Integration after Quarantine

[5ChickenFamily]

A little background - we have 7 full grown hens (5 from our original flock, and 2 integrated a year or so later). I came home from work to collect the eggs, and noticed that there was blood within the coop... I looked around to count the flock and I noticed one was missing. I opened up the coop and there was a leghorn with a bloody comb, pacing back and forth. I chit chatted with her for a little until she became comfortable enough to hop down from the coop. Immediately ALL the hens ran after her and began violently attacking her (to the point where if I didnt' separate her, she would have died). We took her away from the flock and set up a quarantine area away from the flock, but visible to them. In examining her comb, it looked like she might have had a mild case of dry pox (but not confirmed). We aren't sure if the flock attacked her because they sensed something was wrong, or how the situation started. She has healed, and we've tried to integrate her back in, and they viciously attack her. Not your normal re-establishment of pecking order, but jump on top of her and attack her.

I would love to hear your thoughts on if we should keep trying to re-integrate her, or re-home her

 

[slordaz]

Are they all the same breed or a mixed flock?
Is there a Rooster in the flock?

I had RIR that can become aggressive, but they never took it that far, and they have been together that long it is rather unusual to suddenly, but 3nded up with 9 hens and 3 roosters, which sometimes caused issues and I would have to tether the roosters outside of the coop at times for a bit to get them to all calm down, which they didn't like at all so behaved as couldn't find a home to re-home any of the roosters to. Roosters tend to separate the hens when they get to mean to each other but that sounds like more than one would have been able to handle too

I would say try putting her where she can be seen but not attacked by the others for up to a week and see how that goes , not good to keep getting attacked like that. If all goes well where they are close and can see each other try re-integrating , if they are still like that with her then try re-homing.

 

[5ChickenFamily]

So the original flock contained 2 leghorns, 2 buff orpingtons and 1 Easter Egger. A year later we integrated 2 RIR. We don't have any roosters in the flock. We've never had an issue with integrating, and it's not one hen that is attacking, it's all of them (sadly). Currently we have them separated by chicken wire, so they have been able to see each other for the past 3 weeks. They will even try and attack her through the fence if they get close enough together.

 

[slordaz]

maybe someone with more experience will answer soon, if this is going on this long I would think it would be a second coup or re-home her for her protection then. if they are still trying to do that they will continue to try to harm her, they effectively exiled her from the flock

 

[Mrs. K]

To be honest, I think I would cull her. Your flock is very upset with something, and an upset flock is not good. A peaceful flock will lay better and be healthier.

Space is the number one problem in most backyard set ups, but with what I understand with the ages of your birds, I would think the aggression would have started before now.

Try removing the hen, completely away from your flock, how do they act then? Watch them carefully, because sometimes what will happen is the flock will find a new victim. If that is the case, you need to cull the aggressive birds. I know that they are all in the fight, but I am betting one bird is starting it.

But if you remove the bird, and all calm down, then that is how I would go for it.

MRs K