I'm new to chickens and my baby is really badly pecked

[MindiWynne]

My husband and I adopted three 12-week old pullets a few days ago. We are new to chickens, and while I was not home he let them into the yard with our three adult hens. One of my babies was VERY badly pecked. It seems like all of the feathers and skin off of the top of her head was pulled off. She was very bloody and looked like she had been scalped. I brought her inside and washed her the best I could. I had Vetrocyn so I sprayed her really well and isolated her in a dog crate in the house in my office. Yesterday I went to Tractor Supply and bought some electrolytes to add to her water (Which she has been drinking both off of a spoon from me and by herself a little). I think she is eating, it looked like she nibbled off of a hot dog bun that I put in her crate, and I left a bowl of scratch mixed with high protein crumble and a few mealworms added in. I feel so guilty and I am so upset. If anyone has any suggestions or guidance I can certainly use it.

 

[MamaChick74]

Aww poor baby. Sounds like you have done good so far. Once her head is healed a bit put her back with the ones she came with. Keep them separate from the big girls and introduce them slowly. Put whatever they are in now near the big girls coop/run so they can all see each other but can't hurt. I would then supervise anytime you let them out all together. Integrating is tough sometimes. I hope this goes better for you.

 

[Legendchicken]

Ibwould sugjest putting all of them in a dog cage or something along those lines outside when you want them to be introduced it seems to help

 

[Pork Pie]

Here's some links on integration-
Intro chicks to adults


http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1126547/topic-of-the-week-integrating-chicks-into-an-adult-flock

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1069595/introducing-chicks-to-adults#post_16276224

 

[Chickenlover2017]

Well you should never just throw big hens in with young ones because it could end in death you need to keep a close eye so they don't do that allowing a little bit of pecks is ok If you or your husband are letting them out then you need to watch closely I understand you are new to chickens And that is ok just so you know.

 

[MindiWynne]

They were all separated when we brought them home. My husband let them out into the yard. He thought they would just keep away from each other. The two healthy birds are in a pen near the coop and my injured baby is in a crate inside my house. Forgive me, but I am already upset over the mistake of letting them all roam together. I did not just throw them all together and everyone who is pointing out how I should have integrated them is making me feel worse. I am just looking for guidance on how to help my pullet recover.

 

[MindiWynne]

Should I take one of the healthy pullets in to "visit" with my injured bird, or should I carry her outside to see both of her friends? They were very protective of her and they all huddled together before Nugget got pecked. I don't know how chickens think or behave - are they social animals? Will they miss each other? Do they even know one of their group is missing?

 

[jvls1942]

for every deed there is advice on how it should have been done. that certainly does not address the problem.

my first question: do you have a rooster ?
the feathers off of the head could be from an overactive rooster.

It could have had a spot of blood on it's head. all chickens will stab at blood spots.

you didn't do that much wrong with the introduction.
I do it all the time. the only drawback to doing it this way is having not a large enough area for a picked on chicken to escape.

in my experience, letting the chickens get to know each other through a fence or crate does not do much in their getting acquainted.
they have to go through the physical pecking order sooner or later.

 

[MindiWynne]

for every deed there is advice on how it should have been done. that certainly does not address the problem.

my first question: do you have a rooster ?
the feathers off of the head could be from an overactive rooster.

It could have had a spot of blood on it's head. all chickens will stab at blood spots.

you didn't do that much wrong with the introduction.
I do it all the time. the only drawback to doing it this way is having not a large enough area for a picked on chicken to escape.

in my experience, letting the chickens get to know each other through a fence or crate does not do much in their getting acquainted.
they have to go through the physical pecking order sooner or later.

We don't have a rooster. We did, but he went to live with someone else last Wednesday. We were actually going to get another hen when we adopted the 3 pullets instead. I don't think she had any blood on her, she was absolutely beautiful when we got her (I put a picture below) but when I found her there was nothing but blood from her forehead to her neck. I'm not 100% sure yet that her eye on the right side is still ok. Thank you for your kind words, I feel so bad for her and am having a hard time with the "She's just a chicken" frame of mind.

 

[MamaChick74]

Should I take one of the healthy pullets in to "visit" with my injured bird, or should I carry her outside to see both of her friends? They were very protective of her and they all huddled together before Nugget got pecked. I don't know how chickens think or behave - are they social animals? Will they miss each other? Do they even know one of their group is missing?

You can see how they treat her. If she has blood on her head still they may peck at her themselves. If not then they may be alright together.