Last night and early this morning we had torrential rain. For hours it hammered down and we wondered how the chicken run was holding up to it.
When I went out this morning all of the new extension part of the run which we have just fitted with roof panels was wet as was the old part of the run under the panels. The only dry part was the triangular area that we had put plastic sheeting over and of course the patio area with its solid roof.
I felt that I couldn’t separate the girls as one group would have no dry ground.
The silicon sealant hasn’t worked as water is still dripping through the wood joins. It’s also coming in at the end of the first set of panels and at the sides.
It is however running off outside of the end of the run and although the soil is wet at least it’s not full of puddles like before we covered it.
It wasn’t long before I saw Pepper pecking at Honey and Amber’s heads and Pepper was also constantly shouting. Gradually the other girls joined in and all were very noisy. After repeatedly going out to them I decided enough was enough and separated them again with the little girls in the wettest side.
They instantly stopped shouting and I wondered if they have got used to being separated. It was very odd.
I set about trying to dry the feeding area in the wettest side and moved one of the slabs into the gateway where it is most muddy.
Stepping stone through the muddiest part
The triangular area on the left is dry but the rest is wet
This part is wet despite the roof panels
The problem is keeping enough dry area for the girls to be separated. If they were altogether the triangular part would give enough dry plus the patio area but the group on the other side of the run have very little dry area.
The other problem is that since I have been separating the girls Pepper has become very noisy and spends a lot of time shouting. She is also plucking Dotty when they are together and plucking the little girls’ heads when they are all together.
I am reaching the end of my tether with this problem. It has taken the joy out of my flock. My husband is heartily sick of the problems and suggested we should look into re-homing Pepper and Dotty.
I feel heart sick at the thought and at first said that I just couldn’t think of doing this. I later talked to my friend Jackie and she agreed with my husband. She said she agrees with him that Pepper and Dotty are probably not suited to being kept in a closed run and would be better suited to a farm environment. She suggested the feather pulling may stem from them not being happy and they are spoiling the happiness of the rest of the flock.
My husband and Jackie also pointed out that we have spent so much time, effort and money on the run and yet are not able to enjoy our flock.
I have started thinking that they may be right. It would break my heart to let Pepper and Dotty go as I have had them from babies and I love them. But I do have to think of the happiness of the whole flock. Without Pepper and Dotty the little girls could have the whole run to themselves and with that much space could have a happy life. They would grow their feathers back and not get plucked again.
I know I can’t break Pepper and Dotty of the habit with my little girls but when Bluebell (now Blossom) went to Jackie’s flock she stopped feather plucking. Pepper and Dotty may not do it if they were with big girls.
I would only ever keep bantys in future. The other thing is that if the little girls ever learn the habit from Pepper and Dotty I will stuck with it in my flock forever.
I am feeling very sad at the thought of doing this but am beginning to think that it is the only way I will have a happy flock and be able to enjoy the girls again and maybe the big girls will be happier too.
We recently talked to a lady that runs a charity animal sanctuary where they keep pets until they can re-home them. They either find them the right home or keep them forever and they have chickens and cockerels.
Jackie also suggested a farm near us where they keep animals for children to visit may be an option. With a heavy heart I am going to give this some serious thought.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I think writing it all down you may see it all a bit clearer.
You also have to think of pepper and Dotty and what is best for them .
Steven king wrote once
“Some birds are not meant to be caged, that’s all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.”
Oh, that is quite beautiful. I have read a lot of Steven King but not that piece. another saying is “If you love someone, let them go”. I have a lump in my throat right now but I am coming to terms with this being the best thing for my flock. It’s hard though.
If you want any moral support let me know .
Aw, thank you. You have already helped as when hubby suggested it I dismissed it but sometimes it takes someone outside of the situation to make you really think about it properly.
Sometimes, for the good of the many, you have to sacrifice the few. It’s hard & unpleasant. I have rehomed once and it’s the hardest decision to make and then carry out but when it’s done, you know you have done the right thing, for them and you. x
Thank you so much. I was afraid people would think badly of me but I know in my heart I must do right by the flock and know without doubt that they will be happier. It’s so hard though because I have had Pepper and Dotty for two years since they were a month old and they are great people hens. They jump on my shoulder every day and they are easy to pick up and handle which the bantys aren’t. They are great with people just not with the bantys which is why I think they too would better with big girls.
Oh, I’m so sorry. Those are such tough decisions. I’ve had to re-home a few hens in my day so I totally get what you are going through. I remember when I first got hens, I wanted a colorful egg basket. Today, I accept the fact that all the eggs taste the same. And that I will only have Buff Orpington hens from now on. They are just so docile and quiet and work much better for my small set up.
So I feel your frustration. But it might be best to select breeds that will do with your set up rather than the birds that are so very pretty. But that’s easier said than done once you’ve raised them up and they have become part of the family.
Not a day goes by where I don’t pick up my wild child Poppy and have a little chat w/ her about her naughty ways and threaten to send her off to live on a farm w/ a rooster.
You are so right, it is a really tough decision. I think we learn by our mistakes and despite endless research it didn’t turn out as I thought it would.
When I researched it said dominiques were a small breed which is what I wanted as my run is enclosed. They are small compared to orpingtons but not as small I expected.
I would only ever have bantys now as they are small enough to make my run feel enormous. Maybe if the run had been bigger to start with it would have been okay but we can’t know that.
I always felt Treacle (head hen) passing away was the trigger for the feather pulling as it started there but it soon became a habit they enjoyed and nothing I have tried has been able to stop it.
I know in my heart I need to get back to a happy flock and bantams will be best suited to my set up.
Only you will ever really know your flock best. I was at the vet w/ Coco this morning and she offered some information. But in my heart, I hear myself saying, that won’t work for me because. And it’s because I know my flock best.
Coco has had a bump from a sinus infection for 7 months and the vet said it should be addressed. But after a great deal of conversation, we opted to just leave her alone. She HATES the car ride, hates being touched and handled and I just couldn’t see stressing her out anymore. She’s a happy bird. She drinks, eats, poops and lays eggs. And if what ever she has takes some time off her life, well so be it. I’m just not going to let people poke and prod at her. I’m going to let nature take it’s course w/ her.
We brought her home and I stepped out of the car and set her down and she recognized her surroundings and BOLTED towards the backyard where here sisters were. I think I she actually smiled.
You are so right. We know our girls best. After Amber’s constant struggle with her egg laying I asked on a forum (D.T.L.) if anybody had advice. Some suggested hysterectomy and some suggested regular injections to stop her laying. I weighed it up and I know she is too tiny and fragile for an operation plus she too doesn’t like being handled and my instincts tell me it’s not natural to stop a chicken laying eggs and I feel even an injection could be a really bad thing for her.
She is laying about once a week and has a week of being vibrant and full of bounce then a day of feeling poorly before her next egg. It breaks my heart to see her like that but as soon as lays she bounces right back so my instincts are telling me to leave her be. Enjoy her good times and she may not live a long life but she lives a happy life and is full of character.
See my next post for her most recent egg. I love her so much but I think that we are doing the best we can by her and I don’t want her pulled about as I feel that could actually put an end to her life.