Re-introducing a chick that was "attacked"

[yeye5]

one more try at posting the pic of her right side...

 

[aart]

Hard to say if that area will regrow feathers.....whether the cause is genetic or the pecking you may never know. I have a cockbird that has had a bald spot on the back of his head since he was a chick.

 

[yeye5]

Do you think--once she maxes out on feather growth-- that it wold be safe to introduce them both--Destiny, chick in question--and her buddy to any coop?
If I decide to do so, would you all suggest avoiding the coop she was bullied in? Perhaps choose the other coop that her buddy came from?
I also have a 3rd coop that neither of them has ever seen.
Although the day-run is much larger, I have not had good results putting youngsters in that coop bcs they can get out and become air-predator-bait.
My original plans would have been to transfer the youngsters at 3-3 1/2 months big into that coop/pen...Now I'm kind of scared to do anything.
However...they cannot live in the guest bathroom forever!
Based on the pics and dynamics, what would be the best (?) coop to intro them to?
Thank you all so much!!!

 

[Mrs. K]

You are more generous than me, I think she looks bright and active, and I would put her into something outside ASAP. I don't think it is healthy for chicks to be in the house. I think they need more sun and fresh air. Try a pen without the bullies. Make sure she has hideouts, and get aways so that she can get away from the other birds if needed.

 

[aart]

I'm a little confused about what enclosures you have,
how big they are (in feet by feet),
and how many birds at what age and integration status(who is living with whom).
That info and some pics of housing would help garner more specific suggestions.

It will be best to do some side by side separation before tossing the hurt chick and her buddy back in the mix. Wire dog crates can be of great help in this type of situation, but they need to be in a weather protected location adjacent to the existing birds.

 

[yeye5]

I still need to measure the dimension. I'd guess the first coop (from which the "buddy" came is 10-12 long x 5-6 wide. It has a "second story" that is 1/3 the length and that's where the nest/laying boxes are.
Next coop is where the chick who was bullied had been is approx 15-18 long by 7-8 wide--same set up with a partial 2nd story with nest boxes.
Third coop with huge run is in a different location entirely. It has the most space but chicks are predator-bait up there until they get size and smarts.
I presently feel that coop #1, despite it's smaller space, is the best place to re-intro the pair. ALL 4 hens in that pen are on eggs right now (3 hens piled on one clutch and 1 hen on another clutch). That leaves roaming around the 2 other chicks (hatched with the buddy end of may) and the daddy roo. All the birds in that coop are silkies and very gentle.
When I have hens hatch out their (or others') eggs, I tend to let the hens bring their chicks out to meet and greet since they're naturals at it, lol and I only interfere if necessary.
Once the chicks are 3 1/2 to 4 months old I generally intro them to the large area.
I hope that made more sense that it sounds like to me!
Thanks for the help!

 

[yeye5]

One more detail as I feel it's relevant...
As I'd said the "Silkie House" (or pen #2 as described above) has 2 clutches that will hatch beginning friday of this week and continue to hatch (since the other hens added to the nests) until...who knows.
The coop next to it (from which the bullied chick was removed) also has a hen on eggs.
Important to note that these groupings of hens are always welcoming of each others' chicks and have done very well in situations like this every time.
Since it is obvious I have some very broody hens, I rarely buy/adopt new chicks unless they are a breed I'm particularly working on, and even then it's a 1 or 2 rather than a group. The little BR girl just "spoke to me" when I saw her.

 

[yeye5]

I just wanted to update and share the "happy flock" news...
I took advice from the responses I got here and I intro'd the pair (BR, named Destiny, who had been bullied + Vilano, her XL buddy/protecter) into the Siklie House (where all the hens are busy brooding).
I was scared senseless a few times yesterday when I couldn't find her but she'd found a few great hidey holes.
This morning at first check I saw her and her buddy Vilano hanging out comfortably on the 2nd floor of the coop. All was well!
Thanks for all of the great advice!