I decided we needed a bigger dry dust bath as Treacle looked so cramped in the old one and sends most of the dust out. I bought a washing up bowl, it’s bigger, deeper and being round, a more suitable shape. I filled it and took my camera to see what the girls would make of it.
New bigger dust bath
As usual Bluebell was the first to go and look at it as she is the most inquisitive. I went back later and there were foot prints in it so they have stood in it but not dust bathed yet. Oh well, these things always take time. I am sure they will use it more quickly this time. I will photograph them when they perform for me.
Lately I have noticed Treacle rising to top hen and there is now no doubt that she has taken over the position from Pepper. I noticed that Treacle would peck Dotty (up to now the bully) and I would hear a yelp but Dotty didn’t seem too bothered. When I watched them more closely, I realized that the short yelp sound was Treacle not Dotty, Treacle would make the sound as a warning accompanied by a quick peck. Dotty started to behave herself and as a side effect seems to have stopped bullying Bluebell so much.
Treacle pecks Pepper to show her she is now top hen and sometimes chases her away. Sometimes Treacle gives Dotty and Pepper a quick peck and they both lower their head in the submissive pose. I have not seen Treacle peck Bluebell at all and assume that as Bluebell is bottom hen, she has no need to.
I think over all Treacle will be a good top hen but I do feel a bit sorry for Pepper having been usurped. When Dotty pecks Bluebell away from their evening scratch treat or Treacle pecks Dotty away, they both quickly return to the treat. I think this is because Bluebell is used to being pecked away and Dotty is fearless but when Treacle pecks Pepper away she runs off and stands at a distance looking forlorn. I am willing her to just get back in there and carry on but she hasn’t been used to being chased away before and seems a bit perplexed about this sudden change in status.
All this seems to be mellowing Dotty a bit. Lately when she sees Treacle on my shoulder, She wants to come up too. She has jumped on my head a couple of times recently because Treacle has been on my shoulder and she can’t seem to manage to get on the other shoulder, so she gets on to my head instead. Not ideal but for a while I thought Dotty didn’t like me as she didn’t interact at all with me, so this behaviour has surprised me.
The other day when I went in at bedtime I could see that Dotty wanted to jump up on to me but it had been very wet and their feet were very muddy. Dotty jumped on to the coop roof to get nearer so I moved away and stood by the gate. Much to my surprise Dotty jumped from the ground to my shoulder. I have to say I was pretty impressed! I crouched down so that she wouldn’t have such a long way to jump down but she was in no hurry to leave. The other thing that strikes me is how light she is compared to Treacle. Treacle is a big and heavy hen but the dominiques are both so light in comparison.
Dotty is still the only one of them that won’t let me stroke her but perhaps now that I don’t have to tell her off all the time for bullying, we are making some progress. I would like to get a photo of Dotty on my shoulder but it may take time as they never perform to order!
Click here to see the history of my flock.