Reintegrating a healed bird!

[WaywardRoz]

Hello, I am a relatively new (about 2.5 months) keeper of 3 rescue battery hens (Frenchie, Dolly and Ginger) . Unfortunately, Frenchie suffered a minor sprain to her foot a few weeks ago. We have kept her separated in a dog crate that is elevated and out of the way of the other two, but they have still been able to see and hear her. She is now healed and ready to reintegrate, but as she’s is our smallest and most nervous bird, I’m worried about making obvious mistakes and causing more harm!

I’ve moved the crate to the same level as the other two, so that they are more easily able to interact during the day, but they are still separate at night. I’ve also tried a couple of supervised sessions where she is out of the crate. At these times, she is getting pecked at and is hiding behind or inside the coop. I’m not sure though if this is just reestablishing the pecking order, and I should let it play out!

Am I best just letting her free back with the other two and seeing what happens? Can I put her back in the main coop overnight? Or should I keep going with the crate?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you!

 

[WaywardRoz]

Hello, I am a relatively new (about 2.5 months) keeper of 3 rescue battery hens (Frenchie, Dolly and Ginger) . Unfortunately, Frenchie suffered a minor sprain to her foot a few weeks ago. We have kept her separated in a dog crate that is elevated and out of the way of the other two, but they have still been able to see and hear her. She is now healed and ready to reintegrate, but as she’s is our smallest and most nervous bird, I’m worried about making obvious mistakes and causing more harm!

I’ve moved the crate to the same level as the other two, so that they are more easily able to interact during the day, but they are still separate at night. I’ve also tried a couple of supervised sessions where she is out of the crate. At these times, she is getting pecked at and is hiding behind or inside the coop. I’m not sure though if this is just reestablishing the pecking order, and I should let it play out!

Am I best just letting her free back with the other two and seeing what happens? Can I put her back in the main coop overnight? Or should I keep going with the crate?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you!

Ps. We are not entirely sure what caused the initial injury, but we’ve done a good check of all the housing and accessible areas to avoid something similar happening again!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is there plenty of hiding spaces and multiple feed options in the run, so she can get some distance from the others? I've never had an issue simply releasing a bird that's been kept in sight of the others, but I also have plenty of space and clutter so the newly released bird has options if the others are being pushy.

 

[Mrs. K]

Post some pictures of your set up. It can help us give you better advice, most of us naturally think of our own set up unless we can see another set up.

Watch carefully and see who pecks first. Generally what happens is you have a leader in the meanness, and followers that get their digs in as they may.

Put the leader in the crate, and let the other two work it out. One against one, is way better than 2 against one. Keep meanie in the crate for 2-3 days. Until the pecking order is completely calm with the other two. You really want this to be solid, because the most aggressive bird is going to come out and want to change things up.

If you have a lot of clutter in your run (I am a believer in clutter - it gives hide outs, escapes, makes use of the vertical space and lets birds get away from each other. See this article for some ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/page-6#post-25037140

If you don't have it add it, if you do have it, rearrange it, then put the two together. Kind of discombobulates the older birds which will give the victim a better chance.

Mrs K