reintroducing a previous sick chicken to her flock

[changa]

We have 5 chickens. When one of our rhode island reds came down with gleet vent we brought her indoors to care for her. When the weather gets a little milder here in Wisconsin, we would like to return her to her flock. She's back to good health and I took her out yesterday to see how our other girls would react. One of our girls attacked her. How do I safely reintroduce her to the flock?

 

[smilebrite]

I always put a new one in at night when they are roosting.I spray the new one with a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar & the rest water.I also spray the old ones with the same solution.I spray in the morning everyone before I open the coop & then again at night.I do this regime for 5 days.After that everything should be fine.

 

[Maddison]

I always put a new one in at night when they are roosting.I spray the new one with a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar & the rest water.I also spray the old ones with the same solution.I spray in the morning everyone before I open the coop & then again at night.I do this regime for 5 days.After that everything should be fine.

curious, could you explain how spraying them with that helps re-introduction?

 

[smilebrite]

I was told by an old timer years ago if you spray all of them with the white vinegar/ water solution then they all smell the same so they will eventually except her as the group.

 

[Maddison]

I was told by an old timer years ago if you spray all of them with the white vinegar/ water solution then they all smell the same so they will eventually except her as the group.

ah that makes sense, do you think it would work with roosters too? I have to create a rooster flock but my boys get pretty violent...

 

[smilebrite]

I think it will work with any as long as their isn't a size issue.I have two coops one for bantams & mellow birds & one for my larger birds & ducks.

 

[aart]

I was told by an old timer years ago if you spray all of them with the white vinegar/ water solution then they all smell the same so they will eventually except her as the group.

Hmmm.....not sure the smell thing would work.
Have you actually tried it @smilebrite?

We have 5 chickens. When one of our rhode island reds came down with gleet vent we brought her indoors to care for her. When the weather gets a little milder here in Wisconsin, we would like to return her to her flock. She's back to good health and I took her out yesterday to see how our other girls would react. One of our girls attacked her. How do I safely reintroduce her to the flock?

Welcome to BYC @changa ...
..this might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

These might too:
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.