Problems reintegrating dominant hen

[scoopsmom]

I am having issues trying to reintegrate my bantam Cochin hen. She's been having reoccurring crop problems so she has been reintegrated before just fine, but this time she's been away a lot longer and now she is fighting the other chickens and one of them is attacking her. I have a small mixed flock:
2 bantam Cochins: Ruffles (the one being reintroduced) and Scoops b (my rooster)
2 standard red sex links: Crispy and Nugget
1 standard black sex link: Calypso

Either Ruffles or Calypso was #1 in the pecking order and Nugget was definitely the lowest. But now Nugget is seeking Ruffles out to fight. One time Nugget will pounce first then the next Ruffles will. Ruffles has also started stuff with Crispy and Calypso but they don't do much back so they all just move on. As far as Scoops the rooster, he has always been in love with her, so during the reintroduction he will just faithfully stand right by her. But he does nothing when the others fight. I have tried reintegrating her in the run, free ranging, with Scoops present and with him out of sight. I have locked up Nugget and the only thing that happens is the flock goes one way and she runs the opposite way towards the house. Today she was sorta with the flock and she had the choice to follow the flock or go towards my cat who was close and she chose the cat!! But they have been living in the house together for awhile too. It's like she could care less about the flock and she's adopted me, my cats, and dogs as her new flock. I let her out to walk around the house to stretch her legs so she coexists with the house pets fine. In fact my cats are scared of her cuz she's charged both of them before. She's a tough little girl that's for sure.

It's just it scares me when she gets in fights because she is smaller and I know chickens can kill each other. Also she has to wear a crop bra and I don't want either to get Tangled in it. So as soon as they fight I'm right there to break them up.

Thoughts on how to proceed would be helpful! Thank you!

 

[Chullicken]

I had the same issue when my dominant hen had a rooster related injury and I kept her inside for a month. It wasn't a pretty site. I keep her in a chicken condo by herself now and in the warmer months I let her out to go nuts on the lawn. She follows me around while I work on things, its kind of cool for me. I call her the 'dog chicken'. Sometimes the best options are just that, options. If she is doing well as a house pet continue to do that if you are so inclined. You'll have a lot less to worry about, and chickens do cause worry. She is till getting the interaction she needs and if outside she can interact with your current flock from the safety of being outside the fence. Good luck with everything!

 

[aart]

Re-integration can be as tough as integration.
Follow the same basic 'rules'.

This might help too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock