Vicious Mama

[Aero2054]

As short as I can:
We gave our last hen (out of an original four), who was broody, three chicks to raise. They were hers immediately and she was a great mom. At about 9 weeks of age one of them disappeared in the middle of the day! Could not find her had to assume there was a very bold predator out there. She reappeared that evening, was gone for a max of 12 hours and was perfectly fine- no injuries that we could see. Put her back with mama and sisters.
The next morning went to let them out and poor little pullet that went adventuring was hiding in a back corner with the back of her head pecked something awful. I got her separated asap and in the interest of getting her back to her family, coated the wound in Blue-Kote and put her back at dusk, gone this time less than 24 hours.
Did not go well. Pullet has been separated now for a week and wound is healed nicely and feathers are almost all back too. I was going to put her in the chicken run, still in her dog crate, starting this weekend and see if everyone could use to each other again. I'm willing to spread this over some time. My husband tried to introduce them free-range style the other day which of course did not go well and is now convinced it will never work and wants to find a new home for either mama or pullet.

Is there hope for this situation- that they can be a family again or should I go ahead and see who finds a new home first (I'm assuming the pullet)?
TIA

 

[Kiki]

Poor chick and poor you.
This does not sound fun.
It may take more time and it may not work.
You just gotta keep trying.
I would for sure put there in the run in the cage...so they can all look but not touch.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC...sorry you're having troubles.

Tough situation.
One single adult hen that's trying to wean her chicks,
but has no other adult birds to commune with.
You could separate hen and chicks and try to integrate slowly.
Or get rid of the hen and keep the chicks as your new flock.
I'd at least separate the hen from the chicks with a wire wall for now,
get that chick back with her hatch mates asap.
Give it some time,
for the broody to go back to being a layer and the chicks to get bigger.
She may appreciate the company of the chicks after a few weeks.

Go with the typical integration techniques:
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.

 

[chickens really]

I agree with aart.....

Momma is trying to wean them and for some reason the one Chick is getting her full displeasure.....
Separate till the Chicks leave her alone?...Or get rid of that Hen.....

 

[centrarchid]

What kind of chicken is the mom? Picture is you are not certain.

 

[Aero2054]

Thank you guys, I'm going to get the pullet (Gladys) set up next to the main run today as she is well-healed so we can begin a slow reintroduction.

Mama is a blue-lace Wyandotte.