Yesterday we added an extra strip of wood to the new nest boxes so that they are slightly less open. I then filled them with pine shavings and put them in the run to see what the girls would make of them.
The newly modified nest boxes
We decided to place them on the patio to give the girls a chance to discover them. As Butterscotch is wanting to be broody at the moment, I thought she might be the first to try them out. It was weird, all the girls investigated the new nest boxes except for Butterscotch who wouldn’t go near them. It was as if she suspected they were some kind of a trap.
Topaz takes a look and pecks out some shavings
Emerald takes a look
Peaches prefers to jump on me while I am taking photos
Butterscotch would only get this close
Peaches, Barley and Topaz are all interested, Barley is looking down from the little coop nest box
Speckles stands on top
Honey takes a look
She first inspects one box then the other
Speckles looks from the safety of the top of the box again
Toffee takes a look
Toffee and Speckles are the two most shy girls but even they had a brief look in. Butterscotch just wasn’t having it at all though. Maybe when she has had time to get used to them being there her curiosity will kick in. It would be so good if they would accept these new boxes but very often anything new takes time so I guess only time will tell.
Click here to see the history of my flock.