Returning wounded chick to coop

[PolentaDragon]

Short version: Any advice on returning a chick treated for a wound to his buddies? Does it need to be completely healed - it's been blued with food coloring - before he goes back, or should I try to get him back in as soon as possible to avoid a rejection issue from keeping him out too long? How long - 2 days? 2 weeks? - is too long?

Thanks!

 

[auxarcian]

I want to know, too.
How long can a chick be separated from her hen and sisters before getting rejected?

 

[azygous]

There isn't any scale for acceptance or rejection. It depends on age, the level of self confidence of the injured bird, and temperaments of all of them.

Generally, the younger the chickens, the closer they are to all being babies, the easier it is to return an injured subject to the flock. Then as they get older, the shorter the time out of the population, the easier it is to return a member.

If you have to take an injured bird out for healing, it's best to return them asap. I had to operate on a hen's talon yesterday to remove an infected nail. I chose to double-bandage the wound with vet wrap so she could be returned immediately to the flock since that's always the best option when given the choice.

If you have to keep the injured segregated, and you can place them in a crate inside the run or coop to stay in contact with their flock, that's always the best choice. If you need to return them after being away for a couple of weeks, they will need to be re-integrated slowly similar to the way you would introduce a new bird to the flock. Place them in a crate amongst the flock for a period of time, a few days at least, and let them all become acquainted before releasing them into the population.