Returning a hen to the flock... temperature concerns

[heronchick]

Hi, I have had a full grown hen kept in my house (60-70 degrees F) for 2 weeks while healing from a fox attack we thwarted, on antibiotics. She is healed up well and completing her round of antibiotics. It is quite cold here now, getting down to about 20 degrees at night. I am concerned about the difference in temperature causing a problem for her. Do I just put her back in the coop while they are sleeping or transition her in a different way. I would value some feedback. Thank you.

 

[aart]

Your'e going to need to acclimate her to the colder temps.
Maybe close off room she is in, block the heat, and start opening a window to slowly lower temp in room. Or find a place to keep her for a few days where it's cooler but not too much of a temp change.

Then you'll have to integrate her back into the flock, that can be just tossing her in, or take much longer depending on how they react to a 'new' bird. 2 weeks can be long enough for them to have closed the ranks.

You could try putting her in a crate out in the run during the day to start the integration and temp acclimation process.

 

[heronchick]

Thank you very much! I will try those suggestions.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you will have way more problems with the other chickens than with the temperature.

Put her outside during the day, and in a garage at night. However, I would not worry about it too much, chickens in SD often survive very easily going from 70 degrees to below zero temperature swings routinely. We have days in the winter that get up to those temperatures followed by days were getting to 20 for the high. The swings do not bother my chickens at all.

Your big problem is your chickens are going to think you are adding a stranger. A single bird addition is a difficult one to do. If you can, section off an area, and put in another middle of the pecking order bird. They will duke it out, but it is one bird on one bird. Later, when that has been settled, try adding the pair to the flock.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

from 70 degrees to below zero

Seriously?!

 

[Mrs. K]

Not uncommon at all. We can go days with highs near 70's lows upper 30's, even low 40's, then drop like a rock, where the high is 0, and lows are below zero, keep that for a couple of days, then swing back up.

We just try on winter here, we don't wear it full time.

Mrs K

 

[PirateGirl]

I'd start by putting her outside at the warmest time of the day on whichever day is supposed to be the warmest this week. Chickens are hardy. Check on her a few times and make sure she is acting ok (and the rest of the flock is treating her ok), pecking and scratching and moving about like a normal chicken (signs she is too cold would be standing still a lot, fluffed, huddled, on one leg, shivering). If all goes well, she may be able to just stay out.

 

[heronchick]

Thanks everyone, I will try to apply these suggestions. I really appreciate the feedback!

 

[aart]

Thanks everyone, I will try to apply these suggestions. I really appreciate the feedback!

Best of cLuck!!
Be observant and flexible.

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

As might these...
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.

 

[heronchick]

So, I put my New Hampshire Hen back into the flock/coop. I waited until a less cold evening mid week and put her in after dark. All went well, next day was like she had never left. She was always most aggressive hen and second in pecking order, so she had no problem reasserting herself. Thanks again for the input.