I rescued a hen from some people that didn't know how to take care of her and after thoroughly checking her over and quarantining her I started introducing her to my flock. I kept her in an adjacent pen and they attacked the barrier for a while but soon gave up. I let her spend a few hours a day with just the females and she was picked a little bit but mostly ran and hid, but that was the end. Then last night I allowed her access to the roost and half of my flock put themselves to bed and didn't bother her (that I saw, but she was still cuddled with them) and when I sent the other half inside and they started to roost they chased her away. I put her back up on the roost and didn't let them peck her and then I started to walk away. There was a little pecking as everyone found their place but they let her stay. This morning I went out EARLY just in case they were going to pick at her when they woke up and I opened the door so they could go out and free range like usual. This was still a bit dark but they were all awake, just no one had made it to the floor yet and she was roosting and cuddling with them fine. I go out later around my lunch break and she's in the coop alone and so I brought her outside to the grass but they started to chase her. I locked her out of the coop hoping they would work it out and I tossed some rice and some tomatoes around to distract them. Later she was by herself again, scared. I put her back by herself, no reason to stress her out, but what went wrong? Should I just keep trying? Should I put her with them again tonight and not let them out to free range until later in the morning? I was afraid if they weren't let out early they would find distraction in picking her.
