My sweet Stella is way off this am.

[NatJ]

I can think of at least two options for re-introducing Stella to the rest of the flock:

--put her in, watch the ruckus, hope they settle it with no serious injuries. If it works, it's the fastest, but it has the highest chance of birds getting injured, and is difficult for the person to watch.

--arrange a pen for her inside or next to the coop, so she and they can get re-acquainted over several days or weeks. After a few days, start letting her join them briefly, under supervision, and increase the amount of time until they're all together. Letting them be together outside the run while free-ranging can help, because none of them consider that area their personal territory, and any losers have plenty of space to run away and avoid injury.

For any method, you can try adding something else for them to think about at the same time: a chunk of sod, a shovelful of compost, a bale of straw to tear apart, a pile of dry leaves to scratch through, some veggie scraps, a handful of scratch or mealworms, etc. What to use depends on what your chickens like, and what you have available at the time.

 

[Chrissy D]

Thanks for the great insight. I do love this forum.

 

[Chrissy D]

I can think of at least two options for re-introducing Stella to the rest of the flock:

--put her in, watch the ruckus, hope they settle it with no serious injuries. If it works, it's the fastest, but it has the highest chance of birds getting injured, and is difficult for the person to watch.

--arrange a pen for her inside or next to the coop, so she and they can get re-acquainted over several days or weeks. After a few days, start letting her join them briefly, under supervision, and increase the amount of time until they're all together. Letting them be together outside the run while free-ranging can help, because none of them consider that area their personal territory, and any losers have plenty of space to run away and avoid injury.

For any method, you can try adding something else for them to think about at the same time: a chunk of sod, a shovelful of compost, a bale of straw to tear apart, a pile of dry leaves to scratch through, some veggie scraps, a handful of scratch or mealworms, etc. What to use depends on what your chickens like, and what you have available at the time.

She is the biggest of the aggressors when I put her in.... I was thinking maybe she was vulnerable because she was sick??? Always trying to understand as much as I can. Thank you.

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

I'm so happy that she recovered!!

 

[Chrissy D]

I'm so happy that she recovered!!

Me too. I’ve learned so much. Grateful she is a strong healthy chicken. Since all this she has not laid another egg. Wondering if she will once back in her coop with her sisters. Well once she can be left out with them again.

 

[NatJ]

She is the biggest of the aggressors when I put her in.... I was thinking maybe she was vulnerable because she was sick??? Always trying to understand as much as I can. Thank you.

With her being the bully, I think there's a better chance that just putting her in, along with some distractions or treats, might work.

Usually a single bird tends to be the victim.
But if she's trying to be a bully, the fact that there is one of her and several of them can help spread it around, so hopefully none get picked on too badly.

Or of course you could still do the look-no-touch for a while, so the pecking order can start getting re-established with less actual pecking.

It's a good idea to have at least 2 feeders and at least 2 waterers, to make sure the lower-ranking birds can get enough to eat and drink (with just one feeder or one waterer, the bully could hang out next to it and keep the others from getting to eat or drink. But with several in different places, the bully cannot block all of them at once.)

 

[Chrissy D]

With her being the bully, I think there's a better chance that just putting her in, along with some distractions or treats, might work.

Usually a single bird tends to be the victim.
But if she's trying to be a bully, the fact that there is one of her and several of them can help spread it around, so hopefully none get picked on too badly.

Or of course you could still do the look-no-touch for a while, so the pecking order can start getting re-established with less actual pecking.

It's a good idea to have at least 2 feeders and at least 2 waterers, to make sure the lower-ranking birds can get enough to eat and drink (with just one feeder or one waterer, the bully could hang out next to it and keep the others from getting to eat or drink. But with several in different places, the bully cannot block all of them at once.)

NatJ - thank you!!!!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad to hear that she is doing better. As long as one has not been out of the flock more than a week, mine have usually reintegrated with only minor pecking. She sounds like she will defend herself, but hopefully, she doesn’t bully the others.

 

[Chrissy D]

Glad to hear that she is doing better. As long as one has not been out of the flock more than a week, mine have usually reintegrated with only minor pecking. She sounds like she will defend herself, but hopefully, she doesn’t bully the others.

It's been a week yesterday.... I put her in for about an hour with them and she was a huge bully. I watched and distracted. No one went after her... maybe a peck here or there. She was pulling feathers and fighting quite a bit. Will try again today... a little more each day. If they are being nasty I will do the look but don't touch approach. Who knew? Birds!!!!