StrawberryMoon
Chirping
Hi! I am raising a small flock of faverolles chickens, all hatched together and age 5 months. One pullet had to be isolated at 5 weeks old due to injury (not a pecking related injury). The flock has never taken her back. Soon after she recovered from her original injury I tried reintroducing her into the coop inside a rabbit cage for a few days so the others could get used to her without being able to peck her. It didn't work. I tried letting her out during supervised times but the others peck her and she would be burying her face in my lap after 20 minutes or so. She is just too sweet to take any abuse at all. I ended up buying a small pre-fab coop and run just for her. I reinforced it as well as I could for predator protection and I placed it inside the protected electric fenced area that the rest of the flock uses. However, this is still not a great situation for anyone. The coop is smaller and lighter than I would prefer, and I have to tend to two separate coops (soon to be three when I move the cockerels out to their own bachelor pad). Plus winter is coming, and I imagine it's harder for a chicken to keep warm all alone. Can anyone offer suggestions for my next steps here? If she stays alone for winter, should I provide special heat or insulation for her coop? Is there any hope of merging her back into the flock? Some have suggested it will be easier after the cockerels are separated, but honestly the other pullets are the main ones who peck her now. I am thinking if nothing else works, I'll give her some eggs to sit on in the spring and perhaps those chicks will grow up to love her and they can have their own little community. She really seems lonely.
