Single hen

[sheik]

Just an update - Saffy is now a bit bigger, as you'd expect and doesn't really get pecked as far as we can tell. She is fully integrated with Pootle, and they often both sleep in the nest box together. She'll also eat from the same feeder as Flumpy, and free range next to her, provided Luna is absent.

Unfortunately she is still justifiably wary of Luna, which has the effect that for most of the time she can't free range with the others as a "flock". Luna doesn't chase her any more, but Saffy just knows not to get within a metre or so of her.

 

So, it's taking a long time, and it's a bit sad to look out of the window and see Saffron apart from the others - but in time I'm hopeful they will all become fully integrated.

 

/\dam

[sheik]

I have been re-reading this thread, it's bringing back lots of memories about how worried we were when Saffy was getting attacked all the time.

I'm very happy to say that they have all been fully integrated or many months now though.

Saffy is not frightened of Luna at all now, and is actually very cheeky, stealing food from under her beak and jumping all over the others to get to corn.

 

Here is a recent picture - you can't see Saffy very well as she is actually burrowed underneath Luna, enjoying an energetic dust bath. Back last year I never would have thought it was possible!

 

 

Anyway, hopefully this thread will reassure others who are going through the trauma of a difficult integration. It might take months, but hopefully they will all be friends in the end!

 

/\dam

[Patricia W]

That is so reassuring! Thank you

 

Tricia