Reintroduction day....not like the last one..need help...

[savingpurple]

The last time I had one mean hen to the other hens, sweet as pie to me. She has been rehomed, and doing great

I have now a almost 6 month old NHR, that has an injured leg. Seems a bit better, but needs to go back to the flock. She shows no outward signs of an injury, but limps.

Have taken and listened to all the advice on here, to help her heal, and have chosen to see if she makes it or not. It is not in my hands any more.

Put her in a smaller crate than she was, and put her in the outdoor run. Two hen relentllessly attacked her. She is bloody on her comb, and her eye.

I stepped in....I had to become the rooster. I have a small 3 foot long piece of wood trim, and used that to deter,by holding the tirm wood to their beak, and not moving it, but it wasn't working. So I had to get my act together from what I have learned on here and became the rooster,,,LOL

As they walked up to attack her,and did, I stepped in and pushed down firmly, but to let them know, this would NOT stand !!! LOL

It took almost 3 hours, and then I seen some obedience from my flock towards her...I felt better, but I have to work long hours tomorrow, and we have a small to medium chance of rain/storms...I have Sunday off, but am worried about her tomorrow...

Any help. After the attacks, and was suprised they could get that far in the crate to get to her, she was looking in shock, comb/wattles went pale pink, and her eyes kept shutting, I ran to get her eletorlytes (sp?), and over the last hour seemed better.

Can I do more...can I help her more? Don't want to remove her at this time, as they let up, a bit, and she needs to remain.

Gosh I am SO lost on this..any help, any advise, and more info to help you???

Thanks in advance !

 

[dianaross77]

My goodness you have some relentless hens. Seems like you just can't catch a break. If it were me, I would take the hen lowest in the pecking order and put it in with her for a while. Let them integrate together and then release them both back into the flock. Trying to integrate/reintegrate one chicken is almost always going to result in gang violence. At least with two of them, there would be a healthy hen to bare the burden of reestablishing the pecking order.

 

[savingpurple]

My goodness you have some relentless hens. Seems like you just can't catch a break.

Tell me about it.........The last 6 months have been not as care free as I envisioned. People said get chickens, they take care of themselves, we wanted them, got them, and well, they lied !!! LOL

They seem better today, but wish I had more time to let them get adjusted to each other. The increase in chances of storms went form 30% to now 60%.

Have 2 choices...

Open up the crate door, and watch and help, hoping for the best......OR

Put her in the hot coop all after noon, to keep her from getting drenched IF it does rain.

Neither I want to do...Stupid weather !

The crate I have is not big enough for 2 hens. Good idea though. I will say this, my white rock, is the most calm bird I have seen so far. She could care less, and has even from the start, been drinking out of the corner of the hurt hens waterer. She walks by, looks, and walks on.​

 

[Beekissed]

Easy....put the other hens in the crate and your lonely gal out in the coop by herself. She will get some peace and be able to heal in freedom and they will still be able to see and hear her, but will be unable to peck her. I'd keep them crated for a week and then let out only one hen at a time each day until they are all out.

If she is stumbling around, falling or sitting on the coop floor all fluffed up, they will peck at and attempt to kill her. It is instinct and not meanness....they do this to prevent ill/weak flock members from endangering the flock. If she merely limps, she should be alright.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
Good advice given. This is the pecking order. Sadly enough it is not Disney perfect harmony.

 

[savingpurple]

....put the other hens in the crate and your lonely gal out in the coop by herself.

Another good idea, but the crate I have is not nearly big enough for 5 hens. I will have to figure it out. Have let her out for an hour, and they keep at her. She is bleeding again. I play rooster, and hold down the attackers, and scold. Have to leave for work soon, so put her back in the crate.

I will try again tomorrow, and maybe block part of the run off, have left over chicken wire, and put her in that part. She is not laying yet, and the others are so they need access to the coop.

I will tell you I am ready for some peace in this chciken adventure I wanted to get into.

She is limping pretty bad, and have no clue what to do past letting her heal if she is meant to heal. I just don't have $100 bucks to spend on a vet bill. I wish I did.​

 

[allieloveschickens]

Can you block off some of the walls of the crate with cardboard so that she can hide from the others? I would not put her out in the coop with them as it sounds like they will keep attacking her. I had a similar issue when I introduced a new hen, everyone seemed fine for a couple weeks, but then one day my original hens scalped her down to the bone! They never accepted her again, I had to re-home her after she healed with one other hen (who was raised with her and didn't attack her) to resolve the issue.

 

[savingpurple]

unfortunetly, got home tonight and she has gotten worse...she is really limping, and has been all day I guess. She must be in pain. I have no other experience, so, am at a loss as to what else to do????

I will move her back up to the garage and take her in, next Sunday. Can't see any other option....sure wish I knew someone that knew what to look for, and could do it at a reduced rate....but sadly I don't. Not fair to keep her in pain. So...unless somone on here lives in my area, and wants to help figure out what is wrong, I feel it's time to make the appt. and have her pain free and in chicken heaven.

Thank you all for your support, and kindness !!!