Reintroducing

[JFF12]

I had an injured pullet that I separated. I didn’t have the means to keep her in sight of the other chickens (she went back into the brooder but had plenty of room). She’s healed up now, been about 8-9 days, so I tried putting her back into the run today. There was one cockerel that kept biting her neck. She would scream and run then things would die down. Eventually he grabbed her neck again and pinned her down (she of course was screaming her lungs out). He didn’t stop until I got into the run. I’ve separated her again but I’m wondering, if I keep putting her out there a little at a time over the course of a few days will the cockerel eventually chill out? The entire flock is right at 8 weeks old/ all buffs.

 

[aart]

Is the injured bird separated by wire right next to the run...or was she out of sight of the flock?
How big is your coop and run?
Sounds like you have multiple males, might want to get rid of the one that attacked her.

 

[JFF12]

She’s not within sight of the flock. The only place I had to put her was unfortunately away from the run. The coop and run all together is about 20ft x 10ft, 12 chickens. She seemed to do ok with the other pullets, there was one that pecked her a little but nothing major. It was the one cockerel that gave her the most problems. Is he wanting her gone?

 

[aart]

She seemed to do ok with the other pullets, there was one that pecked her a little but nothing major. It was the one cockerel that gave her the most problems. Is he wanting her gone?

Good reason to get rid of him now....especially if you have multiple males.

 

[JFF12]

I need some advice. I’ve had an injured girl for a couple of weeks (info above). I’ve been taking her outside with the flock several days in a row and they continue to be hard on her. She’s scared to death but she doesn’t interact with any of them. They’ll catch a glance and come peck her. But it doesn’t seem like this is just a quick peck or two, they stay on her until I step towards them some times. Poor girl buried her head under anything she can. Are they trying to “kick her out”? She’s healthy now but it doesn’t seem to be progressing any.

 

[JFF12]

At first it seemed like just one cockerel was doing it but it’s really several.