New pullet not eating..

[gator75]

Picked up a 16 wk old blue Ameraucana yesterday afternoon. She looks large and healthy but she hasn't taken a bite of food since I brought her home. Won't eat scratch or even a live mealworm! Going to try some eggs tomorrow. First time bringing home a grown pullet. This normal?

 

[21hens-incharge]

No it is not normal for them to be off food this long.

Is she at least drinking water?

 

[gator75]

I saw her take a sip, but I've honestly only been around her maybe 45 min. She went to the bathroom about 5 times in the crate on the ride down the interstate in the back of my truck, so I know she ate before I picked her up!

She's in pretty tight confinement (2'x3'). But it's all I have till I move her into the coop. I let her out for a few minutes in the run with the small pullets and she scratched around some. Guess I'll see if she settles down.

 

[21hens-incharge]

It could be that being alone is super stressful to her.

Try wetting some of the feed and mix in a boiled egg.

Mine cannot resist it. If she was being fed wet feed or fermented feed where she was she will be reluctant to eat dry.

 

[gator75]

It could be that being alone is super stressful to her.

Try wetting some of the feed and mix in a boiled egg.

Mine cannot resist it. If she was being fed wet feed or fermented feed where she was she will be reluctant to eat dry.

Ha! No fermented feed where she came from! She was pulled from a sizeable flock that free ranged. I'll make her some egg in the am. Although, not sure anything can compete with meal worms. Hopefully it's just a little stress. Thanks for the advice.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I do hope she comes around for you.

I always try to bring in groups of 3 or more so they are never lonely.

 

[gator75]

I do hope she comes around for you.

I always try to bring in groups of 3 or more so they are never lonely.

Yeah, I can only have 4 due to run/coop size. Really wanted 4 and I have 3 pullets. I lost one of my three early on in the last flock and the dynamic of 2 just doesn't seem that great. Next round I'll get all 4 at one time.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Just work with her and she should come around.

She needs to learn to trust you. It sounds like she didn't have a lot of human interaction where she was so be patient.

 

[gator75]

Still not eating.. grrr. Ate one bite of egg. Rest sitting in a pile. Going to integrate her into the coop today.