The bedtime line up

I have decided that the night time temperatures are now warm enough to let the girls sleep in what ever positions they choose at night once they are in the chicken shed. I won’t be lifting the little girls across to the back perch any more.

I went up to check on the girls after our evening meal last night. The little girls were in the chicken shed and the two bigger girls were perched over the hatch.

As soon as I walked through the gate Speckles jumped down from the perch and headed in to the chicken shed. I thought I would leave Emerald and see if she would go in by herself. Sure enough a few minutes later she jumped down and headed into the shed.

Emerald and Speckles

They are standing as they have just gone in but they will sit once they have settled down.

Cinnamon and Freckles

These two are on the left hand perch.

Apricot and Dandelion

These two are on the right hand perch. Look how red their faces are. I am surprised that they haven’t started laying yet.

I am pleased that Freckles no longer roosts on her own. It occurred to me that they perch by pecking order rather than friendship. The two bigger girls are the two top girls. Freckles and Cinnamon are the two top seramas and Dandelion and Apricot are the two bottom seramas.

I think that pecking order influences where they sit more than friendship as very often Freckles, Cinnamon and Dandelion sit together during the day but Apricot is more of a loner and is often doing her own thing. Freckles and Cinnamon have had little spats to test the pecking order yet at bedtime the line up is always in this order.

I am pleased to see them paired up. It is nicer to see than Freckles sitting alone and it is warmer for them. For now this line up seems to be very firmly established.