Chickem
Hatching
- Aug 18, 2015
- 9
- 0
- 7
Hello, new guy to the website here, looking forward to participating in the community and learn more about chickens.
That being said, I'm having a few issues with the flock. I have 6 RIR hens, and a few months ago, one of the smallest girls, Millet, was attacked by a raccoon. It was trying to eat her before I chased it away, and had tore out all of her feathers from her back down. She was tore up pretty bad, but after a month or so of some good TLC, she's doing great. Her feather grew back, she's walking properly, and she's even laying again.
However, I had to keep her isolated from the rest of the flock because I know that blood turns chickens into piranhas. Now, every time I try placing her with the other 5 hens, they'll all attack her with pecks and by jumping on her back. I tried putting her in the coop with the others overnight, which is what was told would work, but they still attack her on sight, I think because they recognize she's different due to her feathers growing back black and white instead of red, like all the other girls. They won't let her eat or anything. This worries me so much not just because they may kill Millet, but because I also have 4 Buff Orpington pullets in a separate pen that are getting big and will need to be introduced soon. On top of that, I also have two tiny chicks, only a few weeks old (a Silkie and a Brahma)(probably
) that are both bantams. If I cant even reintroduce an existing flock member without risking her getting killed, then who's to say what will happen if I try to bring in other, stranger chickens?
If I just leave her in there, will they eventually get used to her and leave her be? Or is there something I need to do to make them behave?
Picture above is Millet in the coop
That being said, I'm having a few issues with the flock. I have 6 RIR hens, and a few months ago, one of the smallest girls, Millet, was attacked by a raccoon. It was trying to eat her before I chased it away, and had tore out all of her feathers from her back down. She was tore up pretty bad, but after a month or so of some good TLC, she's doing great. Her feather grew back, she's walking properly, and she's even laying again.
However, I had to keep her isolated from the rest of the flock because I know that blood turns chickens into piranhas. Now, every time I try placing her with the other 5 hens, they'll all attack her with pecks and by jumping on her back. I tried putting her in the coop with the others overnight, which is what was told would work, but they still attack her on sight, I think because they recognize she's different due to her feathers growing back black and white instead of red, like all the other girls. They won't let her eat or anything. This worries me so much not just because they may kill Millet, but because I also have 4 Buff Orpington pullets in a separate pen that are getting big and will need to be introduced soon. On top of that, I also have two tiny chicks, only a few weeks old (a Silkie and a Brahma)(probably
If I just leave her in there, will they eventually get used to her and leave her be? Or is there something I need to do to make them behave?
Picture above is Millet in the coop