Integrating a Naked Neck back into the flock

[Noobchick]

About a month ago, I had to separate my Naked Neck hen after a roo injury to the skin of her neck. She healed great but was injured again after I put her back into the coop with the other birds (at night, with the hopes that they'd wake up together and have no issue).

She's now the only NN I have, as the other NN was the roo; I had to rehome him because he was crowing 'round the clock and we live in a neighborhood. (I didn't want to annoy the neighbors.)

After she healed for the second time, I've kept her in a seperate 2' x 5' cage within the coop and she's been fine so far. At this point, though, I'm very anxious at the thought of how to proceed. They've not had direct contact in at least three weeks and I'm afraid that they'll just hurt her again. I'll do what it takes to take good care of my birds but I'm sure getting tired of having to nurse one in a bathroom/seperate cage.

Does anyone have tips on anything else I can do to make this reintegration go smoothly??

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I would take your most mellow, lowest on the pecking order hen and put her in the cage with her. Keep an eye on them for a little while (and don't be surprised if the NN bullies the new lady). Then try putting them on the roost (at night)side by side after a few days. Hopefully they'll become buddies and it'll help her to be accepted back into the flock. I'm not sure how big your flock is, but another option would be to remove the hen(s) who are doing the most picking. It should knock their attitude down a few cogs. Good luck. I keep my "hospital" cage in my run so I don't have an issue putting them back with their buddies.