Hi Anne, and a big welcome to the Forum.
Sorry to hear about the problems with your hen. When a bird is removed from the flock, for whatever reason, for more than a day, the others are likely to resent her return to the flock, because socially they quickly adjust to a change in the flock dynamic and she loses her place in the pecking order and is inevitably bullied when she returns. If a bird has an injury, as Constance has, her position is worse because chickens will always peck at any sign of blood or even at bare flesh, and the injured bird won't be feeling well enough to stand up for herself eithet. So what you will have to do for a while is to treat her as if she was a new bird you had just brought home, not one of their previously accepted friends.
First it would be good to get some of the purple anti-pecking spray for birds from a pet shop or home store, and use this on her bare areas until her feathers grow back and she has properly healed up. The spray is also an antiseptic, which will help as well. The purple looks a bit strange but it camouflages the injury so the others don't take so much notice.
Then, separate her in part of the run away from the others, using a temporary fence made from netting or mesh, so they can see each other through it but they can't get at her or bully her. Give her a separate feeder and drinker so she isn't bullied off the food as she might be if in with the others. You cold try putting her back in the coop after the others have gone to roost and have settled down, but you will need to.get down there early and put her in her enclosure before she encounters any problems next morning. If you have a spare coop, or some kind of weatherproof box you could use temporarily, she could sleep in their for a few days until she is stronger. Unless she is very weak, it's best to keep her out of doors if you can, or she may lose the acclimatisation she has developed to the winter weather. She will be fine if dry and kept in a wind proof area. It may be possible to put the lowest hen in the pecking order in with her for company as a couple of birds who get on OK can support each other and become friends.
As the days go by, observe how she is healing up, and also how she is getting on with the others after sleeping in the coop with them. Tihis will help make her smell right to the others and it may be that she can join them fairly soon, but don't rush things, and at first it's best to put her in with them for a short time when you can supervise them, and then return her to her enclosure if you have to leave them alone.
I do hope all goes well -please let us know how you get on.
) thanks Anne
