Trouble reintroducing once broody hen

[Adula62]

I am having difficulty reintroducing my once broody hen back into the flock. She’s been in a large wire dog crate in our run for over a week with food, water, and shelter. Each time I let her out into the run with the flock she is attacked. She seems weak and tired which doesn’t help when she is trying to escape the bully hens. I love her and do not wish to get rid of her, however I’m to the point now where that may be my only option. If you have any advice towards how to better introduce her to the flock please let me know. I’m scared if I leave her in the run she will be killed by the other hens.

 

[NatJ]

She seems weak and tired which doesn’t help when she is trying to escape the bully hens.

I would try to get her healthy and energetic first. That might be enough to solve the problem.

She might just need time to eat and gain weight after being broody, or she might have something else wrong.

I would look her over to see if anything is obviously wrong.

If you don't see anything wrong, I would give her another week or so of living in the crate, having as much as she wants to eat and drink, and see if she improves. If you are able to let her walk around outside the run sometimes, that could help her get some exercise without being picked on by the bullies in the run.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Get her healthy first.

Here is how I introduce new birds, or birds that have been gone for a bit…

I set up a cage that has food & water, a little shelter in the main run area… so the flock starts seeing and hearing the bird but has no way to attack… depending on age, weather, size of temp cage or small coop I may make this short visits to all day things. If I can move a crate into the house area with bird at bed time I will… depends on what I am working with. I use a couple Dog Kennels and small mini coops presently.

After a awhile I start picking flock members to visit new bird/s one at a time for supervised visits. Usually with the mellowest flock members first and then gradually working up to my more aggressive girls. I watch carefully and gradually extend the time together.

Then I put obstacles in the main run that allow her to go under, over, around, hide etc… this makes the rest of the flock work. Lots of escape routes. I put out multiple food an water stations to make it impossible for anyone bird to monopolise food Or water. Spread lots of treats around and then release them in that sort of set up and watch. I always expect some sort of dust up so always have my chicken first aid stuff ready. Usually it goes pretty well only once in a while I have had to back up the process.

 

[aart]

She’s been in a large wire dog crate in our run for over a week with food, water, and shelter.

How much longer than a week?
how long was she broody before you put her in the crate(I assume to break her broodiness?)?