Injured hen questions

[dmartin101]

We had a hawk attack last week and Gracie P was injured. Her wound is healing nicely. She’s eating, drinking, pooping, and sleeping fine.

We kept her in the garage for 2 days right after it happened. But I was worried about having an issue when we reintroduced her to the flock. So now we have her back in the coop but separated so they can’t peck her.

We put her back in the henhouse with the rest of the flock one night and everything was fine. I tried to put her in last night and another hen started pecking at her, so now we’re bringing her back inside at night then putting her back in her the coop but separated during the day.

Is this ok? Sometimes they’re still trying to get to her during the day - they’re pecking at the crate and fly up and stand on the top. It just seems a little aggressive to me. I monitor during the day to make sure the crate is staying put and they aren’t getting through it to her.

Physically she seems to be doing well, but she’s definitely giving off weakest link vibes, running away, etc. she was already in the bottom 1/3 of the pecking order before this.

Any suggestions for anything else we should be doing?

 

[azygous]

So far, you're doing it right. Gracie P. is likely a timid girl by nature, and these personalities slip into victimhood easily. She just needs a little longer to transition back into the flock, and getting her self confidence back is part of this. A big part.

Here are two articles I wrote on this topic. One is about how to treat a victim of bullying. The other is introducing a new hen to a flock. Both have components similar to your hen's situation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

 

[dmartin101]

So far, you're doing it right. Gracie P. is likely a timid girl by nature, and these personalities slip into victimhood easily. She just needs a little longer to transition back into the flock, and getting her self confidence back is part of this. A big part.

Here are two articles I wrote on this topic. One is about how to treat a victim of bullying. The other is introducing a new hen to a flock. Both have components similar to your hen's situation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

Thank you so much!