Last night, as I expected, the new girls didn’t go in the shed with the rest of the flock. There had been a few dust ups during the day I couldn’t blame the new girls for not wanting to volunteer to be with the flock.
The new girls roosted on the same perch they had been using since their arrival. I decided to wait until dusk to lift them down and put them in the shed.
My husband came out with me and suggested putting the torch in for a few minutes so that they could make their way up the ladder. We didn’t want them to spend the night on the floor. This worked well.
Both new girls on the bottom rung of the ladder
Second rung up
Third rung up
They settled on the third rung up and the rest of the flock are in their usual position on the top perch.
This morning I went out to them at quarter to six to make sure they were all okay together. Everything was fine and they all joined in with the morning sunflower hearts.
The flock have been fine together today with no spats but the new girls don’t mix yet. They sit together on one of the logs or one of the tables and go up to the patio when the other girls are elsewhere.
In the afternoon I threw out some chopped grapes and they joined in with this although they do tend to hang at the back of the flock.
Butterscotch and Speckles are at the back of the flock
They have started to run down to me or up to the patio when I go in just in case there are treats on offer although when I move about the run cleaning up they are still very wary of me. I think we are making some progress though.
The plan tonight is to wait for the main flock to go in and settle, then to herd the new girls in and shut the door. We hope that, like the main flock, after a couple of evenings they will get the hang of it.
It would be awful after all our efforts with the new shed if the main flock went in every night and the new girls didn’t but I know many people find it takes a bit of time for new girls to know where they are supposed to sleep. I really hope they will soon get the hang of it.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I think they are doing really well. Be patient , I don’t think it will long. The fact that they are joining in with no spats although inthe background is a good sign .
You are right, it is still early days yet. The reason we have gone this quickly with it is because we felt the longer they slept somewhere different, the more difficult it would be to change their sleeping habit.
I am pleased that today there have been no spats. They seem to have got it out of their system quite quickly. Topaz walks by the new girls without taking any notice now.
Brilliant progress, Carol; they’ll soon get the hang of it.
I am really pleased with how it is progressing. Watch for tomorrow’s post to see how well it went tonight. I am smiling right now.