Issues with my leghorn pullet - advice??

[technodoll]

I adopted this gorgeous brown leghorn pullet about two weeks ago, she's around 10 months old.

I was told she was in a flock with other leghorns and a roo (who ripped out most of her comb

), not much human contact. Her nails were a mile long, but easy to trim. She was quarantined at my friend's house and treated with Ivermectin, inspected from head to toe and is very clean and in excellent health.

I named her Sweetie, because she is just that!

The problem: she's been alone in her corner of the coop for two weeks now, getting used to the flock through the chicken wire. She's very submissive and the two times I tried to let her out she got attacked by my other girls AND ripped up by my big EE roo, who kept mounting her incessantly! He ripped her comb the first time, so she went back to her pen with antibiotic cream on her head, she healed fine.

I tried again today and BAM, the same thing - only this time she flew right up into my arms and buried her head in my armpit, shaking

For a hen that's had very little human contact, she LOVES to be held, petted and talked to. She is super gentle and submissive, soft and cuddly, and cries when I am in the coop and don't pick her up.

Help! I need to integrate her safely into the flock and have her lead a normal life - what should I do??

 

[PunkinPeep]

i think i would try putting them together while free ranging or in the run first. and maybe remove the roo when you do it.

if that doesn't work, i might try letting her into the run with just one other of your more docile hens. then as they learn to get along, add another. it sounds like you'll have to let her in gradually. but she might've been more successful with just the hens if the roos wasn't ripping her up at the same time.

she is really beautiful, by the way.

 

[technodoll]

Thank you... She stole my heart in two seconds, that one!

Because we are in deep winter and snow here, the flock isn't free-ranging nor do they have access to a run - they loathe the snow!

Poor Sweetie is just terrified of my bully roo and the dominant hens... the problem is that they are ALL strong-tempered bullies, I wouldn't know who to put her with. It's OK, I'll figure something out... I don't have a choice!

Oh, why are flocks so mean

 

[PunkinPeep]

Oh sorry. I don't know about deep winter.

In that case, maybe try putting a nice pullet in with her and see if they can learn to get along.

I think it will be harder since they're all inside and very territorial. But maybe letting someone into her territory will have better results.

 

[technodoll]

I might have to put a young girl in with her, being cooped up all winter is making everyone cranky - is it spring yet??