Speckledhen..remember Whitney, Buddy's gf?

[JenniferJoIN]

You're strong b/c I would've caved as well, especially with that last picture.

But I love Oreo's coloring!

 

[speckledhen]

It will get better, Jody, I promise. I hated it when I had let Suede's bunch out to roam and he'd try to mate Skye right in front of Hawkeye's pen. Poor Hawkeye would run and hit the fence full force. Then Skye would stand right by the gate beak to beak with Hawkeye, but I couldn't let her in or I'd have had BR/Blue Orp crosses for the first few eggs. She's much better now, but she did take weeks to settle down.

 

[hinkjc]

Gosh, this is really stressful on everyone. Whitney is pacing like a caged rat. And get this..the whole EE pen is afraid of her. LOL That is a first and I think they believe she's a wacko too. They are all hiding in the pen and only come out when she is up on the outside roost. What a funny turn of events. I certainly thought they'd be on the attack, but no one is pecking..everyone's just scared. I hope they calm down soon. My heart goes out to all of them.

This is why I don't like introducing one chicken. I always try to do it in pairs, but Whitney's other hatchling turned out to be a blue ameraucana boy. Well, I know Oreo would not tolerate him at all, so he had to go. Maybe I should have kept the little guy so Whitney had a friend in there with her.

Gosh, these decisions are always so tough..even with all my years experience.

On a good note, I saw Buddy off eating with some orpie hens. If Whitney would just stop yelling for him, I think he may move on.

Jody

 

[hinkjc]

Ok, here's an update on Whitney with her new flock. She is getting better daily. The pacing has reduced and she has already moved to the front roost spot at the window (the fav spot). She is moving the pecking order and has already pushed 2 hens down. Somehow I didn't see this coming, but probably should have because she is quite spunky. The others are still a bit afraid of her, but Oreo tried to mate her today. She ran from him, but I expect that will change if he's as persistent with her as he is with the others. He will earn her trust and I'm confident take her under his wing. She still calling Buddy, but he's not as responsive as the first day or two. He is busy with his big ladies.

BTW...remember Cyn, I told you Whitney stopped laying for 3 weeks? Well, we got an egg from her yesterday. Go figure..she probably was laying all along..just in the woods during her daily escape.

Well, an egg is a sure sign she's doing well and I think things are going to be ok.

Can't wait to see how they do on range...couple more days and we'll give it a try. I hope she don't fly back in with the orps.

Jody

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Yay! Glad things are going well for the Whitney and Buddy situation.

 

[speckledhen]

Good news about Whitney! Now, if my Velvet would just lay again. She hasn't laid an egg in over a month now and she's only about 38 weeks old. Just started laying at 25 weeks and now she's decided she doesn't want to do that anymore. Skye, 25 weeks, is laying very well, thank goodness. She has finally become part of Suede's group and settled down well.

 

[hinkjc]

Whitney laid another egg today!

Could Velvet be hiding her eggs too?

Jody

 

[speckledhen]

Nope, nowhere for her to hide them. She stays in the 8x8 coop with attached 11x20' pen except for maybe a half hour a day when I let Suede and his girls out. I usually have my eye on them at that time, too, so there's little chance for her to hide anything anywhere. Haven't found any eggs anywhere and I check under the coop from time to time because they like to pick apart my bale of straw I keep under there.