Lost chicken returned

[renehewitt]

I need advice. I had a chicken return after being gone for a month, I thought something had got her,anyway she showed up one day like she had been here all along. My problem is the other 11 chickens will not accept her back. The other day I went outside and a hen was on her back fighting with her, after that I noticed she is always by herself but most of the time she is watching the others but keeps her distance but will join them if I am giving them a treat.Today I was cleaning the dog kennels and I had hay in the middle of the floor I was going to use and she came in and made a nest right in the middle of it. Tonight before I went to put them away I seen her standing by the kennel door wanting to go in. She does go in the coop at night with the other hens but is by herself on there perch. I raised all 12 hens together since they were a week old so this breaks my heart the way they are being towards her. What can I do to get them to accept her ?

 

[sourland]

I wonder where she went. Any possibility that she may have gone broody on a stolen nest? It's all about the pecking order - chicken society can be quite cruel. As long as they are not injuring her, she will have to re establish her position in the flock. It will be a gradual process.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

do you have a rooster? i was thinking she may of went broody why she was missing for so long. they will do that some times even without a rooster. there is 2 things i can think of, give it more time or take the dominate hen away for a week and add her then add dominate hen back. it will lower her spot in line.

 

[renehewitt]

Thanks for your replies. No rooster just hens. The only thing I can think of is maybe she was under one of the sheds? I think she was eating her own eggs while she was gone because since she returned every morning theres a egg that has a crack in it when she first returned there was egg shells in the coop from a egg now only a crack but its only ever on one egg that what makes me think its her.I am hoping because she has food again she will stop . I don't know how she made it with the temps were around 0 cold winter .She follows me around when I am outside I pick her up and spend time with her .I just feel bad. Will they accept her again in time? Or do I have to separate the hen that picked on her? They all look alike cant tell which hen it was. She only did it the one time that I seen. I try to watch them from the windows when they are out. because they free range .

 

[Granny Hatchet]

if you cant tell the difference then just more time. and a couple of extra feed stations

 

[renehewitt]

The one hen finally beat the returned hen up. I come out of the house and she came to me full of blood so I put her in the shed for two days until she healed up alittle. Then I let the hens out of there coop and let the hen out of the shed that was hurt by them. She was following me around and was next to me and the other chickens came and were around her then one of them seen her and jumped right on her starting to beat her up again.I grabbed the nasty hen and put her in a large dog crate with hay and food and water.I am going to keep her in there for a week and try to put her back with the others if she fights again I will have to get rid of her. The hen that had returned and was beat up by her is with the other 10 hens and is getting along fine no one is picking on her so I believe I have the bad hen.Its so sad that being raised together they would do this to her.

 

[renehewitt]

It worked .

Taking the nasty hen away for a few days then put her back in the flock put her on the bottom of the pecking order and no more fights.

 

[Streetview]

That is great to hear~ And good to know for future reference

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i am glad it worked for you.