Reintroducing hen to flock

[leighks]

My chicken Willow has been away from the flock (and in the house) for about 7 weeks now, and will probably stay in until the worst of the winter deep freeze is over (I don’t think she’s acclimated to the cold anymore). She was sick and then needed surgery, so shes been in the house recovering.

I have a few other chickens who are all almost 2 years old and they have all been together since they were a few days old. When it’s time to put Willow back outside, does anyone have suggestions how to do it in a way that goes smoothly? I’ve read chickens can recognize each other (and human faces) so I wonder if they will remember her. She’s the low bird in the flock but she wasn’t picked on too badly.

What I don’t want to do it put her in there on a roost in the dark one night, which I have seen suggested. I want to put her in when I can supervise how she does, and how the rest of the flock reacts to her. Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

She'll need to be reintroduced to the flock as if she is brand new to them. Start with her in a crate with food and water inside the run with the others. After about a week, let Willow out to free range for a while on her own then let the others out and watch them.
If you cannot free range, I would keep the flock locked in the coop, let Willow out into the run, then get the nicest of your flock out of the coop and put her in with the run with Willow and see how they get along. If they get on well let them spend a few hours together in the run. Let the rest of the flock out and monitor.
Let the birds roost where they want at the end of the day. If Willow wants to go back in the crate, lock her in there.
Make sure there are extra feed stations and places to hide.
The one time I did an integration the birds did things on their own schedule. I just gave them plenty of room to do it.

 

[Mrs. K]

Introducing a single hen, is one of the hardest introductions. I would add a hen to her, and let them stay together for several days, and add a third hen... let that become a fairly solid trio, and then introduce the three back to the flock.

 

[aart]

Checked out your surgery thread...wow!...only on second page so far.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/any-luck-with-surgery.1284583/


How much space do you have?
Your 'My Coop' generates an error.

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

As might this:
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[leighks]

Checked out your surgery thread...wow!...only on second page so far.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/any-luck-with-surgery.1284583/


How much space do you have?
Your 'My Coop' generates an error.

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

As might this:
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Yes what should have been a routine procedure turned into a weird complication. The actual oviduct removal was not the problem, but the incision area and skin around it was.

Without Willow there are 4 other chickens in coop and run. Coop is about 15’x15’ (large outbuilding) and attached run about 8’x16’. No one is free ranging, way too much snow.

 

[aart]

Without Willow there are 4 other chickens in coop and run. Coop is about 15’x15’ (large outbuilding) and attached run about 8’x16’.

WOW!!
I'd say you have plenty of space to build an enclosure to facilitate her integration!
Maybe you already have a separate pen in there?
If not, now is the prefect time to add one.

 

[Mimi13]

Thanks to @aart for linking your surgery page. I missed it when it was current, but I’m caught up now. So very interesting and it’s a shame there aren’t more vets specializing in backyard poultry. I would dare say with backyard poultry keeping picking up and becoming more popular, there will be more vets dabbling in chicken health, if not specialing in it. That is a good thing.

I loved reading about Willow and still wish her the best over a month later.

 

[leighks]

WOW!!
I'd say you have plenty of space to build an enclosure to facilitate her integration!
Maybe you already have a separate pen in there?
If not, now is the prefect time to add one.

Yes I have space to build a separation pen. I was just being lazy and hoping I didn’t have to haha!

 

[leighks]

Thanks to @aart for linking your surgery page. I missed it when it was current, but I’m caught up now. So very interesting and it’s a shame there aren’t more vets specializing in backyard poultry. I would dare say with backyard poultry keeping picking up and becoming more popular, there will be more vets dabbling in chicken health, if not specialing in it. That is a good thing.

I loved reading about Willow and still wish her the best over a month later.

Aww thanks, she’s such a great little bird. I just posted an update today, she’s getting better but still has a little more recovery to go.

Agree about needing more vets who specialize in poultry. I’m sure there are more now than before, but it’s still not enough! I have read many articles about how popular backyard chickens have become, so there is a need. And many people, like myself, keep a small flock more for pets than production. Sometimes there may be situations where vet care is needed.