first. I still could use any advice on what to do to put her back in when the time comes. I am at a loss!!!

 

[lilblessings5]

Do you only have 1 main coop?

I had a similar problem once so I took all the birds and put them together in a spot that was new to all of them. seemed to do the trick.

One other time- I had 2 injured birds in isolation. Before I put them back I removed 6 more from the main flock for about 3 days. I then Re-introduced ALL 8 birds at the same time and it was at night.