Five girls sleep in one coop

Yesterday was the bantys third full day with the big girls. We ate out in the evening and got back home soon after dusk. I went up to the girls and once again all five were roosting on the big coop roof and the automatic door had shut.

This time instead of the bantys being either side of the big girls, one was on the side nearest me and one in the middle. I thought that I would try to lift them down again, but this time decided to lift the bantys down first, instead of lifting them down in the order nearest to me. This worked much better as I was able to easily pick up the first, then the second banty and pop them in the big coop. Once in the coop they made no attempt to leave.

I then lifted down the big girls and put them in too and closed the door. Again with my torch pointing towards the ground, I had a peep in and all five girls were settled on one perch. This was so much easier than the evening before and I felt really pleased by how it went. From now on I will always lift the bantys down first whichever position they are in.

I went out at six o’clock this morning and they were all fine together. This means the little girls get an extra hour out of the coop in the morning and it also means it doesn’t matter how early I go out. Once I am happy that they are in a routine of all sleeping in the big coop I will remove the little coop.

I feel sure that at the end of summer, like last year the big girls will go back in the coop, instead of on top. When they do this, I am also sure that the little girls will follow. I think the little girls are only going on the roof because they want to be where the big girls are.

We made another improvement to the girls run yesterday, it doesn’t look very attractive but we are hoping it will keep the run dryer. We used the felt left over from roofing the garden shed to clad the batons holding the sliding panels in place (this is where during heavy rain it drips through). We left the felt quite loose so that it forms a sort of drain pipe for the water to run down. My husband then fitted some gutter at the end (also left over from a previous job) for it to run into with a turn at the end, facing out to the veg plot.

Water proof cladding

The black strip at the bottom end is the drain pipe.

The view the chickens have over our garden

Another thing that happened yesterday was that Bluebell and Dotty went into the nest box together (as they often do) when Amber decided to join them. When I realised that she was missing from the run I lifted the lid of the nest box and she looked so sweet, looking up at me, squeezed between Bluebell and Dotty.

I ran to get my camera but by the time I got back Dotty had laid her egg and left the nest box. I did manage to get just one photo of Bluebell and Amber.

Bluebell and Amber in the nest box together

The funny thing is that Bluebell tolerates Amber in the nest box with her yet once back outside she tried to stop them going in the coop. Once Honey and Amber went in the coop and Bluebell went in and chased them out.

Bluebell also tried to stop Honey going in the little coop at one point too. I am still having to tell Bluebell off and spray her when she grabs the bantys, but mostly it is getting better.

Honey was laying an egg every other day (five in total) but hasn’t laid for three days now. I wonder if it is due to the stress of being with the big girls, or more to the point, being with Bluebell!

Later in the afternoon the big girls had their snooze. Dotty has taken to snoozing with her  head under her wing. I wonder if this is to do with her having a bare neck!

Dotty the headless chicken

The bantys have also discovered that they can stand on the little coops roof and reach the leaves of the dogwood shrub.

Honey finds a way to reach some leaves

It didn’t take Bluebell long to copy this.

Bluebell can also reach some leaves

This may be another reason to remove this coop before they strip the shrub.

I am so pleased with the progress now. After a month of very little progress it seems to have happened all of a sudden and apart from the odd spat they are at last becoming one flock.