We may have cracked it!

During the recent hot spell I have been leaving the chicken shed door ajar until I go in to lock up after the pop hole has closed. I did this for four evenings. During this time Mango and Cloud have been going in through the door and perching.

Before this I had been going up as the pop hole closed and would hold the shed door open and Mango and Cloud would go through the door and perch. It was good that they were going in themselves but I wouldn’t want to leave the door open on a more permanent basis especially in winter.

I now remember that this happened on a previous year. Two evenings ago as it was cooler I left the chicken shed door closed. I wondered if Mango and Cloud would still go in with the door now closed. I checked on them about an hour before the pop hole was due to close and was amazed to find them both in and perched.

I returned once the pop hole had closed and Mango and Cloud were still perched in the chicken shed. I now wondered if this was a one off or if they would go in the next night.

Last night I again checked on the girls an hour before the pop hole was due to close. Mango and Cloud were in the chicken shed and perched.

When the pop hole had closed I checked again and Mango and Cloud were still perched. I think we may have finally got there. They have twice, in the past, gone in for four days and then stopped so we need to get past the four day mark but I am hopeful that this time we have done it.

I will be keeping the top of the nest boxes blocked for a couple of weeks as I don’t want them to revert to sitting on top of them at bedtime which will be the next hurdle to overcome. But for now it’s looking good and I think we may have finally succeeded in getting these two to go in at bedtime.