My sole Ameraucana hen, Hawkeye, is undergoing a fairly drastic molt, along with a couple of other girls. The rest of the flock (there are 7 total) molted earlier in the fall. A week ago or so, I noticed Hawkeye wasn't out with the rest of the flock in the outdoor run. I checked and she was inside the henhouse, tucked up on top of the nest boxes. The weather had just turned cold (lows in the low 20's and high 'teens) and I figured she was maybe just cold, due to lack of feathers. When I checked her, she was alert and perky, so not exhibiting what I recognized as sick chicken behavior (head turned away from the flock into a corner, not eating, etc). I checked up on molting behavior here on the forum and read that some chickens get cranky or withdrawn due to feather-growing-in irritation. Thought that might be it. Gave her another day or two and started giving her food and water on her perch when she seemed hungry.
A day or so later I opened up the door and caught her eating a newly laid egg. Bad chicken! I cleaned up the egg, replaced the nesting material and gave her more food, while pondering the stewpot option. But really, there's no way I could eat one of my girls. Besides, I have no experience in the neck-wringing department.
Next day I opened up the door again and Hawkeye jumped out onto the roost next to the door with gladsome buks. Hmm, I thought, I seem to have a friend. At least she was not just stuck on the shelf. Later I was out in the covered run, kneeling down to attach a cup for oyster shell. Hawkeye came right over to me, stood right next to me (on the side away from the other girls) and leaned up against me. When I lifted my arm, she crawled up into my lap! This is very unusual behavior for any of my hens, especially Hawkeye, who tends to be very active, curious and bold, but somewhat wary of me. Then she jumped up onto my arm and wouldn't budge. I stood up and went outside and she flew up onto my shoulder.
She stayed there despite my best efforts to put her down. No one else was home, so I stood out there for quite a while with a chicken on my shoulder, like some kind of farmer/pirate. She was quite friendly, peering into my face and looking around. When I finally managed to detach her, the two head hens rushed over and double-teamed her -- jumped on top of her, rooster-style and started whomping on her. Yikes, no wonder she is hiding.
Clearly I am now her protector and BFF. As much as I love having a parrot, er, chicken on my shoulder, she obviously is being bullied by the flock and needs to be safe again. I appeal to the chicken old-timers among you: is it normal for molting birds to be pecked? She was in the middle of the pecking order before this. Will she be able to safely re-integrate, once she grows her plumage back? I'm thinking in desperation of knitting her a wee chicken 'jumper' a la the English battery rescue ladies. Or would that make them attack her even more?
Help?
Until I figure out what to do next, sign me ....
Kathbeard
A day or so later I opened up the door and caught her eating a newly laid egg. Bad chicken! I cleaned up the egg, replaced the nesting material and gave her more food, while pondering the stewpot option. But really, there's no way I could eat one of my girls. Besides, I have no experience in the neck-wringing department.
Next day I opened up the door again and Hawkeye jumped out onto the roost next to the door with gladsome buks. Hmm, I thought, I seem to have a friend. At least she was not just stuck on the shelf. Later I was out in the covered run, kneeling down to attach a cup for oyster shell. Hawkeye came right over to me, stood right next to me (on the side away from the other girls) and leaned up against me. When I lifted my arm, she crawled up into my lap! This is very unusual behavior for any of my hens, especially Hawkeye, who tends to be very active, curious and bold, but somewhat wary of me. Then she jumped up onto my arm and wouldn't budge. I stood up and went outside and she flew up onto my shoulder.
She stayed there despite my best efforts to put her down. No one else was home, so I stood out there for quite a while with a chicken on my shoulder, like some kind of farmer/pirate. She was quite friendly, peering into my face and looking around. When I finally managed to detach her, the two head hens rushed over and double-teamed her -- jumped on top of her, rooster-style and started whomping on her. Yikes, no wonder she is hiding.
Clearly I am now her protector and BFF. As much as I love having a parrot, er, chicken on my shoulder, she obviously is being bullied by the flock and needs to be safe again. I appeal to the chicken old-timers among you: is it normal for molting birds to be pecked? She was in the middle of the pecking order before this. Will she be able to safely re-integrate, once she grows her plumage back? I'm thinking in desperation of knitting her a wee chicken 'jumper' a la the English battery rescue ladies. Or would that make them attack her even more?
Help?
Until I figure out what to do next, sign me ....
Kathbeard
