After a long really cold spell, at last the weather has changed and today was warm and sunny. It was also the first day in ages that I haven’t seen any feather pulling and haven’t picked up any feathers from the run.
My friend and fellow chicken keeper, Jackie came to visit the girls. She came bearing a gift for them, a sack of dried leaves.
We discussed the fact that a few weeks ago we had a sunny weekend and the feather plucking ceased, causing me to think we had turned the corner with this problem. The cold weather returned and so did the feather pulling. We now believe that the stress of losing Treacle triggered this habit and the unusual late cold weather helped to cause it to continue.
I have heard that rabbits and chickens know when it should be spring and that a late spring can effect their behaviour. The girls were so much better when we had a sunny weekend and the only difference for them today is again a change in the weather.
The forecast is showing an end to the prolonged cold spell (the coldest March in fifty years) and warmer spring like weather on it’s way. I am really hopeful now that if it stays more spring like perhaps this behaviour will be at an end.
I was on the verge of thinking we would have to separate Pepper but was dreading it as the girls are so close and I am uplifted to think we probably won’t have to do this. The girls have been dust bathing today without pulling any feathers and have been sitting on the big perch for the first time in ages. They have also been perching on the ladder, as well as using it to peck at the cabbage.
We emptied the leaves into the run for the girls.
As usual Bluebell is the first to check it out
Getting closer to the leaves
Starting to scratch
The leaves are soon scattered
Completely scattered
The girls had great fun with the leaves, thank you Jackie. Jackie thinks that the girls don’t look too bad apart from Dotty’s neck and agreed with what others have said that they look happy and healthy. We are hopeful once again that another corner has been turned and maybe we are coming to the end of this problem. I really do hope so.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
So glad to have been of service… Spring is springing !
Thank you for your support. I have been so upset and frustrated by this and today you made me feel so much better. I feel the girls look so bad and sometimes you need someone else to say that it’s not that bad and you are right, spring is finally coming and that makes everything better.
Of all the toys and treats I give my girls, a bag of leaves and meal worms DEFINITELY rank at the top of the scale for them. So glad they are not being so naughty. I understand how totally frustrating that can be.
I gave them the leaves then mixed in a few meal worms to get them started so they had the double best treat. I have been totally frustrated by this but am now feeling much more positive. I hope this is the turning point. Any one looking at Dotty would think they are neglected when in fact they are so spoilt!