Solitary chicken - need advice

[cd8jbr]

I got 10 rescue hens in December and all are hale and hearty but one chicken, Pink, has suddenly stopped going to bed. She goes into the run with the others but prefers to sit on a perch in the run rather than go into the cube with the others. I'm reluctant to force her but wondered whether I should be encouraging her to go in - it's not cold at this time of year so I'm not too worried about that aspect of it. She does go in to lay her eggs so it's not that she doesn't like it and the others are fine with it. They are on the lovely pine scented bedding for chickens in the next box (where despite my best efforts most of them want to sleep) and there's no sign of red mite or anything else. I haven't seen any sign that there's any bullying going on although that was a problem in the past it never seemed to involve Pink, she was always a pretty chilled chicken!

 

Another question, the hens arrived in various states of feathering - although none were good, two of the hens are still bare backed although they are now starting to sprout on their bottoms. Their backs where their tails are remain featherless and rather red. No sign of a problem and they are lively and seem happy - just a bit baldy. Their necks too are a bit baldy although there are feathers coming through, they don't seem to be forming quickly. I've had rescues before (this is my third batch (clutch?)) and usually by now they are pretty much feathered up.... Any ideas anyone?

[Beantree]

Our neighbour has one hen that prefers to sleep outside, even though the red mite have now almost gone. Perhaps there isn't enough perch space cd8jbr?

 

The slow feathering could be a feather eater? It will be the hen or hens that have feathered up. May be due to a lack of run space and boredom?

[Lydia]

I wouldn't worry too much about either problem really. One of our hens, the late Gloria (ex-commercial barn), preferred sleeping al fresco and chose a spot on the highest perch in our WIR, where we have a plant that grows quite high. She was there in all 4 seasons and it was only a couple of nights of very strong winds that persuaded her to go in the cube for a few nights. She resumed her perch after the wind died down. She was often joined for all or part of the night by a couple of others - we don't shut the cube door so they get up when they want.

 

As long as they are in a secure run at night and safe from predators, I would let your hens get on with it.

 

For your featherless ladies, it very much depends on the individual hen and the conditions that they came from. I've had ex-commercials not properly feather up for several months, while others will grow new feathers pretty much immediately. All are kept in the same conditions here. Again, if you ruled out redmite and other nasties, it's probably nothing to be too concerned about.

[cd8jbr]

That's really put my mind at rest thank you. They are in a secure run and the eglu door has been left open for some time now as they get up so early. I wondered if it was a problem but I'm reassured now. I go in when they've gone to bed and she seems very happy.

 

I won't worry about the other two either - maybe they'll get there in the end! They seem happy and healthy and I suppose that's what counts.

 

Thanks again