Take extra-good care of Silkies with head injuries, as it can lead to swelling of the brain. Keep an eye on the injured bird, if it starts to stagger around drunkenly or go around with it's head down, it may have a head injury. If it shows these symptoms, repost here and I can tell you how to help it. You did the right thing in getting it out of there.

I've got a chicken info page here, this is the page on introducing new birds to the flock:

http://jackshenhouse.com/VSChickIntroducingNewBirdsToFlock.htm

You need to be out there to supervise and instantly chase off the bullies when they attack 'your' chicks--YOU are both mother hen and Head Rooster in this case, and your rule must be absolute.

I'd keep the injured chick separated until it has healed, then reintroduce it to the flock. It will take some time on your part to do this, but it can be done. Make sure the Silkies have adequate room to get away from bullies and somewhere to hide if need be--bushes, etc. Are they free ranging or all cooped up together? If they free range they will have an easier time adjusting to each other.

Velvet ~:>

Velvet,

Thanks...the most confusing thing about it is that I opened the coop and let them out when I first noticed the bloody head.....yet...the injured chick DOES NOT RUN AWAY....not only that but it seems to seek out the 2 black showgirls and invite more fights. What gives?

The chickens are not crowded...and they often free range during the day....however the chicks don't seem to stray far at all from the coop..and the injured one DOES NOT take advantage of the opportunity to ESCAPE. Instead, it holds its ground and fights back. The problem is that is it outnumbered....two to one. One of the other chicks does not fight and simply watches.

We have a rooster in the coop as well....I thought roosters were supposed to break up hen fights? Of course, these chicks are not necessarily hens (we don't know yet).

I called our local feed store and they don't have anything. However, Stromberg's chickens and McMurray Hatchery sell a spray called "Hot Pick" to stop pecking on an injury. They also sell some kind of blinders so the chicks can't see each other (they call these peepers or something like this). They also sell beak "clip" thingies that stop the birds from fully closing their mouth.

Also, I've been told I can clip the beaks with dog clippers (shudder!) but I am scared of experimenting with this last option. Should I be?

ARGH! What to do!

I know nothing.

But here's what I would do. After she's healed, I'd see if there was one (or better, two) bird(s) who doesn't fight with the silkie and I'd give them the house where you hope everyone will eventually live. I'd let them have this place for at least a week, and then I'd introduce the next most agreeable bird. If you haven't got a fairly docile bird to put in, start with the trouble makers, but do it during the day, and supervise them. Any trouble, I'd yank the troublemaker(s) out and put them back in solitary. It's tricky stuff separating birds since reintroduction is always difficult and takes time, in my novice opinion.

I try to make troublemakers feel like second-class citizens. Eventually they figure out, if they want to be with the rest of the birds, they might have to change their tune. I'm new to chickens, but I have had to introduce birds or reintroduce birds several times.

OK, I have found the trouble-maker. Instead of isolating the victim....I was an eye-witness to the black showgirl chicken that was attacking our white silkie. I caught her in the act and separated the ATTACKER today.

Turns out, the white silkie got along great with the other black showgirl and brown showgirl and the bantem rooster. So it was one of the black showgirls that was the trouble.

Strange thing is that the white silkie (we call her "snowflake") didn't run away....we opened the coop and they had the run of the entire yard...yet the white silkie and the black showgirl were still at each other's throats.

Maybe both of these fighting chicks are going to be roosters and are just starting to position for the "alpha male" slot. Who knows. I thought the birds were "picking" at a wound on the white silkie that they caused....but this isn't instinctive pecking....the black showgirl and the white silkie just have it in for each other.

Strange additional fact....when together, the OTHER black showgirl also jumps into the fray and attacks the white silkie....but without the head showgirl around...the other black showgirl and the silkie seem to get along fine.

OK, I have found the trouble-maker. Instead of isolating the victim....I was an eye-witness to the black showgirl chicken that was attacking our white silkie. I caught her in the act and separated the ATTACKER today.

Turns out, the white silkie got along great with the other black showgirl and brown showgirl and the bantem rooster. So it was one of the black showgirls that was the trouble.

Strange thing is that the white silkie (we call her "snowflake") didn't run away....we opened the coop and they had the run of the entire yard...yet the white silkie and the black showgirl were still at each other's throats.

Maybe both of these fighting chicks are going to be roosters and are just starting to position for the "alpha male" slot. Who knows. I thought the birds were "picking" at a wound on the white silkie that they caused....but this isn't instinctive pecking....the black showgirl and the white silkie just have it in for each other.

Strange additional fact....when together, the OTHER black showgirl also jumps into the fray and attacks the white silkie....but without the head showgirl around...the other black showgirl and the silkie seem to get along fine.