The integration process of our second, younger flock with the older flock was, rough this year. We had to factor in Tiny and the thought process of chickens who have a hierarchy approach to life. While we certainly tried a lot of strategies, the process become one of taking out the most aggressive in the flock and "hand picking" a flock that was receptive to having a disabled bird in their midst.
Now, that, emotionally, was not an easy decision but that's what it became. Plus, even after we got the "right" flock, they still were not receptive to her sleeping up next to them at night. I put a brooder warmer into the corner of the hen house that she slept under for weeks. But, at some point, she started to sleep up on a perch. Not their perch, but close to them, and I'm guessing that she gets some warmth radiating from them?
One of them, yesterday, injured her foot. Our Rhode Island Red was limping and falling over at times. I brought her into the house. I washed both feet all off, and didn't see any injury. No Blood. No Stickers. No Redness. So it is just not clear. We pulled a dog crate into the laundry room so that we could keep an eye on her. She did not move very much but she is able to stand. She can't put much weight on it, and she definitely pulls it in close to her body when I pick her up. She even laid us an egg today.
Rather than put her back out with the flock, I have cleaned out one of our brooders and set her up with everything she needs. She has a perch, food, grit and water, on a nice soft layer of shavings. She can walk /move around in there much better than she can in the crate, and this will give her some opportunity to exercise the muscles as she heals.
As such, Rhody is not in the videos of the Tiny Bedtime Story. It is obvious that Tiny is trying to convince the other birds that she deserves to be up on the "main roost" with them, but, they kinda sweep her off to the side and tell her this is good enough. Her little vocals are pretty expressive for a chicken.
