Jackie has been keeping me updated with Bluebell’s progress and it is going better than we could have hoped. Jackie let Bluebell explore the garden while her girls were dust bathing in the run and sent me some photos. Bluebell looked like she was having a great time in the garden and in one photo was dust bathing in the sun on the other side of the wire from Jackie’s girls in their dust bath.
Then the gate swung open and the girls were together. Jackie said it was fine with the odd slight peck to show who was who but nothing nasty. She said it was a success and I felt so happy that it had gone so well, it has only been four days.
My husband said he felt our set up was too small for a girl like Bluebell and that she will be so much better off with Jackie. I feel so much happier now that I know she is happy. I am going to visit her on Monday.
Today we had a manic day. My eldest son and his partner arrived last night on a mercy mission to install our new printer as my old one had broken a few weeks ago and we were finding the new one impossible to install. They stayed over and left after breakfast.
Earlier this morning Steve and I went in to let the new girls out (at half past six) and while we were watching them the two new girls started sparring. This was the first time I had seen this between them but Steve said they are just reaffirming their pecking order and it was soon over.
We then took lunch with us to visit the grandchildren and returned home briefly before we were to set off again to visit friends at their new business venture.
I just had time to collect eggs, give the girls some apple to occupy them and do a quick poop pick. In this short space of time there was drama. Honey and Amber had another of their spats and were flying at each other with their ruffs raised. I did my best to break it up and after a furious few minutes they settled down.
I was then cleaning up in the new girls part of the run when the gate swung open (there seems to be a pattern emerging here) and in a flash the new girls were in the main run. They immediately set about exploring. It actually wasn’t too bad at all. Dotty had a bit of a go at Topaz. I used the water spray. Pepper gave a slight warning peck. One of the other little girls had a quick go then I sprinkled some corn and they were all fine.
We needed to go out so I had to get the new girls back to their part of the run as I wasn’t about to leave them together unsupervised. I led them back in with a sprinkle of corn.
I am really pleased with how it went although accidental and brief. Topaz has been showing that she wanted to join the other girls for days now and tomorrow when I have time at home I will put them together for longer. This has so far gone much better than last summers integration. It will be interesting to see how they get on tomorrow.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Well that is great !.I was only thinking yesterday that sometimes we worry far too much and that some times it is better to “Bite the bullet”
I think it is all going really well and although we obviously have the pecking order “Don’t forget you are the new girl” I am pleased .
Your Bluebell was out yesterday FR from 7am till bedtime mostly on her own but quite happy to be like that .
If we were farmers and had a large flock we would not know about any bullying and they would just get on with it .
You are so right. I am so pleased for Bluebell. I think my new girls would have been okay yesterday but I wasn’t going to chance it while I couldn’t be there. Today though is the day.
Upward and Onward ! Just think of it like school girls in a playground with a couple of new girls ..There would have been a class bully when you were at school and little groups in the playground that would not let you join .
In the end though you suddenly realised you were one of them. 🙂
I am going to get our work done this morning then after lunch all being well I will let them have the afternoon together.