Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[nannyhenny]

One of my three lovely 'omlet' hens has been poorly (a broken egg inside her - but that's another story!) Thanks to our great vet she is well on the mend now - just has two more days of antibiotics to go - and is back with the other two for the second day today after being in seclusion in the kitchen for 4 days. I kept the other two on the opposite side of an open fence for a day and then let her out with them again. She appears perfectly fine in her behaviour, feeding, drinking, scratting as normal, but is still rather isolated from her erstwhile chums. Instead of cosying up with them for preening or nap time the other two sit together and Rosie is apart from them. There was also a bit of a s"Ooops, word censored!" this morning - although soon over. They are free ranging and wondering around together ok but seem to have lost the bond they once all three had. Will this come back with more time or is there anything I can do to encourage them to get close again? It seems sad to see Rosie sitting by herself so much!

[Chicken deficient]

I think they'll get over it and mingle a bit more soon. I think it is a bit like when one of your friends is away from school for a while - friendships may alter for a bit, but when they are back, it all goes back to like old times!

[nannyhenny]

Following my last post I've kept a close eye on the three of them but poor Rosie isn't getting any better a deal yet. She is now being actively harassed by the other two and is avoiding them as much as possible. There isn't any real pecking going on - they just intimidate her into moving / running away whenever they come near her and this means she spends most of her time under the bushes or pecking in a corner by herself. She is reluctant to come for scrat with the others and I have to put her in the eglu every night else she will roost on an old deckchair rather then go in with the others. Once she is in at night it is all peaceful until the morning. Then the other two come out into the eglu run but Rosie stays in the coop until I come to let them out (about 5.30 a.m at the moment)

Unfortunately, we are away for a week from the 22nd and they are being looked after by our neighbour (also a three hen keeper but a busy lady) so options are a bit limited for tlc until we come back. Any suggestions for a quick fix?

[nannyhenny]

Isn't there anyone out there who can help?

[redsunset]

Hello, I can only post re my own experiences. I had one hen (dog attacked) and went to bottom of pecking order fast, one who has a broken toe, same. I have 19 chickens and they are quick to rearrange the pecking order and can appear very cruel to their friends but it is the natural order of hens behaviour. There is not a quick fix as hens quickly learn their place and will mercilessly pick on one who appears to have a problem of any sort. It will improve in time as observation has shown me, and I let the natural order sort itself out as hens will not be told!! Take heart, it will get better in time. As long as the single chicken is fine she will re-integrate.Hope this helps a little?

[nannyhenny]

It does, thank you so much! I suppose we're quick to project our own feelings onto animals and that make sit worse to see! We hadn't met the problem before as the girls have been quite happy together for two years - experience is worth a lot so many thanks for your reply, I feel a bit better now.