reintroducing to the flock

[newchik715]

so i have had my injured bird recovering in the house for some time now. I have been taking her outside as she is getting stronger and restless. The other birds are of course all about jumping on her and pecking feathers out. How much is too much? Is it a bad sign that my recovering bird is not fighting back at all? Can someone let me know what is normal and when i need to step in if at all? I don't mind letting nature take its course i just don't want to see this bird i have nursed back to health be killed by the others.....someone break it down for me please?

 

[Zanna]

I had a similar situation and was wondering what to do, this is what I tried........... I had my bird in the house for a month recovering. When she was fully recovered, I pulled two birds from my flock about the same age as her, put them in a large brooder box for a week, they all bonded, then put them back with the main flock (75 birds, various ages). There was very minimal pecking going on. It worked well. I was so worried as she had seemed to bond with me in the house and I feared how the reincorporation would go. After 3 days with the two other birds in the brooder, I barely existed anymore

We almost made her a house chicken as I had become so attached to her, I am glad I didn't, I truly believe they are happiest in a flock! Hope this helps, just my limited experience.

 

[Olive Hill]

Put her inside a small pen or dog crate on the lawn where she can see the others and they can see her, but they do not have access to one another. Repeat for several days until the flock pays little to no attention to her in the pen/crate and then release her into the general population with supervision. That should reduce the pecking and attacks.