Reintroducing a recovered hen

[kari4farms]

hello, we have a flock of five, about five months old. One of our chickens lost the sheath on her beak. We kept her In a cage in the house to heal, and have been trying to put her in the run with the other chickens in the corner in a dog cage to help protect her. However, they keep picking at her strange beak and making it bleed again making the reintroduction nearly impossible. Any suggestions? We’d love to get them back together before they start laying, but the cycle of healing seems to be taking forever.

 

[Rammy]

Sounds like you will need to keep her seperated for a little longer until she is completely healed. Chickens are bad about attacking another they sense is weak or see that its injured. The blood will attract them, too. If you can set up an area where they can see each other, but she can get away from them if they start picking on her, that might work. Maybe get some dog kennel panels to section off part of the run so she has her own space. Good luck.

 

[Mrs. K]

Inside the sectioned off place, go ahead and put a cardboard box or tote on its side, so she can literally disappear, not just out of reach, but also out of sight. It might really help her confidence if she can appear to the chickens and then disappear from them on her terms.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

in the run with the other chickens in the corner in a dog cage to help protect her.

Pics of dog cage, please?
Also of beak.

Welcome to BYC! @kari4farms