Eggshell Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 On advice I've recently separated one of my three chickens from the others - she was always bottom chicken and rather a loner, but since a recent moult she was being pecked mercilessly. She's currently in a fenced off part of the run, right next to others, and she seems very happy with this arrangement - more perky than she has ever looked. However, when she needs to lay or sleep, she's desperate to get back over the other side to the eglu (she has taken to sleeping on top of the eglu away from the others) and she refuses to use the cat box which I've set up for her. So far I've given in and let her across, but then I have to be on hand to deal with it. It won't work permanently, and I need to sort it out before we go on holiday. Short of buying a second green eglu, which isn't going to happen, what is the simplest way of getting her to shift her loyalties to a new home? Do I just have to leave her on her side of the fence however distressed she gets? Thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 she needs to see the new quarters as home so unless she's sleeping in there at night it'll always be a scary place in the run personally I'd try to reintroduce her the the others and as long as no blood is drawn leave them to it if she won't go into the coop at night by herself you might have to pop her back in for a few nights until she gets into the habit again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggshell Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 My worry about reintroducing her is that this seems different from the normal 'pecking order' pecking that I've seen before. This is the two bigger chickens standing over her/on her together and pecking until I intervene, while she just lies on the ground. My big bluebell, who is boss, has never bothered to peck her before, but now charges across to her on sight when they are in the same space. (She leaves her alone across the fence, though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 You could try putting her in the cat box after dark and shutting her in for the night. If you do this for a few days she might get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
