I'm searching through all the related threads but can't find the answer to my problem. I have a bossy hen (No rooster)
I have 2 blackxlinks and 2 buff orps who grew up together from chicks and came to live with me at 19 weeks. One happy bunch, with a dominant xlink who was sometimes bossy about food and that was it.
One of the buff orps has been sick and kept inside the house for 6 days. When I check on them at night, the 2 blackxlinks are roosted together and the lone buff orp is alone in a corner so I built her a straw igloo to keep warm as its getting below freezing at night. I want to reintroduce her sister as soon as possible just for warmth's sake.
Today an hour before sundown I brought the recovered buff orp out to the coop to reintegrate and get used to being a chicken again. Everything went ok at first they pretty much ignored her and went outside to the run and she followed them out. They all got along.
They went back inside and the bossy xlink became aggressive and attacked the recovered buff orp several times and yanked out a lot of feathers. I stood up to her and the buff orp sulked into a corner and the other two went up to her and made friendly clucking noises. The two buff orps were very friendly toward each other and tried to snuggle down. The bossy xlink immediately swooped over to break them up.
Have they forgotten her existence or does she have to go through some hazing period with the bossy xlink?
Do I have to go through the new bird introduction phase where she's separated from them by chicken wire for two weeks?
Help please-
(Incidentally, the 3 out in the coop have all matured and the nice xlink has actually been laying for 3 straight days now that she is 21 weeks. The other two have significantly bigger and brighter combs while the quarantined one that was inside has no change, hers are still pale and small)
I have 2 blackxlinks and 2 buff orps who grew up together from chicks and came to live with me at 19 weeks. One happy bunch, with a dominant xlink who was sometimes bossy about food and that was it.
One of the buff orps has been sick and kept inside the house for 6 days. When I check on them at night, the 2 blackxlinks are roosted together and the lone buff orp is alone in a corner so I built her a straw igloo to keep warm as its getting below freezing at night. I want to reintroduce her sister as soon as possible just for warmth's sake.
Today an hour before sundown I brought the recovered buff orp out to the coop to reintegrate and get used to being a chicken again. Everything went ok at first they pretty much ignored her and went outside to the run and she followed them out. They all got along.
They went back inside and the bossy xlink became aggressive and attacked the recovered buff orp several times and yanked out a lot of feathers. I stood up to her and the buff orp sulked into a corner and the other two went up to her and made friendly clucking noises. The two buff orps were very friendly toward each other and tried to snuggle down. The bossy xlink immediately swooped over to break them up.
Have they forgotten her existence or does she have to go through some hazing period with the bossy xlink?
Do I have to go through the new bird introduction phase where she's separated from them by chicken wire for two weeks?
Help please-
(Incidentally, the 3 out in the coop have all matured and the nice xlink has actually been laying for 3 straight days now that she is 21 weeks. The other two have significantly bigger and brighter combs while the quarantined one that was inside has no change, hers are still pale and small)
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