- Thread starter
- #371
Ugggghhhhh nothing can ever go entirely smoothly can it. 
I just had to separate Scruffy from the chicks - not because she was being mean to them or anything, but she's started trying to treat them more like would be acceptable for older chicks (too much forage time, not enough sitting/warming) and also has become insistant on only wanting to eat either junk or really high protein stuff like dried crickets. I let it go for a couple days because it was warm and the chicks have feed available even if Scruffy wasn't interested in it, but it just wasn't working out. It was more like she was doing her own thing and jusr not complaining if they went under her. As soon as it got a bit colder I had chilly chicks seeking out my hands for warmth. Scruffy is also starting her post-broody molt early, so I think her un-broodying is just moving along too fast.
So then I tried taking Scruffy back outside for a reintroduction. In the past this hasn't been too bad with her; there are just a couple hens I have to manage and I've re-integrated her in a matter of 1-2 days before. Her weight right now is 4.8lbs if I'm a bit generous. Mr Monster is a solid 9lbs now. She walked up, grabbed his neck feathers and flipped him right onto his back. I guess Mother of The Kang actually has the same kung fu powers as her son!
For now, Scruffy is in a carrier next to the chicks, just not in with them, and the chicks have a heat lamp. She's eating better that way, the chicks are also eating better that way since they aren't eating junk, and it generally seems to be working for now. I may actually have to build another large crate-like thing to reintegrate her though.
I just had to separate Scruffy from the chicks - not because she was being mean to them or anything, but she's started trying to treat them more like would be acceptable for older chicks (too much forage time, not enough sitting/warming) and also has become insistant on only wanting to eat either junk or really high protein stuff like dried crickets. I let it go for a couple days because it was warm and the chicks have feed available even if Scruffy wasn't interested in it, but it just wasn't working out. It was more like she was doing her own thing and jusr not complaining if they went under her. As soon as it got a bit colder I had chilly chicks seeking out my hands for warmth. Scruffy is also starting her post-broody molt early, so I think her un-broodying is just moving along too fast.So then I tried taking Scruffy back outside for a reintroduction. In the past this hasn't been too bad with her; there are just a couple hens I have to manage and I've re-integrated her in a matter of 1-2 days before. Her weight right now is 4.8lbs if I'm a bit generous. Mr Monster is a solid 9lbs now. She walked up, grabbed his neck feathers and flipped him right onto his back. I guess Mother of The Kang actually has the same kung fu powers as her son!
For now, Scruffy is in a carrier next to the chicks, just not in with them, and the chicks have a heat lamp. She's eating better that way, the chicks are also eating better that way since they aren't eating junk, and it generally seems to be working for now. I may actually have to build another large crate-like thing to reintegrate her though.
