Henrietta!

Someone on my chicken chat group had a mixed breed pullet that needed a home. Her name is Henrietta, and she is just under a year old. I was told she would be a mixed Wyandotte and Black Australorpe. While I was at work yesterday, the kind folks dropped her off at my house and my husband stowed her away in the animal carrier for her to just kind of settle down. I came home and did a huge double take....she looks like Lizzie! I wasn't expecting that! Her body shape is a bit different. She is bigger, and her tail doesn't stick up, it's rounded. That will take a bit of getting used to. The guy told me she also just does her own thing. She doesn't' socialize with the other hens, and just pecks around on her own. Sure enough, he is right.

This morning, I put Henrietta in the pen and let the Goldie and Beaver run around the yard. Well, Goldie was the one who just seemed beside herself pacing all over the perimeter, as you can see by the picture. I have a video too I'll try and post. She was verbalizing, and just agitated. I thought, well let's get the fight over. I opened the door to the gate of the pen, and I just knew Goldie would go after Henrietta. Nope. She immediately went up into the roost. Again, I thought, maybe she needed to lay an egg. Nope. She came out and started pecking in the dirt. I went to get the egg, no egg. I think Goldie just wanted to check the roost to make sure Henrietta hadn't messed with it. All is peaceful. Henrietta could care less about Goldie and Beaver and as a result, they don't care either. Everyone is just pecking around outside. I am also kind of wondering since Henrietta looks like Lizzie, if that has helped introductions.

I hesitate to say this, because I said it a few weeks ago, I think all is well. After the raccoon attack, hens not getting along, hens dying, etc. I think we are on a level of normalcy again.