Our second evening of integration

Yesterday it rained all afternoon and I was able to see how well the panels were working at keeping the run dry. Most of the run is staying dry. The areas under the plastic are dry, but water drips between the wooden batons. The water was dripping on the ramp of the bantys coop and also onto the back of the coop. I don’t want the ramp to get wet because it would mean that when I close the ramp by lifting it up, I would be closing the damp on to the inside.

I decide to move the coop to the driest part of their run. I moved the log into the big girls side of the run to make more room and put the coop next to the big bush with the ramp facing towards the wire. This makes the bantys run seem bigger as they now have a bigger area by the gate which I can dig over for them to scratch in.

The coop in it’s new position

The coop from inside the bantys run

I am quite pleased with the coops new position as I think it will now stay dry. I did wonder if it would upset the bantys moving their home but when I went back a little later there were pine shavings on the ramp. This shows that they have explored it already.

We decided to try the girls together for half an hour before bedtime. I opened the bantys gate and sprinkled a little corn. The bantys came straight out but Bluebell instantly went for them. She landed a few pecks and the bantys ran back into their part of the run. They didn’t venture out again so it was all a bit short lived. At one point Pepper went into their side and gave one of the bantys a good, hard stare, then came out again.

The big girls decided it was time to take their places on the coop roof and this turned out to be more of a battle. I noticed yesterday that Bluebell had some spots on her comb which look like peck marks. I assumed it was probably from Pepper pecking at her when she tries to get on the coop roof at bedtime and I was right.

Every time Bluebell tried to settle on the roof, Pepper would peck her head or comb. It was quite hard to see how determined Pepper is not to let her join them and Bluebell is now determined that she will join them. Where as she used to give up and go inside the coop, instead she kept on trying to sit with them and Pepper kept on pecking at her. It made me feel a sense of understanding as to why she is so determined that the bantys are going to stay below her in the pecking order. These three girls have been together for a year, since they were babies, and yet Bluebell is still on the outside at bedtime. It’s a shame they don’t just go into the coop like they used to.

Just as Bluebell finally managed to take her place, the coop door started to shut and I lifted them down and put them in. I feel sorry for Bluebell having to go through all that just for a few minutes of success before I move them all.

By now Amber had gone into the coop but Honey spent a bit of time going in and out. She appears to go in then pop out to check if I am still there. After about five minutes of this she finally went in and I shut the door.

I think tonight I will try letting the bantys out a little earlier. I think this is going to take quite a long time to get them integrated but it doesn’t matter how long it takes, the bantys are quite happy with their run and coop.