Today we put up two, new, high perches so that the bantys will have somewhere to escape from the big girls. From past experience it may take them some time to discover them though.
New high perch from the outside
The new perch is above the tree branch perch. I don’t think the big girls will be able to get up on this perch. As it’s above the existing perch which I duck under when cleaning, it won’t be in my way at all.
New high perch from the inside
Another new high perch over the patio area
I think the big girls may discover this one as they will be able to jump on to it from the storage cabinet but the more perches the better as they can’t be every where at once!
This afternoon I decided to put Bluebell in the bantys area and let the little girls mix with Pepper and Dotty to build their confidence a bit. They were together for a couple of hours and it went really well. Pepper and Dotty would give the occasional quick peck to show them their place but nothing nasty and they all intermingled really well.
The bantys soon discovered the big girls apple.
The bantys with the big girls apple
I always give the bantys a smaller bit of apple on their side but they love it and eat it straight away where as the big girls take all afternoon to eat theirs.
Bluebell is actually perfectly happy on the other side on her own. I think they find the other side a novelty and view it as a bit of a treat.
Bluebell in the other side
In fact for a while Pepper and Dotty were patrolling the fence desperate to join her. I dug over the corner of the run and found a few worms which all four girls chased each other around for.
I then dug a strip on Bluebell’s side so that she didn’t miss out and in fact she was better off as she had her worms all to herself!
Four girls together
Bluebell is in the background on the other side of the wire.
After a couple of hours I let Bluebell join the others. She immediately went for the little girls and I sprayed her with water several times. After a while it settled down and they mixed better than they have before. At one point they all preened and snoozed together.
All five sit together
They are getting braver
Despite Bluebell keep having a go at the little girls they still mixed a lot more where as they used to just go and sit on the coop roof. It does mean that they haven’t found the new perches though.
At one point Bluebell perched in the apple tree, this is the first time I have seen her do this since last summer.
Bluebell in the apple tree
At this point I decided to let the little girls go back to their own side so that I could go and get dinner on. This has been the best time together so far and I feel we really are making some progress.
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You really are getting it sorted now 🙂
Hope so, I’m working on it!
Hurrah! 🙂
I second that. No blood today!
Wonderful news! All your hard work is paying off 🙂 x
Aw, thank you. We put them together for another half hour this evening and it’s definitely getting better. Bluebell was still the worst but the bantys are getting braver and don’t fuss about it. My husband remarked that they quickly bounce back and don’t complain too much, bless them.