Some of you may have noticed the gazette has been on hiatus since late May, the past couple of months have been difficult here at Fuss & Feathers. I also decided to make it monthly instead of weekly.
We had to reduce our flock of hens down to 8 from 14. The four new chicks (Red, Jody the rooster, Buffy and Gracie) stayed as did Blue, Henny Penny, Mary Anne and Brownie.
Now
Why...?
Dot became a rooster in her own mind and was a bully to the other girls, not allowing Henny Penny or the new chicks to eat or roost. Constantly patrolling and pecking poor HPs neck till it was red and bloody.
The disharmony seemed to be contagious. Dot stopped laying as did the others who were rehoused.
The Professor (our best layer) became egg bound and although we tried our best to save her it became necessary to euthanize her.
In Memory...
Sweet Pea, Violet, Dot, Blance, and Shelly were re-homed a mile or so down the road to a family who has chickens and children. Our friend David welcomed them into their larger flock.
It was a difficult decision, one I lamented over for more then a month. I grieved the decision and have moved on. In this case smaller is better. Harmony has now been restored to the flock.