Pecking Order or Out for Blood?

[NubbyRyuu]

Hello everyone! To make a very long story (post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/taking-care-of-swirls-the-wry-neck-silkie.1298333/ ) short, I've adopted my neighbor's Silkie Chick, who somehow became afflicted with Wry Neck. Her name is Swirls (named for the fact she will spin/run in circles), and she's a very adorable little thing. She's overcome her wry neck, though she has lasting symptoms.

When she became strong enough, I started reintroducing her to her flock, mostly her sisters and brood mates. I do this when I have an opportunity (since I work at night, part time). She is able to free roam with supervision. Aside from the usual "taps" she'll get from the hens, they don't seem to really care much, save for Flora (Swedish Flower Hen) and Boomer (Red Sex Link) who will go after her, the latter puffing up. Her sisters and brood mates seemed to be treating her fine, her puffy white sister clearly the dominant of their small group. But lately, one brood mate has stopped being nice.

McLovin, one of few Ayam Cemani chicks, is a very personable chick. She will come up to you and figure out a way to get to your shoulder. She met Swirly once and didn't think much of her at the time. Their second encounter, McLovin protected her from the bigger Cornish Cross who was charging at Swirly. Now all of a sudden, McLovin's attacking Swirly! And it isn't what her white sister pulls, and she'll back off when I intervene. McLovin is straight up going after this poor Silkie. Today she bee-lined towards her multiple times, and no matter how much I pushed her away, she didn't stop. I had to pick up Swirly and go to a different area.

I'm not sure what's with McLovin, but it isn't good. Bad enough one of Swirly's Buff Sisters tried jumping on her. But the fact McLovin almost tore out a feather from Swirly's head is very concerning. We were nowhere near her most of the time, but when she saw the Silkie, that was it.

My original plan was to be able to have Swirly reintegrate without issues, but now...I don't think that's gonna happen. I won't be able to leave her alone with the flock without McLovin throwing her into a full relapse or worse. Swirly doesn't fight back, and runs away if a chicken approaches her with negative intentions. The only ones that seem to get along with her are her other Silkie Sisters, and the Orpinton Therapy Hen, though she doesn't seem to care.

I'm very concerned for Swirly. I'm not sure what I can do to get McLovin to stop. Boomer will at least get the message, but not this chick. All the chicks are almost 3 months old.

If anyone has some advice or has seen this and knows what's up, I'd like to know. If I have to get Swirly a friend at some point, I'd like to know what. Anything is greatly appreciated!

 

[Roo5]

If it’s extremely rough and she’s drawing a lot of blood I would separate the ayam cemani.It sounds like a pecking order issue, but if the Silkie is still showing symptoms of being ill, the ayam cemani could just be trying to get rid of the weak bird, it’s nature and most groups of animals will attack and even kill sick/injured animals.
Your best bet would be to separate the Ayan cemani and a cage where she can’t be seen then reintroduce her in about week and a half maybe two.

 

[NubbyRyuu]

If it’s extremely rough and she’s drawing a lot of blood I would separate the ayam cemani.It sounds like a pecking order issue, but if the Silkie is still showing symptoms of being ill, the ayam cemani could just be trying to get rid of the weak bird, it’s nature and most groups of animals will attack and even kill sick/injured animals.
Your best bet would be to separate the Ayan cemani and a cage where she can’t be seen then reintroduce her in about week and a half maybe two.

McLovin hasn't drawn blood, thankfully. I wonder if maybe I should put McLovin in the cage, just to see what the other Ayam Cemani do?

 

[A.M. Eggs]

I always introduce the chicks into the flock by the "see-but-no-touch" method. This way the hens can assert dominance but not hurt the chicks. After the chicks are old enough to run around and fly away if need be, I will let them out in slow bursts with supervision. I watch how the adults interact with the chicks. If something gets heated, I pick up the hen causing issues and hold her for a while. If that doesn't work, I chase her into a separate area where she will sit for the rest of the day or longer. After being trapped in the cage for a while, she normally will not cause issues to the chicks because she knows what will happen. The chicks themselves take a little longer to integrate since they have to learn the new routines.