Will chickens fall out of the flock if gone for a few days?

[ChickenGirl555]

I'm going to need to pull 2 of my chickens (I have two different flocks, and it's going to be one from each) from their flocks for around 4 days, coming back sometime the fourth day. Would the chickens have to be reintegrated completely? Or would they still be welcomed into the flock again?

 

[sourland]

They will be challenged - frequently by lower ranked birds wanting to advance their position in the pecking order. They will have to skirmish to regain their positions. The 'pecking order' is fluid and ever changing.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

They will be challenged - frequently by lower ranked birds wanting to advance their position in the pecking order. They will have to skirmish to regain their positions. The 'pecking order' is fluid and ever changing.

It is impossible for me to describe the pecking order in better terms than sourland did.

In fact sometimes only a few minutes absence is to long an absence for there not to be challenges and scuffles when the chicken is reunited with its flock.

In chickens absence does not make the heart grow fonder, the opposite is true!!!

 

[ellenscoop]

Yes, you will almost have to reintroduce them into the flock. Here is a link to a good infographic about how methods of how to go about this - http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/caring-for-newly-adopted-chicken

 

[ChickenGirl555]

They will be challenged - frequently by lower ranked birds wanting to advance their position in the pecking order. They will have to skirmish to regain their positions. The 'pecking order' is fluid and ever changing.

Will they skirmish to the point of killing one another?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Depends on the birds.I have had hens separated to three days to a week and not be challenged.You won’t need to do a completely new setup to reintroduce,just sit them in the run and if their gonna fight just let hen settle it.Lots of times,lower ranks will challenge but not always.I have had injured birds separated for days and bring them outside while they still are weak,to get some grass and sunshine and birds still won’t fight them,depends on how long their gone,and depends on the place the bird is in and the flock itself.Soemtiems when one bird starts a scuffle,one or more will join in,either to break it up or to beat up the the bird to knock it down a few notches.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Birds don’t forget in that amount of time,they may not have a great memory,but they’d efiantly don’t forget within a few days.Its usually just the fact the bird coming back I tot he flock has not been there to defend her spot,and pretty much looses it.Hav neevr had birds kill other birds coming back Into the flock,unless they were having previous issues,such as bullying or just ingenrel not getting along.

Will they skirmish to the point of killing one another?

 

[BantyChooks]

My personal experience has been that I can take birds out for up to a week, maybe more, with few to no issues. As a disclaimer, I also have a large-ish flock (51 birds right now) that changes in size frequently. If you have a smaller more tight-knit flock it might be an issue.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Alright well thanks everybody. I’m removing her today and will return her Friday night.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

My personal experience has been that I can take birds out for up to a week, maybe more, with few to no issues. As a disclaimer, I also have a large-ish flock (51 birds right now) that changes in size frequently. If you have a smaller more tight-knit flock it might be an issue.

In large commercial flocks there are so many chickens that the flock members can not keep up with each other (a chickens' memory is not THAT good) so in that case a kind of confused or discombobulated peace ensues. While a small flock is more intune with its members and may take immediate action to chastise a member of the flock that steps out of line.