- Jun 13, 2012
- 7
- 0
- 9
I have a golden comet. I just got her about a month ago. At purchase I was told she is a little over a year old. So here is my story. Upon getting her to her new home I caged her and the other two hens I had purchased. The next morning I left them out in the yard. All 3 were a little scared of their new home. They all jumped a concrete wall and hid in the brush. They stayed there all day. One hen came down the next day, a 2nd hen came down the day after that. But "Big Red" my golden comet never came back down to the yard. I couldn't find her in the brush. We looked for days. I assumed after a week of searching she was gone. Three weeks later I saw her in the neighbors yard. I waited till dark saw she was roosting under the neighbors house, and I went and reclaimed my hen. She came with little distress. I kept her caged for several days, keeping her in food, water and treats to help in gain trust. She warmed up some and would grab treats that were a little closer to me as days went by. She spent 3 days in the cage with the other chickens running about the yard freely. We decided to let her out. We waited till later in the day and let her run with the other chickens. She did well a few small little fits with the others. At night she went back to her cage. Next day I left her out in the am with the others and she did very well. She went to her cage at night. Next day we let her out in the am with the others. That night she didnt want her cage she wanted on top of it. This is what she is still doing, in the evenings she goes to the top of her old cage, so I go out and out her in the coop with the others. Pecking orders have been established and all is well except she hasnt laid one egg yet. I only have a total of 3 laying hens. There is her and two chocolate egg layers. So I know her eggs will be a lighter brown. I have given plenty of water, chick start, laying mash, chicken scratch and some bread and kitchen scrapes as treats. I gave her the chicken start the first few days cause she looked very thin after being on her own for about a month. I still have small chicks in the run, so I provide chick start and laying mash to all. They eat what they want. I figured after a week or so offering all she can eat buffet, she would regain some lost nutrients and start laying soon. So I am just looking for some helping opinions. Thank you!!
