Yes, TY. Nice to hear from you, haven't seen much of you lately.
Feather dandruff [dry course skin looking stuff visible on the outside of her feathers] is evidence of new feather growth. Thinning feathers elsewhere may be evidence of an unseasonable molt. All these conditions either alone or together can make a hen unrecognizable to her flock mates, and that will result in her flock mates making the weaker hen's life miserable. Try not to retaliate by making your stronger hens' lives miserable as well. Anabel is only acting how Mother Nature decreed that a healthy hen act. If the hen in post #10 is Buffy, she looks like she is in bad need of some chicken TLC so that she is able to hold her own in the Roman Coliseum that is Chicken-dom.
"Roman Coliseum that is Chicken-dom". Indeed!
I would like to purchase a good chicken keeping book. Do you have a favorite or a suggestion? For two years now I have looked at them but just can't decide. Maybe all I need is BackyardChickens.com
This really has my attention. The "unrecognizable to her flock mates" yes, and the unseasonable molt for sure. In thinking back when this all started and remember seeing a change in Buffy's behavior (one of a molting hen) and the fact that she stopped laying eggs (again, sign of a molt). Then, the feather loss and the feather dandruff. She wasn't sick, just starting a very different molt possibly. Don't know, but anything is possible. When the attacks with Cadbury started I think it is very possible this once strong hen (Buffy) was very different and poor Cad was confused with this imposter. Andi dies, same day Cadbury resumes egg laying, day after that all four hens are outdoors together (with me) and not one attack. Today, day #2 and same thing, not one attack. Buffy still shows signs of being very cautious but at least she doesn't run away completely. She has started dusting again and she looks and acts more like herself. Still a little skidish but I think what I'm seeing from my other EE Sage is some pecking order coming into play. Most likely due to the isolation and reintroducing her back to the flock.
Silly or not? Could Cadbury mistake Buffy for Andi? Crazy or not, the sudden change in the behavior has us miffed. Happy, but wondering what the heck?
I want to continue with these good days and work on getting Buffy back in the coop at night. Suggestions for doing this please as I don't want to ruin a good thing. Buffy does not go near the run and coop as she has found a new home in the duck run which neighbors the run with the 7 newbies. We are currently in the 10 day acclimating phase with them. She did not follow the other girls into the coop at dusk tonight rather she waited for me to come find her and she trots to her dog crate in the garage as always. I'm all for being patient with her and giving her time to get comfortable with them again before placing her in the coop at night. I have hope after these last two days
