Finishing the roof panels

Yesterday we almost finished fitting the roof panels. We had to do it after work and ended up running out of time and running out of screws so had to leave off the wooden batons for the last panel. Most of the run is now able to be covered though and we can finish off the last bit at the weekend.

Both panels fitted to the roof and in the open position

If we leave the panels at the veg plot end of the run when they are in the open position, they will give the bantys a bit of a dry area even if it suddenly rains while we are out. It also has the advantage of keeping the coop under cover.

We got this done just in time as when I went out this morning it was raining and I pulled the panels into the closed position.

The panels are almost finished and in the closed position

The remaining open square at the top is the unfinished bit. All it needs is the support batons to be added. We do have a permanent dry area over the patio but just wanted to stop the garden area becoming a muddy quagmire during wet weather. We are also leaving the plastic cover over the triangular area to the left of the panels. I dig this over regularly for the girls and they use it for dust bathing.

Last night the bantys went in to their coop as usual once the big girls had gone to bed so I feel happy with our routine now. Now that they have a nice, safe area with some dry cover and their own coop, I feel that there is no hurry to integrate and intend to take our time with it.

During the bedtime routine the bantys like to be in the corner nearest the big girls and they were all scratching together with just the wire between them.

All scratching together

The bantys also like having their own little perch in the corner.

Amber and Honey perching together

I am glad when the hebe died my husband suggested leaving the dead trunk in, it makes a perfect perch for the bantys.

All the girls seem fine with the wire between them but Bluebell, our bottom girl, is the one I can see being the most problematic. Bluebell watches the bantys all the time and sometimes runs at them, she also gives a quick peck through the wire occasionally. The other girls don’t take much notice of them but Bluebell doesn’t want to remain bottom girl.

Another advantage of this set up, is that if Bluebell does bully the bantys when they are integrated, we could put her in the separate part of the run for a while. I feel a lot happier now that we have several options and we can take everything slowly. I also hope that now I don’t need to handle the bantys they will gradually get used to me.