The bedtime line up

The bedtime line up is exactly the same every night. I always know where the girls are going to end up. They are such creatures of habit and have perfected their bedtime positions and now they stick to those positions every night.

Emerald in her bedtime position

Topaz and Sparkle in their bedtime position

Amber, Honey and Toffee in their bedtime position

Peaches and Barley in their position

This is the complete bedtime picture

I think there are reasons behind some of the choices. Emerald is bottom girl and the others don’t let her roost with them so she settled on the shoe box as it’s out of their way. it has now become her spot and she is always the first to roost in the evening and always goes straight the shoe box and never leaves it again. She always stands for a while before eventually sitting down. This may be because it’s so hot at the moment.

Some of the girls take up their places but come down again for a last top up of food and water and then return but never Emerald.

Toffee is usually next up and always quick to dose on her perch. Topaz and Sparkle are next and I think being heavier birds they prefer the flat surface of the cabinet. They occasionally used to try the perch but looked uncomfortable getting up and down from it and soon returned to the cabinet. They now just go straight to there.

Amber is next up followed a little later by Honey and they always sit together. Toffee, Honey and Amber seem to prefer the narrower perch.

Peaches and Barley are always last up. I think they enjoy being able to potter around on their own and being able to top up with food without competition. I think they like this perch because it’s away from the rest of the girls and they always sit together.

I once moved Peaches because she was looking stressed because she couldn’t get past the other girls to get to Barley. Once I put her next to Barley she settled happily. Since then they have always managed to get perched together, perhaps another reason they settle later.

This same routine takes place like clockwork every evening.