Reintroduction? After only 4 days???

[LilBeauPeep]

Sweet Henrietta was attacked and, thankfully, only mildly injured. She's been quarantined in a bathroom for a broken leg. Today is day 4. She's refusing foods so yesterday I brought a gentle sister to a quiet yard with her for comfort and they ate some meal worms.

Today I brought her to the normal play yard with the rest of the flock. One hen is bullying her. Because Henrietta is only walking slowly and keeps her head down she looks different. Hopefully when she is more capable the more aggressive hen will back off? The rest of the flock didn't seem to treat her differently. This flock is my first and only 5 months old!

We also lost our roo, Beauregard, to the attack. Not sure if that change has to do with this hens aggression/dominance towards Henrietta?

Please share advice on both what to do and normal responses to this sort of loss/change. Thank you ♡

Edit: some side notes to include. .. Henrietta is still in the bathroom, she played for 20 minutes but then obviously needed some rest and was returned to her quarantine. Also, when the other hen showed aggression I isolated her in the chicken run, leaving Henrietta with the rest of the gentle flock. The aggressive hen continued to attempt to attack Henrietta through the gate.

 

[Mrs. K]

Separating birds causes a lot of problems. Their brains are not big, and they are afraid of strangers which makes them very aggressive. They forget flockmates very quickly.

It sounds like there was an attack, and that will upset the flock for a few days. And with the loss of the rooster, there will be a pecking order shift, then a day or so later you add back Henrietta, and that causes a shift again.

If she truly had a broken leg, I don't think she would be walking now. However, if she is walking with her head down, she may still be in great pain, if she is not eating she may be still in shock, and may die.

If she is getting better, they will work it out.

In the future, instead of bringing a bird into the house, or separating them completely from the others, it would be better to section off a part of your run, so that the injured bird is out of the daily hustle/ bustle, has her own food and water. Use woven wire or chicken wire so everyone can see her and hear her, and she is still part of the flock.

Mrs K

 

[LilBeauPeep]

Thank you! Is it too late to do that now? I'd still have to go shopping to pick up stuff to do that. . And wouldn't she need another coop. ...or? I haven't even seen her attempt to fly or perch. She's got an awful limp and barely hobbling, her foot is turned in and she steps on it. I had her seen but sad advised to not wrap it because she panics and fights and pecks at the splint. I was told to keep her confined to a small area to rest until she regains her strength.

It's also 104F here and I'm afraid she'll dehydrate quickly since she's only drinking (water+electrolyte/vitamin/antibiotic) via a syringe. I was told her lack of appetite and refusing to eat/drink on her own was due to stress from the attack and isolation.

Ideas? Will the aggressive hen let her back in??? Are there cases where they don't? ?

 

[Mrs. K]

I hope I am wrong, but I think you are going to loose her.

If she is in this state, separate her and wait and see. Chickens are not nice, and will often viciously attack a injured bird.

I wish I had more positive ideas.

 

[LilBeauPeep]

I've been bringing her outside for snacks with her sisters everyday and just putting dominant hen in the run when she becomes violent.

Well, yesterday their coop broke/collapsed while I was trying to move it to clean it (soooooo old and on its leg, I'm injured and was being forceful because I needed to get it done) any ways, then I had to build a new coop. ..so after I did I thought hmmmmm this is a big change and the hens were being curious....I brought Henrietta outside and they haven't payed her much attention. ..to busy exploring their new coop with a million perches.. any how Henrietta spent the night in the run lady night. I just gave them breakfast and still no noticeable aggression *fingers crossed*. Going to be EXTRA careful with her fluids but she won't eat in isolation so I'm trying to make this work I felt so bad for her this morning she was sleeping alone on the ground so I brought her eggs and toast to cheer her up and she ate some (so happy to see her eat! !)