This morning I separated Sparkle and set her up with her own feeding station. I threw out the morning corn and sprinkled some extra sunflower hearts as well into Sparkle’s part of the run. This is the only time she joins in with the food at the moment and it meant she was able to get more than usual as she didn’t have to compete with the quicker girls.
I sprinkled in some spinach and gave her water, mash, a little dish of fish and some bits of melon in the hope of tempting her to eat a bit more.
Sparkle’s feeding station
Sparkle spent the day perched here above the table she wasn’t looking very happy
Once again the other girls perched on the other side. By lunch time Sparkle was still sat here and everything on her feeding station was untouched. Even the sunflower hearts were still on the ground. Her dishes were just as I had left them in the morning.
At five o’clock I decided this was pointless and opened up the gate.
The girls rushed in
The girls soon cleaned up
It seems that Sparkle is determined only to eat once a day so there seems little point in shutting her in all day. When I checked back a few minutes later she was sat with the girls and was obviously happier with them. She stood up as I got close because she is wary of me keep picking her up.
Sparkle is back with her flock mates
So on to plan C. I will continue to separate her briefly in the morning to make sure she has the chance to eat as much as possible. I will then open the run and leave her to do as she wants. I can’t force her to eat and am beginning to feel that there is nothing more I can do for her. I would rather that she has the company of the flock and it will have to be up to her to eat or not. I think it’s time to wait and see how this goes.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I don’t think you can do any more. .. What will be will be x
I have been tying myself in knots over Sparkle and you are right, my conclusion is that I can’t do more and as you say, whatever will be will be. You have just thrown my own thoughts back to me. Thank you x
Oh, I’m so sorry. It’s so frustrating trying to figure out what’s wrong w/ them sometimes. Don’t you just wish the could talk?
I do wish they could talk and I also wish they could understand me. I keep telling her that she must eat something to get better but she ignores me. It is so frustrating.