This morning I went out at half past six to let Topaz and Honey out of the little coop. A few minutes later the automatic door opened on the main chicken shed.
Topaz was first out this morning
Honey coming out
Speckles seems to miss Honey and has spent parts of the day following Honey through the wire. I think Speckles would like to get in with them.
Speckles watching Honey through the wire
All the girls seem happy and Honey laid her egg at lunch time. At least she has the nest box to herself. Topaz appeared to be standing guard over her. She stood at the foot of the ramp and gave a shout when Honey laid her egg.
I thought it was going really well until late this afternoon when I caught Honey pulling a clump of feathers from Topaz’s behind and eating them. She then followed Topaz around trying to get to her again with me shouting “NO, NO, NO!”.
I feel really frustrated now. I don’t know what to do. If I leave them together Topaz will probably end up with a bare bottom. If I let Topaz back in with the main flock I am afraid Butterscotch will lose her pin feathers again.
Butterscotch
Butterscotch has pin feathers on her breast and her head. I really want them to have a chance to open before putting Topaz back.
I can’t split the run three ways because I would need another little coop and feeding station and the bottom, newer part, of the run doesn’t stay dry when it rains despite the roof panels. This is so upsetting.
I think I will have to leave Topaz with Honey until Butterscotch’s pin feathers open or she will lose them and I think a bare neck and head will be worse than a bare bottom. The problem is that because Butterscotch is now laying again her pins are opening really slowly. In fact it’s difficult to see if they are opening at all.
I just don’t know what to do for the best. This is why it would have been good if Topaz could have stayed with Jackie’s flock. It’s such a shame her girls made such a fuss. I felt so positive this morning and now I am back to feeling frustrated and upset again.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Think with your head and not your heart.
You know that you have to think of your remaining 6 .
It will be fine . ..trust me I run a chicken help line .
Thank you Jackie. I have been thinking long and hard with a few tearful moments. I need to get another plan started.
I really think you should try fitting a bumpa bit to Honey. Look for them on the Omlet website. I don’t think they’re particularly pleasant but it should stop this. I don’t know what else you can do.
I have heard really bad things about those and wouldn’t want to use them. I am working on a plan.