reintroducing to the flock

[klf73]

how long does it take? I have a hen that has been away from the rest for a couple of months, that needs to go back out. I have been letting her outside with them but she is still an outsider and I have to bring her in at night. How long will it take for them to let her "hang out with them" again?

 

[Catalina]

Oooooo this is a tough one! I know some people add the outsider chicken to the flock during the night while they are sleeping.

The other hens wake up and think "Huh, do you remember her? Oh, well guess she just looks different today."

Sometimes that works but......other times it takes a loooooong time to integrate an outsider.

OR you could take a few hens that are low on the pecking order, add them to the other hen and then in a few days add all the 'new' hens back into the flock.
There's strength in numbers!

Good luck!

 

[klf73]

yeah, thanks. I tried putting her with her "sisters" since they are pretty low and they weren't very nice either. She has taken to free ranging in my back yard alone and just avoids the others mostly. My kids carry her around a lot after school and thanks to my son she has been back in the coop for 2 days(he thought she belonged there so he put her in at night). They haven't harmed her but don't let her hang with them either