One flock

Today it started to rain quite heavily and when I checked on the girls they were all stood together by the bush looking like a really united flock.

The girls are all hanging out together

It does look a bit as if Sparkle has been sent to Coventry though, with her face to the fence.

They dispersed as I got close to them

As I got close to them they all began to move away but it was good to see them looking so together.

Sparkle also laid an egg today in the nest box of the main coop. I was really pleased about this on two counts. Firstly she hadn’t laid for eight days, since she had scratched her throat, so I felt this showed she is really back to normal. Secondly it means she knows where the nest box is and I have a faint hope that she may go into the coop at bedtime tonight.

An hour before bedtime Amber and Topaz were both in the nest box together. Amber has been looking like she wants to lay for the last few days and Topaz has been looking she wants to lay for quite a few days more. It’s funny that they have shared the nest box for the last couple of nights and have settled in there together tonight. They are both top of their banty pairs and seem quite comfortable together.

Topaz and Amber in the nest box together

Topaz always moves away when I try to take a photo but they had been sat side by side.

Sparkle as usual settled on the coop roof, I gently stroked her and she allowed it.

Sparkle let me gently stroke her

This is progress. They are getting used to me.

I went back at dusk and Topaz and Amber were settled side by side in the nest box. Pepper and Dotty were on the coop roof and Sparkle and Honey were on the storage cabinet.

I didn’t try to influence the girls tonight but just accepted them settling where they wanted and then quickly lifted them all in and closed the door. It took four seconds to put four girls in so if that’s what it takes, so be it. I think I may just have to accept that I will continue to lift them to bed each night. They are getting along and that is the most important thing.