The second evening with the new corner perch

Yesterday’s end of day was once again dark and wet. I went to check on the girls after dinner. To my surprise Gold was on the corner perch. She looked like queen bee in the middle of the perch and looked really comfortable.

Storm, Red and Snow were on the back perch and Ginger and Silver were on the side perch. This time they were at the corner end of the perch with Ginger nearest to Gold and Gold was taking no notice of her.

Mango and Cloud were still out. I left and returned a bit later. Mango had jumped up to the inner, child, gate and Cloud was perched on the edge of the tarpaulin covered nest boxes.

I think the problem lies with Mango and Silver having had just over two years of having the side perch to themselves. There is room for them on the side perch but they need to learn to share.

I decided to perch them next to Ginger and Silver and was pleased that there was no pecking. I checked again as the pop hole was closing and all was calm.

Dare I say that I think we are finally getting there. I just need Mango and Cloud to learn to go to the side perch with Ginger and Silver. I feel a lot more positive now though.

I have also removed one of the extra feeding stations each day. Today I will remove the last one. Ginger and Silver happily eat from the two dishes on the patio and I haven’t seen any of the girls chasing them away.

Yesterday I opened the gap by the patio and hammered in a stake to keep the side gate open. I emptied the shavings from new girls’ little coup into the chicken shed and hoovered it and it’s stored in the garden shed. So everything in the run is now returned to normal.

With Gold on the corner perch she was settled and didn’t do her usual going in and out. She also wasn’t doing any pecking so after thinking the corner perch wasn’t working I now think it just needed more time and Gold needed to find it herself.

I am feeling hopeful now that given a bit more time the bedtime routine will sort itself out.