Yesterday morning when I went into the chickens, Dotty looked really hunched and miserable. When I threw them a few dried meal worms, Dotty didn’t join in enthusiastically as usual. I was really worried about her, I had never seen her look like this before and wondered if she was ill. I decided to keep a close eye on her.
I went back later and filled the two feeders with lettuce. I then had to crouch between the two feeders to stop Dotty chasing Bluebell away. Dotty, Pepper and Treacle were at the right hand feeder and Bluebell at the left hand feeder but Dotty desperately wanted to get at Bluebell and chase her off. The only way Bluebell could have the lettuce was by me putting my arm out every time Dotty tried to get to her. I allowed Pepper and Treacle to use either feeder as they take no notice of Bluebell but kept stopping Dotty from getting past me. She was so determined and I could see her frustration, she tried again and again and would even try to sneak behind me. When they had had their fill of lettuce, I left them to it. They all sat together afterwards with no further problem. Dotty then returned to her usual perky self for the rest of the day and joined in with the bed time treats as usual.
It was yesterday that I had put in the second feeder to stop Dotty chasing Bluebell from the treats. Could it really be that Dotty was having a sulk because I had spoilt her game of chasing Bluebell from the feeder? It certainly looks that way. This morning she was back to her usual self.
Click here to see the history of my flock.