Carol's Chickens

Amber has laid two tiny eggs and two soft shelled eggs and when she laid the soft shelled eggs she looked really unwell. My friend, Jackie has kindly offered me some of her limestone flour to improve the egg shells but as we are not meeting up until Thursday I felt I needed to do something before that to help Amber with her egg laying.

While cooking our weekend roast, I put a tray of the girls crushed egg shells in the bottom of the oven to dry out. Once completely dried I ground them up with my pestle and mortar until they were really fine. I have been putting the crushed egg shell in a couple of dishes of mash each morning.

The last couple of mornings when I did this, Bluebell was in the nest box laying her egg. This was quite useful as it enabled the little girl’s to get their share without being chased away.

This afternoon we found a banty egg in the run and it has a normal shell. We are sure it is Amber’s as it is smaller than Honey’s eggs and Honey lays hers in the nest box. It probably took Amber by surprise.

I haven’t got an egg from Honey to compare it with but when she next lays one I will photograph them together.

Peppers egg on the left and Ambers egg on the right

The girls seem to have settled together a bit better at the moment. While Dotty and Pepper were laying their egg Bluebell was having a dust bath and Amber joined her and had a dust bath next to her.

Later in the afternoon, all the big girls were sat having a snooze and Honey went and sat with them. I hope that we are over the worse now and things continue like this.

We put two high perches in the run to give the bantys somewhere to escape from the big girls. They haven’t discovered either perch yet!

Bluebell has found the one over the store cabinet and taken to settling there at bedtime. I think because Pepper tries to keep her off the coop roof she has chosen this perch as it’s near to them.

The little girls try to get on the coop roof too but Pepper chases them off. They usually give up and go in the coop. They settle in the nest box together which is good for me as I don’t have to put them in.

Bluebell has taken to roosting here before bedtime

About to jump down

Her weight keeps breaking the top of the store cabinet

Pepper and Dotty roost here

Bluebell is big and heavy and every time she jumps off the high perch she collapses the top of the store cabinet. The top is a sheet of plastic which fits into a slot in the wood. After she has pushed it in I am able to pop it back up into the slot. This is temporary though. I am going to get a wooden board to fit the top so that it will take her weight. Another small job on our never ending list of improvements to the run.

Everything has been going really well with the girls for the past few days, then early evening yesterday, Amber looked unwell again. She was standing with her eyes closing. I tempted her to half heartedly eat a few sunflower hearts. She stood by the water drinking a lot. I felt sure that she had an egg laying problem and would probably lay another soft shelled egg, it was four days since she laid her firts soft shelled egg.

Before dusk as the girls were going through their bedtime routine of sitting on the coop roof, I picked up first the little girls, then the big girls, and put them all in the coop. I felt an early night wouldn’t do any harm. I peeked in the coop and as usual the bantys were in the nest box and the big girls on their usual perch.

This morning when I went out to them, Amber was back to her normal self again and sure enough there was another soft shelled egg in the nest box. I know it’s Amber’s as Honey had laid her normal egg yesterday afternoon.

The shell was slightly firmer than her last one as I was able to pick it up this time.

Amber’s second soft shelled egg

Pepper’s egg on the left, Amber’s egg in the middle and Honey’s egg on the right

I have never seen the bantys take the grit and oyster shell that is in a hopper in the run but they do pick up grit from the ground and both Honey and Amber have the same diet. Honey’s eggs have been normal from the start where as Amber has now laid two tiny eggs and two soft shelled eggs.

I made them some mash with some grit sprinkled in to it but most of the grit was left in the bottom of the dish. I will get some limestone flour as soon as possible.

We were doing a function in the afternoon and were out between eleven o’clock and three o’clock. I went straight up to check on the girls and give them the last of the maggots. To my horror the patio area had splashes of blood on it.

I checked each of the girls and poor little Amber has had her comb pecked again. There was a little blood inside the door of the coop and most of it on the area outside the coop. I would imagine that Bluebell has attacked her as she has come out of the coop. Both little girls have now each had their combs pecked two times and there was much more blood this time. Amber seems fine now but I feel so awful for her. I just don’t know what to do about this.

At last I feel my little flock are properly integrating. They seem much happier and more settled. There are still times when Bluebell goes after the little girls but it’s not nearly so bad now and I am feeling more relaxed and happy about them.

It’s lovely to have all five girls run to greet me now. Today I forked over some of their run to see if we could find some worms. All five girls were under my feet as soon as they saw the fork. The bantys have soon got the hang of seeing the fork, the white treat dishes, or the store cabinet door opening, or simply seeing me coming up the garden path.

The trays of grass that I was giving the girls last summer have not over wintered very well. The remaining grass is sparse and I may have to redo them or give up on them. I decided to put three trays in for the girls today as they may as well have what grass there is.

The grass soon disappeared

This afternoon while the big girls snoozed the little girls had a dust bath. Pepper soon decided to check out what they were up to.

Dust bath

Preening and dust bathing

I am finding that as the little girls are maturing I am able to tell them apart more easily. Honey has always been bigger than Amber and now has a more arched shape to her back, just before her tail. She has the peacock like spots on her back and a longer tail. Honey’s comb is also more ragged in shape, possibly due to having been pecked.

Honey

Amber’s comb is much smoother in shape and she has more small black dots on her back. Her tail is a different shape too but I’m not sure if she is not yet fully grown. I can easily tell them apart now, where as at first I could only tell them apart by size and Honey’s spots on her back.

Amber

Honey is on the left and Amber on the right

Pepper wants to pose with Amber

These two are very together, Amber is in front

Honey is in the foreground

Amber’s tail parts in the middle but it may just be that she isn’t mature yet and her comb is less ragged. I am loving getting to know these little girls and so happy now that they are one flock. I hope things run smoothly for a while now, it’s been lovely having a few good days. Long may it continue!

