We think that the little girls can probably be trusted to take shelter on the patio area if the weather is really cold so we decided it would be a good idea to reinstate a perch on the patio area.
At the moment the little girls sit on the little coop roof and we thought it would be better if they had a perch. The previous perch got moved when we needed another perch in the chicken shed.
We still had some spare brackets in the shed and we collected some twigs from the woods for another project (a future post) so I picked a suitable sized branch to make them a perch.
I tried Rusty on the new perch
I added freckles to the new perch
I showed Pebbles the new perch
The bigger girls inspected the new perch
If there is one thing you can say about chickens, it is that they are nosy. My husband had an audience of the bigger girls while he was putting the perch up. They just have to know what is going on and they must inspect anything new.
I think if the weather was really cold I could hook open the chicken shed door and the little girls could take shelter on the patio area or in the shed. If the door was hooked open and it was light in there they may go in although I wouldn’t hold my breath on that but if they get used to the perch on the patio area it is, sheltered, covered and dry.
I think that this may be all that is needed to keep them comfortable and happy in the winter. I will be watching over them when the cold weather comes.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
They look happy on their new perch.
I think they will like it even better when they are used to it and go there themselves rather than me putting them there although Pebbles did try it out again before bedtime.
The photo of the bigger girls really shows just how curious they are!
It does. They watched the whole proceeding with much interest and then checked out the perch but didn’t attempt to try it. I do love their curiosity.
I think this is a good solution. I know chickens can be pretty stupid sometimes but mine always head for shelter when they don’t like the weather and I’m sure your littl’uns will tuck themselves in somewhere if they’re cold or damp.
I think you are right and they will know what to do and if they don’t …. I will be on hand to sort them out.