All the little girls have got bedtime sorted now. Last night when we did our usual check on the girls after dinner the new girls had already made their way to the patio area. It is a good sign that they now hang out near the chicken shed before bedtime.
They are making their way in earlier now that they know this the place to go at bedtime. Smoke is top girl of the new girls and I have noticed that at bedtime she is always nearest the pop hole and furthest from the corner. I wonder if she is last to go in. She is also the last girl to sit down.
Sienna and Jasmine have also continued to perch with Cinnamon and Dandelion. It seems that it is always the third evening that a new bedtime routine is established as we have found this in the past as well as this time.
The new girls put themselves to bed in their corner
Smoke appears to be standing guard. I am going to leave them to settle in the corner for about a week and then I will try perching them again. I don’t want to rush them into too much change too soon and I am not worried as all the girls get the hang of perching sooner or later.
Sienna and Jasmine now perch here
We seem to have three headless chickens in this photo.
The same cannot be said for the bigger girls. The darker, wetter, days had them going in but now that the weather has improved they continue to perch out in the run. They are easy to get in though. I just shoo them down from the perch and direct them towards to the chicken shed.
I am not worried as I know that once the shorter and colder days arrive they will return to going in before dusk.
I always feel that there is a limit to how long I can call new girls, new girls, but it is good to have some group names for the different groups. The last threesome to join the flock were going to become the second three amigos until Blue went and they then evolved into the silkie girls. I think that I will call the new girls the five amigos. It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it but I can’t think of any other suitable name for them.
I am so pleased with how the flock has come together this time round. Some past integrations have been really difficult but this year’s integrations have been a breeze. Long may it continue. I am loving having a complete and happy flock.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
It’s so good to hear that things are going well! xx
I am really pleased with how things are going although I am almost crossing fingers. Always afraid to jinks it but so far so good and hope it continues. xx
Glad to hear all is well.
I am so pleased with how it is going. They are such good girls.