Reintroduction

[City Farmer Jim]

I would first like to thank all that replied to my open wound questions.
Now for the question here...the oldest pullet in my spring flock was introduced to the BIG GIRLS when it was discovered she had an open wound and was being pecked. We have isolated her and she is healing very quickly. She is in an isolation cage in the run with the other 4 spring chicks who are in a separate pen. Is the isolation time set her back in integration ability or am I worrying for no reason ?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would assume so. And as she was a victim, once. I would expect it to happen again, unless you have changed the circumstances. Such as reduced the flock, made the coop/run bigger, put pin-less peepers on the birds, created more hideouts. Otherwise, I would expect this bird to be injured again, if trying to put her in the original flock.

 

[CatWhisperer]

Pinless peepers are a great investment to have on hand for such situations.

 

[aart]

Would be good to have some background info here.
How many birds(ages and genders)...
.... in how big a coop/run(feet by feet with pics)....
...and how did you do the injurious integration?

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

 

[City Farmer Jim]

The BIG girls are 8 months old and are 5...the LITTLE girls are 2 at 8 weeks and 2 at 5 weeks. The injured bird 10-12 weeks but we are pretty sure 12 weeks based on size. The coop is 4'x8' however the little girls are not in it yet. The little girls have a 5'x12' run/integration area/pen in the big girls run that is 25'x100'. The injury was on or about the same day as the first introduction, meaning that the injury was noticed after we let her in the run with the big girls and they pecked the back of her head. I broke up the initial pecking and let her go back to foraging with the big girls again ...they started after her a second time. I picked her up to check to see if she had been pecked in the eye and found a patch of raised feathers on the back of her head. I looked at it and the skin was torn open but not bleeding...odd I thought. I cleaned out the wound and packed it with neosporin and put her back in with the little girls to which she has been MAMA to them for 3-5 weeks. The biggest of her "brood" started pecking her so she has been in isolation for a week now.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

I would assume so. And as she was a victim, once. I would expect it to happen again, unless you have changed the circumstances. Such as reduced the flock, made the coop/run bigger, put pin-less peepers on the birds, created more hideouts. Otherwise, I would expect this bird to be injured again, if trying to put her in the original flock.

Do pinless peepers hinder foraging? Do all birds get them or wait to see who starts pecking her ?

 

[aart]

Some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Dragonfly Farm]

Hello, Team...You may remember my scissor beak hen, Beakie-her bottom beak comes out of her head at a 90 degree angle to the top. Beakie went south with me for 3 months this winter as she has to have special smoothies a few times a day and a shower a few times a week. No chicken carer at home was interested in that project. Anyhow, we are home now and I would like Beakie to move back into the coop with her 4 sisters. (all are one year old Buff Orpingtons) I have been keeping her in a horse stall in my barn since we got home. 4 days ago, I put one of the sisters in with her. They had a big flapping, jumping, pecking, squawking situation for about 2 minutes and now seem to be besties. I think I'll add another sister today. I'm hoping that when I put all three back into the coop in a few days that they will have an allegiance to each other and peace will befall the Dragonfly Farm chicken coop. Thoughts?
Edited to add: PS...I did add #3 to Beakie's room this morning after posting above and it was a complete non-event. They all said hello politely and went about their business! So now I have 2 in the coop and 3 in the stall......

 

[Mrs. K]

You are on the right track, don't rush it. I would wait two more days, and put them all together. If there is trouble, pull the ones in the coop now, and put them in the stall. This will let the new bird and her buddies look around the coop, and figure out the hiding spots, the feed bowls and roosts without drama, then add the birds that have been there.