- Oct 19, 2013
- 63
- 2
- 48
About a month ago our chicken Twinkie was attacked. She basically had her shoulder ripped off. Amazingly she has survived and seems to be well on her way to having a normal life again.
So here's our dilemma... I kept her in the house for a few weeks to do everything possible to keep her going. She now seems ready to be with her friends. When I originally put her back in the coop, a younger chicken was picking on her, but I saw her stand up for herself, and her BFF Ariel stood up for her too. After letting them roam the yard for a few hrs it seemed like they were doing much better. I haven't seen any further fighting. And anytime the one becomes aggressive the other two put her in her place. So I believe that part is ok. The problem is at night... The healthy two will go in the coop but Twinkie stands at the gate like she's waiting to come back inside.
We have left her out there till its very late, but she still just seems to be waiting for us to bring her in. Once we do, she settles right in. I worry about just leaving her out there. It's getting really cold and she doesn't have feathers on that shoulder. Should I just leave her and hope for the best? Or is there another way to get her in there? I just want her back with her flock happy.
On a side note, where we live we have really harsh winters. (Another reason I worry.) My husband read we don't need to worry about heaters, that true? Also would it be better to have a red heat lamp?
Thank you!
So here's our dilemma... I kept her in the house for a few weeks to do everything possible to keep her going. She now seems ready to be with her friends. When I originally put her back in the coop, a younger chicken was picking on her, but I saw her stand up for herself, and her BFF Ariel stood up for her too. After letting them roam the yard for a few hrs it seemed like they were doing much better. I haven't seen any further fighting. And anytime the one becomes aggressive the other two put her in her place. So I believe that part is ok. The problem is at night... The healthy two will go in the coop but Twinkie stands at the gate like she's waiting to come back inside.
We have left her out there till its very late, but she still just seems to be waiting for us to bring her in. Once we do, she settles right in. I worry about just leaving her out there. It's getting really cold and she doesn't have feathers on that shoulder. Should I just leave her and hope for the best? Or is there another way to get her in there? I just want her back with her flock happy.
On a side note, where we live we have really harsh winters. (Another reason I worry.) My husband read we don't need to worry about heaters, that true? Also would it be better to have a red heat lamp?
Thank you!