Lavender

Over the weekend I brought home a bantam araucana pullet.  I've been wanting to round the flock up to 6 members since Bok Choy passed away. I still find myself going to do a 6 head count at bedtime.  I miss Bok Choy!  I've been waiting for a bantam araucana pullet to become available, but they are not easy to come by so I had to take the opportunity to get one when a hatching became available.

This is Lavender (imaginatively named by Miss Bok seeing as her colouring is...well...lavender!).

On Saturday night when all was dark, I snuck her into the coop.  All was good!  Until I let everyone out early on Sunday morning...

Astrid realised that there was a new comer and that was it!  She raced at poor little Lavender and pecked her away.  I was so shocked.  I don't like seeing this side of my Astrid!!

So whilst the flock roamed about, poor Lavender stayed inside the open part of the coop, terribly lonely in her isolation.  At least she had plenty of food and water.

The flock went about their day as usual with Astrid darting out to peck at Lavender anytime she tried to come close.

 

Sunday night I let Lavender into the coop's roost box with the flock but kept Astrid out in the open part of the coop and as she wasn't allowing Lavender inside the roost.

This morning I tried to keep Astrid separate to let Lavender bond a little with the others.   Ideally I would have a spare coop but I don't...so will have to make do with what I do have. 

With Astrid away, the bok flock milled around a bit looking a little lost, then Sophie stepped up and led the flock away.  Little Lavender was too frightened to follow them so she is still in the coop too afraid to venture anywhere near the other big bad hens.

I hope they let little Lavender in soon.  She is so brave and has such spirit - they should love her!  I do already of course.  I've asked for one of her hatching mates but the breeder tells me that the others are already set aside for other people so no luck getting Lavender any company that way...ah well.  I'm hoping over time she will be allowed to integrate.  I've kept Astrid away in another section of the garden, but her mournful calling is also heart breaking so I'm going to relent and let her out.  If she could stop seeing Lavender as an intruder and just welcome her, they'd all be so much happier!  I keep looking out and seeing her all alone, it makes me so so sad.

Little do men perceive what solitude is, and how far it extendeth.
For a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures,
and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love. - Francis Bacon