What to do about Cindy, the pecked pullet?

[Straw Hat]

In September, I started my first flock with 14 chicks. All was fine with the chicks until six weeks ago when one of the BAs (Cindy) started getting pecked. It got so bad, her SKULL was visible. I thought we'd have to put her down, but lo and behold, she continued eating, walking around, and LAYING as though nothing was wrong. For the past six weeks, she has been roaming our fenced backyard where the flock can see her through their pen. She lays 5 big eggs/week. At sundown, she comes up onto our back deck and pecks the glass french door. We pick her up and put her in a dog crate in the garage for the night. This is working fine except we are going on vacation soon and it's a little much to expect someone to take special care of Cindy. Plus, I'm getting tired of cleaning the dog crate. I've tried reintroducing her to the flock and they start pecking her after about 20 minutes. The spot on her neck/head has mostly healed, but is of course missing feathers. I don't know what to do. Any ideas?

 

[sourland]

You may have to find a new home for her. For sure she can not be left with the flock when you are not there to monitor the situation.

 

[Straw Hat]

Will she likely integrate with a new flock? Are there things I should look for in a new prospective home...young birds vs older ones? Small flock vs large?

 

[aart]

It's hard to integrate a single bird, it can be done but takes time and effort.
Have you tried free ranging the other birds,
maybe just one of them so limpy can bond with another bird?
Put feeder and waterer out in range area, maybe multiples.

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

So might these tips...
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.