Since we have had the little girls, by which I mean the seramas, Rusty and Freckles have always perched on their own perch on the left hand side of the shed and Cinnamon, Dandelion and Apricot have always perched on their own perch on the right hand side of the shed with the bigger girls on the, higher, perch at the back of the shed. The bigger girls now just consist of Emerald and Speckles.
But recently Cinnamon has taken to going in first and perching on the right hand side of the bigger back perch. She has been perching behind the perch that Dandelion and Apricot roost on. I thought that maybe it was because she had gone in first and that she would be lonely on her own during the night so each evening I moved her from there to the perch next to Dandelion and Apricot.
After a week or so when she was continuing to do this I decided to leave her. I realised that if she was consistently perching there every night then that must be where she wants to be. Emerald and Speckles were taking no notice of her at all.
Then one evening Cinnamon was perched on the left hand side of the back perch next to Speckles and Emerald. It seems that she has decided that she is part of the bigger girl’s group now. They have accepted her and don’t bother her at all.
This is another thing that has changed completely since Peaches and Barley have left the flock. There always used to be lots of bumping around and head pecking between the bigger girls at bedtime. Now Emerald and Speckles perch side by side without any fuss and bedtime is an easy, quiet and settled affair. Now it seems that even a little girl joining them is quite acceptable.
Cinnamon now perches here most nights
You can see why I thought Cinnamon might be lonely.
Apricot and Dandelion on their perch
Rusty and Freckles on their perch
Cinnamon perches with the bigger girls
It’s amazing how the dynamics of the flock have changed so much with just two bigger girls. There is no longer any bullying and the whole flock are harmonious. I think that Emerald and Speckles would accept any of the little girls perching besides them.
It is funny how Cinnamon, who is our smallest girl, has decided that she wants to be with the bigger girls. I have decided that she is capable of choosing where she wants to perch so I am leaving her to perch where ever she likes.
Last night I took my camera out with me again to see where she had landed up this time.
Cinnamon was pretty much much snuggled up to the bigger girls
Cinnamon has definitely decided that she belongs with the bigger girls. This is so sweet to see. Speckles is quite happy to have her alongside.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
How nice to see them all together and happy.
It is really nice. The little girls are totally accepted by the two bigger girls and allowing Cinnamon to share their bedtime spot really shows how accepted they are.
Perfect harmony. You’ll never get a better photo to illustrate the differenve in size between seramas and bantam breeds derived from large fowl – amazing!
I love the harmony between the girls, which proves that size isn’t everything. You are so right about the difference in size though. I almost forget that Speckles and Emerald are bantams at times because I have become so used to the little girls that my two bantams now appear to be like big girls. I think faced with big girls now they would seem like giants to me.