It was a week yesterday that we started the five amigos going in to the chicken shed at bedtime and I thought that it was time to start encouraging them to perch at bedtime.
They beat me to it. When we checked on them after our evening meal they were just starting to head in. They were jumping up to the perch without any encouragement from me. All five of them jumped up several times and then down again as they hadn’t finished scratching in the shavings yet.
I took photos but as it was still a bit light I didn’t think I needed the flash. It turned out that I should have used the flash as the photos of them on the perch were out of focus as the light level was too low.
I will take more photos tonight using the flash but for now I will just put out the ones of them in the pop hole.
The five amigos getting ready to go in at bedtime
Marmite is last to go in
I was sure that this would mean that when I checked on them after the pop hole had closed they would be perched up. No, that didn’t happen! They were in their usual heap in the corner.
I tried moving them from the corner to the perch but by the time I had got number five on the perch the others had jumped back down. They started to sound distressed so I decided to leave them to settle in the corner again. They are obviously not quite ready yet.
I feel that as they obviously know the perch is there it will just be a matter of time before they roost there. I think that they need to do it in their time so I will leave them to it for now.
As for the bigger girls, to my surprise, Flame and Ebony had gone in but Speckles was perched outside on her own! I picked her up and put her in. I am surprised that she would want to be outside on her own but again I think it’s just a matter of time before she starts going in each night.
It’s a good sign that Flame and Ebony want to go in and I am sure once that Speckles realises that she will start to go in too.
So as usual it is evolving but I am happy that it is moving in the right direction. I am sure that all the girls will soon be perching in the chicken shed at bedtime.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
They all look so settled, like you say, I am sure it will all fall into place soon.
I am sure they will get the hang of perching at night soon. The important thing is that they know when it’s time to go in so I am happy with that.
Hi Carol, I have been away again and just catching up. So much has gone on! I can’t believe how good the flock has merged together, we are having a nightmare getting Snowy back into the flock.
The faulty pipe issue sounded stressful!
Hope you guys are all good.
Kevin
I thought you had probably been away and you haven’t updated your blog for a while.
I can’t believe how easily all the recent integrations have gone. It is odd that the flock don’t want to accept Snowy back with them. You would think that would remember her.
The leaking pipe issue was very stressful as it could have been so much worse. We were relieved that it was solved without any damage in the end. You imagine best and worse case scenario and never really expect it to turn out as best case scenario.
We are good. Good to have you back.