I say keep her separated and warm until she heals. That way she can use all of her energy to get better, instead of to stay warm and worry about the others pecking her.

I had a hen who was off this autumn. I isolated her in a dog cage under a heat lamp for almost a week. Never figured out what was bothering her, but when it was clear that she was eating vigorously and feeling perky again, I let her out with the other hens and she's been fine.

Good luck!

--Johanna

Thank you, Johanna. Alice is still in the box and seems comfortable and alert and is eating VERY well--canned corn and some cooked ground beef yesterday. I know she wants to be out but she has no feathers on her chest--she looks like she's been plucked. Could this have been done by another chicken? AGain, I have never seen this. If anything she would be the one going after another chicken but mostly with just a warning peck. Could her feather loss be due to something else? The others of her group do not have this problem. Do you think the Blu-KOte will help? I'm worried that if I put her out she will lose body heat since she doesn't have enough feather cover to keep herself warm.

I have no idea why the feathers are gone -- injury, molt, disease? Hopefully someone more experienced will chime in here. I'd be sure to keep her warm -- maybe even put a lamp on her in the house to make sure she doesn't have to work to be warm. I think it's good that she's eating and drinking. Will she eat chicken food, or still just treats? I'd work her back to her regular feed, it will be better balanced nutritionally for her.

Do you think she is molting? Some feathers are totally gone while others still have the base quill-like part but cut off.

Here's what I suggest. Keep her in for the next week or so. This will give her time to heal and build up her strength. See if the feathers show any signs of growing back at the end of that time. If not, blue kote MAY keep the others from noticing the lack of feathers. You may have to fashion a chicken apron for her with an extra piece to cover her breast. And infant's T-shirt or sweater with a velco fastener might work. But wait and see if it is necessary.

One thing I do suggest that could be important. A day or two before you reintroduce her, kidnap a docile hen or two ( her buddies if you know who they are) and put them together for the duration. Then instead of introducing ONE hen that might be picked on, you are introducing THREE, thus diluting the pecking pressure.

It might be best to slip the hens in at night. That way, being bird-brains, the other hens may not realize that anything has changed.

Hope it works! And don't forget to give your poor little hen some TURKEY tomorrow! Protein builds feathers... and she'll love it.

Thank you, Maggie!
Yesterday afternoonÂit was sunny and about 40-- I put her out with the others in the yard. She seemed glad to be out but was being cautious, not ranging far. I saw one encounter with the cockerelÂthey did a little "challenge" thing (face to face alternating jumps) and while she didnÂt get mated, it looked like he clawed her chest at one point. IÂm thinking that because she is older and not as fast as the others that she is more vulnerable to being mated and the time a month or so ago when we had 14 cockerels was hard on her and may account for some past feather loss.
I read your post this morning and decided to bring her back in. She didnÂt seem to mind being inside this time and sheÂs eating very well. IÂll keep her in this week. I like the tee-shirt idea, and will try that.
Merry Christmas, all!

Alice has been indoors for 6 days now. Her feathers are really coming back nicely. I had not idea how feathers grewÂshe had stubble before and now new tufts are growing right out the stubble. I can see a difference day to day. While she still has bare spots on her chest, some new ones are coming there. She is eating a lot. When I talk to her she makes a sweet kind of cooing-whistle sound.
I know she wants to be out again. She really perks up when she hears the rooster. I got the Blu-Kote but since she doesnÂt have any wounds, IÂm a little reluctant to put it on her. And the stuff is messy because I got the spray. I am thinking of bringing another hen in tonight and rigging up some tee-shirts for the two of them. So when I put them out againÂmaybe tomorrow night after the other chickens are on their roostsÂthey will see two chickens with t-shirts and not pick on Alice.
How does this sound? I want this to go well!

That sounds like a grand idea L, you will definetly have to let us know how that turns out and you absolutely have to take pictures, and post them please if you can LOL. My husband thought I was a nut for buying the dog a winter coat LOL. it really does sound like a good idea until her feathers come in more.

CI

I have a picture of the two hens--Alice and Atilla (the healthy one)--side by side. You can really see the difference. Does anyone know how to post a picture on this forum? Alice still looks so much smaller and ragged--this is after a week of in-home care. Now I'm wondering if I should get a bigger crate and plan on keeping her in for several weeks. Will she get depressed? It seems cruel to keep her in but I feel very protective towards her. She's making progress and if I give her more time she might be able to handle the ourdoors better.

Well I tried the t-shirtsÂjust cut through the sleeve openings to make them bigger and put the wings through the sleeves and the shirt on backwards so it snapped on the chickenÂs back. They fit rather nicely. I put both Alice and Attila out at the same time and they really got some looks from the others. No one messed with Alice. Roosterboy did his mating dance but she refused. The shirts though restrained their movement so that they could not walk well at all. Attila actually hid behind a hay baleÂI think she was humiliated by the t-shirt/ So I took off the shirts and things got pretty normal. Alice was at times alone and at times with her "friends" (other hens). At one point a cockerel that sheÂs afraid of went after her but I steered him off and gave him a time out in the garden. Roosterboy mated her once so I see that as a good sign. Tonight Alice is on a roost by herself and Atilla, last I looked, was in the egg laying spot.
IÂll see how things are going tomorrow morning.
Thanks to all of you for you help!
IÂll post a "chickens in t-shirts" picture if I can figure out how to do that on this forum!