This integration has been the most difficult one for a long time. One thing that has gone like clockwork though is the bedtime routine. I was dreading it and yet it went much easier than with the previous little girls.
This is because all the groups have their own perch. I knew that there would be no way that Rusty and Freckles would let the three amigos share their perch so we put up two new perches in the opposite corner to theirs.
It only took two nights of putting the three girls on their perch for them to get the hang of it. Now there is no fuss at bedtime. Watching them last night we could see the order that they go in.
Emerald is always in first after the bedtime corn. It is often up to an hour later before the rest of the girls go in. All the bigger girls go in and settle on the, higher perch, at the back of the shed. Rusty and Freckles go in next and settle on their perch on the left of the shed. The three amigos go in last and go straight to their perch in the right hand corner above the pop hole.
We have also just made two amendments to the perches. We have taken out the back rail on Freckles and Rusty’s perch as we put it in for passing room with more than two girls. With only two girls here it is no longer needed. A single rail is better as it further from the side wall giving the two girls more space.
Freckles and Rusty on their perch
Apricot, Cinnamon and Dandelion on their perch
We also took out the high, bigger perch, that was above these two smaller perches. Apricot had been going up to the higher one and I didn’t like her having such a big drop down in the morning. There is no need for a higher one as we put it in when we had more bigger girls than now. There is plenty of space on the back perch for the bigger girls.
This arrangement of perches keeps each set of girls well away from each other which means none of the head pecking that used to go on at bedtime. Bedtime is now the one time that the flock are in harmony. I am so happy with this part of their routine.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Yea. That’s awesome. I’m still working with Bella to redirect her to sleep w/ her Cochin sister Penny in the little coop. I put her in again last night and this time she didn’t protest at all. She settled right down. So here’s hoping tonight I can get her to go over to the little coop by herself. I think it may take me a few more nights. But I’m hopeful.
Sometimes it takes longer than others but usually works out in the end. Bedtime for us is sorted for now but I am still struggling to get the three newer ones brave enough to get to the food. I still have to “help” them several times a day to make sure they get their share. I hope that in time they will get braver and need less help from me.
Happy girls, happy Carol.
You are so right. Jackie always used to say that to me too.