***UPDATED- Advice Needed (Hens are smarter than we think...)

[wildcrafted]

That's very interesting about Clem rejecting the adopted chick after all this time. I am constantly learning  new things about chickens.

Seriously! Who knew? Now I give her even more credit for taking pity on Dolly and taking her under her wing when she knew full well it wasn't her baby.

 

[wildcrafted]

Nice photo!

Thanks! The cuteness was killing me especially since 99% of the time I couldn't get a good pic due to the hardware cloth always being in the way. I would have to push my phone right up to a tiny hole in the cloth and even then the flash would reflect off the wire. I actually have a video of Dolly and Clems first meeting which always cracked me up due to Clem walking right up and giving her 'the eye'. I'm hoping I didn't delete it.

 

[N F C]

That video would be fun to see if you can find it.

 

[wildcrafted]

So good news and bad news. Lucky for Dolly she is no longer the Cinderella of the flock. That only lasted for a day. Clementine decided today that she hates ALL her babies and is viciously chasing them away and pecking at them. She is also screaming the egg song over and over and OVER again (to the point where her 'voice' is hoarse sounding) even though she laid a couple of hours ago and she is pacing back and forth while rattling the hardware cloth with her beak to get out. She almost seems hormonally out of whack, like a woman with postpartum psychosis. Is this normal for a newly unbroody mom???

I ended up letting her out of the coop again by herself. She sended desperate for her own space. They all free-ranged this morning for an hour or so but the chicks all kept their distance from mama and she didn't seem to care what they were up to.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Your hen reminds me of W.C. Fields.
2 famous quotes.
"Go away kid, you bother me."
"Anyone who hates dogs and kids can't be all bad."

 

[wildcrafted]

HELP! Okay I need advice. I was kind of joking about the postpartum psychosis but now I am seriously wondering if she really is hormonally imbalanced. She is acting crazy and has been shrieking the egg song ALL DAY. She is louder than a rooster and more obnoxious. I feel bad saying that because she's been such a good mama up until yesterday. Is there anything I can do? I let her out by herself to wander today which seemed to make her happier but she was still shrieking (just not as often as when inside). She is yelling from up on the roost as I type. Has anyone experienced this? I'm honestly worried about her. She needs some chicken valium.

 

[N F C]

I've never experienced that. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to see what they say over on the emergencies forum:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures