Things, they are a changing

On the first evening that Mango and Cloud were broody I closed the nest boxes before bedtime. When I went up before the pop hole closed to check on them they were in the corner of the shed as I expected. I put them on the perch but when I returned they were back in the corner. I perched them again once the pop hole had closed and they stayed there.

On the second evening Mango and Cloud were again in the corner of the shed and I perched them. When I returned they had stayed perched this time.

On the third evening something amazing had happened. At bedtime Mango and Cloud were on the perch. For the first time in the two years we have had them they had put themselves to bed on the perch. I wondered if this was a fluke.

The second evening I checked with baited breath. Yes, Mango and Cloud were on the perch together at bedtime and they were no longer broody either.

On the third night I checked and Mango and Cloud were perched again at bedtime. I couldn’t believe it. I decided now was the time to try to get Red and Snow to go in too. If I could get all the girls to go in themselves before the new girls arrive I will have a better chance of the new girls eventually going in themselves too.

I decided to take out the third nest box by the gate as this will eventually become the new girls’ coop. I emptied the shavings into the other two nest boxes and hoovered it and put it in the garden shed. It will then have fresh shavings when the new girls arrive to give them a nice fresh start.

I then covered the the other two nest boxes with a trellis over a bucket at an angle then covered the whole thing with a thin plastic decorating sheet. I hoped that by blocking this off Red and Snow might go in at bedtime.

I checked before bedtime and whereas Red and Snow would usually be settled on the nest boxes they were wandering around the run looking a little lost. Mango and Cloud were perched in the chicken shed for the fourth evening along with Storm and Gold.

I went back after the pop hole had closed. I was really pleased to find that Snow was perched next to Mango and Cloud. This felt like such a victory.

Red had obviously jumped at the nest boxes and causes the plastic to slip exposing the trellis at the back where she was perched. I knew Red would be the most difficult one but I am encouraged that this may change with time. Tonight I will try to block the nest boxes off a bit better.

I feel as if there is light at the end of the tunnel and the girls will all go in eventually. This will be a huge game changer for us.

On the broody front, Red, Mango and Cloud are all through their broody spell now. Unfortunately we had been down to only one egg layer, that being Storm, for the last four days. Gold took a break from laying.

The good news is this morning Snow came back into lay after a break of eleven days. Shortly after Gold laid after her four day beak so we are now back to three girls laying.

We now need to wait and see what happens at bedtime tonight. Fingers crossed!