Ms Tilytinkle Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Hellooooo All, Our little flock, 4 original purchases & 3 more recent additions. They've been happily living together for months , all range together, bathe & baske toegther. For the last 2 days, one of our original Pepperpots ( the mighty rulers) seems to be being bullied by all the chickens, especially one of the new girls who was at the bottom of the pecking order. She was so gentle & didn't get into any of the intro little fleeting squabbles that would occasionally, very occasionally surface. Its so strange, so I am wondering if a new pecking order is now being established or if the chickens know something I dont. Maybe Medusa is coming down with something. A little while ago she stopped laying, she had warm baths & massages - thought she had a soft egg stuck inside of her. She was very ill all hunched up, puffed up and her little tackle was going constantly. Hence trying to assist her to expel the softie, of broken egg. Anyway, she made full recovery although I am unsure she now lays. She goes into the nest box & sites with the others but I'm sure shes just kidding & trying to be the same. She's losing weight & her crop is now smaller than the others, But when she was ill they surprisingly all protected her, huddled next to her & much surprise to my wary expectations they didn't pick on her, even though she was very very vulnerable - which was a joy to witness but now, its so different. So I am unsure what to do, if anything. She puts herself to bed early, but I think this is to avoid being chased by this usually gentle chicken. Yesterday when we opened the run door to let them our to free range there was such a scuffle & they all chased her away!! I bribed them with grapes & brought them all together again, then led them round the garden as a group. eventually she joined her usual partners in crime the other two pepperpots & all seemed okay until they were back in the run last night & the gentle one chased her again. This morning shes perched upon the branch away from the run & keeping out of the other chickens way. Any ideas why all harmony, things would so suddenly change? Ms TillythinksTigerLilismoultingshehasbaldpatchesonherneck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
