Red is now the only girl laying. She is laying two eggs every three days. This means that the nest boxes can be kept closed until Red is ready to lay. Red is easy to tell because when she is ready to lay she stands in front of a nest box and shouts. I open the nest box and she goes straight in.
Of course the two broody girls go straight in the nest box with Red.
Progress at bedtime for Mango and Cloud has been very up and down. Red and Snow were actually fairly easy in the end. Once they had got the hang of going in at bedtime that was it, done! They have gone in every night since.
But Mango and Cloud would go in for up to four nights then change their mind again. It’s really frustrating. I think the problem is that they have each other so they don’t feel they need to follow the rest of the flock.
I have been going out to them, every evening several times, before the pop hole closes. They are either just mooching about or they sit down together on the patio area. I have tried to herd them in but they avoid me or they pop out again. Mango is by far the easiest to pick up so I have put her in and put the hatch screen in front of the pop hole to keep her in. As soon as she jumps to the perch and I remove the screen, Cloud goes straight in.
Last night I picked Mango up and reached for the screen which is on a hook by the chicken shed door. As soon and Mango was out of sight in my arms Cloud went straight in and perched. If I was just dealing with one of them it would be easy but the two of them are so together that it makes it really hard.
On one of the first nights that I put Mango in and blocked the pop hole with the screen they were calling to each other. Cloud was stood on the patio calling out to Mango as if to lure her back outside. Cloud will only go in once Mango is perched or is out of sight.
I keep trying different tactics but every time I think we are there with this the next night they want to stay out again. I will just keep on and on with this but it is proving very difficult. I am determined but only time will tell.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Bedtime continues to be frustrating – perhaps worse, as you thought it was sorted! Fingers crossed, I’ve had no one to lift in the past 2 nights and hope it’ll be the same tonight. The broodies muscling in on Red laying is such a funny sight – you’ve got to smile. I let Chocolate out this morning but, when I went back into the run late morning, she was again on the nest, so she’s back in the crate. Although she looks well, I could feel her breastbone and she must be losing condition. I’ll leave her another couple of nights and give her plenty to eat.
You are so right because twice they went in for four nights and I thought we had cracked it which makes it so frustrating when the next night I have to start again. Sugar had to go in the broody crate because she would sit forever otherwise. Luckily the rest of them give up if I keep locking them out and of course that’s much easier to do with only one girl laying. It is a worry when you feel them losing weight.