Still fine tuning bedtime

I know I put moulting photos out yesterday but I am sure Peaches has never looked this bad before. Laying eggs for a month later in the year, this year, has made her moult really quick and messy.

Poor Peaches has never looked this bad before

What a state!

Peaches, What do you look like!

The three little girls have some dandelion leaves

The three little girls have got really good at sneaking up to the patio for treats when the other girls are not looking.

Over the last few nights I have been trying to get the little girls to go to bed on their own. Last night I went out at six o’clock, once the bigger girls were all settled as I wondered if going out earlier was just causing more of a distraction.

As soon as I go up the path the three little girls run to me as if expecting me to put them to bed. On the positive side at least they run to me for help rather than running away or trying to perch elsewhere in the run.

I put them through the pop hole and they run back out. I put Pebbles on the perch and she stays put. Rusty managed to jump to the perch but Freckles goes too high and drops back down again. I relented and put her on the perch. Once all three are on the perch they stay there.

Tonight I went out again at six o’clock and the bigger girls were already settled. Once more the three little girls ran to me. Pebbles used to be fine at going in at night but it seems that now, instead of the newer two following her lead, she has decided to follow them and stay out.

I put them through the pop hole and put the chicken doorstop in front to keep them in. No chance, the little girls squeezed around it and out again. I put Pebbles on the perch and closed the pop hole and then put the other two in. Again Rusty managed to jump to the perch but Freckles kept going too high and dropping back down. My husband who was watching said he thought it had got too dark for Freckles to judge the perch because he had seen her during the day jump to the outside perches with ease.

I put Freckles on the perch and all was settled. Tomorrow I will change tactic and go up earlier and see if I can get them to go in earlier while it is lighter. It’s all trial and error at the moment. I could easily put them on the perch each night and it’s something I used to do in the past but I really want them to learn to do it themselves.

The little girls are finally settled

All the girls are settled for the night

I am sure we will get there in the end. I just need to get the timing right so that they are able to sort it out for themselves. We are nearly there and I am sure it is just a matter of time before they get the hang of it.