This morning the little girls looked fine again. Perhaps Amber was subdued yesterday from laying a soft shelled egg and being bullied constantly by Bluebell. Today Bluebell has been much better, an occasional go at them but not constantly like the last few days and the little girls look brighter. It was a lovely day too which I am sure the girls enjoy as much as I do.

They are eating, drinking and pooping and Honey laid an egg today in the nest box. They run to me when I go up the garden and run to the patio when I open the store cabinet door, just in case there are some treats on offer. They also joined in with the morning cabbage with plenty of enthusiasm.

In the afternoon I gave the girls some maggots. This was the first time the bantys have had maggots and they loved them.

The little girls first maggots

Fun for all the girls

It’s been so nice having a happy flock today and I hope it continues like this!

Last night before bedtime Amber seemed very subdued and I felt a bit worried about her. I checked on her several times and about half an hour before dusk she went into the coop. I decided to shut the door and give her some peace. Honey settled on the coop roof shortly after so I decided to lift her down and put her in the coop too for some company.

Once the big girls settled on the coop roof, I  lifted them down and put them in too. I thought it wouldn’t hurt for them all to go to bed a little earlier than usual. I again peeped in and the little girls were in the nest box instead of on the perch with the big girls. I can’t blame them and am happy for them to sleep there if they want to.

I went out at six o’clock this morning and while doing my morning chores, I discovered a soft shelled egg in the coop just beneath the nest box. It broke as soon as I picked it up and was mostly yolk. By piecing the halves together, I found it was banty sized so must be Amber’s. Honey had laid yesterday and all the girls went on to lay today, except Honey, who only lays every other day at the moment. Amber has laid two very tiny eggs and now this one. Maybe that is why she is subdued.

As the morning went on Bluebell was bullying the little girls to the point where they were just hiding behind the bush. After Bluebell had laid her egg I decided to separate her, in what used to be the bantys area to give the little girls a break from her. She seemed quite happy to be there and made no fuss about it and I left her with food and water of course, plus some greens. I left her there for three hours and when the other two big girls were dust bathing in the afternoon, I relented and let her back out.

Both the little girls seem a bit subdued and are spending a lot of time behind the bush. I am not sure if they are just fed up with being harassed or if something is wrong. I am feeling a bit worried about them but don’t know what else to do at the moment.

like last night, when I went up to check on them just before dusk, the two little girls went into the coop so I shut them in. I returned at dusk and added the big girls, peeped in and like last night the little girls were in the nest box and the big girls on the perch. At least they are all safely in and I suppose it is a case of seeing what tomorrow brings!

Yesterday the girls seemed to making so much progress together, then we had a set back. They had been fine all day, then I went to check on them early evening and they all came running to greet me except for Honey. Honey was perched on the coop roof looking very sorry for herself. I was dismayed to see that her comb was bleeding. A few days ago it was Amber and now Honey.

I sat on the step of the patio and she came and stood by me. She was making little unhappy sounds and looking a bit wobbly. It is heartbreaking to see this. She wouldn’t let me pick her up and I didn’t want to stress her so I sat with her with the water spray, keeping the big girls away. She stayed close to me and seems to know that I will protect her. I talked softly to her and gave her some sunflower hearts, which she ate, while I kept the other girls away.

Although I have no proof, I imagine that Bluebell attacked her as it’s Bluebell that is aggressive towards to the little girls. If this continues I will separate Bluebell.

I left for a while but returned before dusk to see how she was. Both little girls were perched on the coop roof and the big girls were scratching in the garden area.

I decided for their own safety to pick the little girls up, put them in the coop and shut the door. I didn’t want to risk the big girls getting on to the coop roof at bedtime and pecking at them again and adding to their stress.

I went out just after dark and lifted the big girls off the roof and added them to the coop.

I feel so upset that I have bought these little girls into an environment where this is happening to them. I so want to protect them and at the moment am beginning to feel that if someone wanted to take Bluebell, I would happily let her go. I used to feel so sorry for her being bottom girl but now she is the aggressive one.

This morning I went out at six o’clock and you would never know this had happened. The girls were all fine together. It may be naive of me but I am hoping that now both little girls have had their comb pecked, maybe it’s done with. It’s probably wishful thinking on my part.

Bluebell went into the nest box to lay her egg first this morning as she often does. Amber kept trying to get in with her and Bluebell would growl at her and Amber would run out. Bluebell had been in the nest box longer that usual so I decided to feel underneath her to see if she had laid her egg. She seems to have slightly broody moments lately. Sure enough she had already laid her egg so I removed it from under her then picked her up and placed in her in the run. For a while she shouted in protest.

Honey then went into the nest box. When I checked later, Honey had laid her seventh egg, the second one to be laid in the next box. I think she didn’t accept the little coop as a suitable nest box.

In the afternoon all the girls spent a lot of time sitting together. You wouldn’t imagine there was ever a problem. I tried to photograph them all sat together but as soon as I go in with the camera they either come towards to me or stand up and saunter off. I had a few attempts and didn’t get the shot I would have liked but had to make do with these.

Dotty likes to snooze with her head under her wing

We were all sat together until the camera came towards us

Taking a shot through the wire is the only way I can get them together before they move

I almost snapped them sitting together

I had been about to separate Bluebell today but there hasn’t been a problem. I really hope it continues to get better as I am finding this so frustrating! Why they can’t just chill and be nice to each other!

Last night I went out to the girls after dusk and as usual the coop door was shut and the big girls were on the coop roof. No sign of the little girls though. Just as I was wondering if they had gone into the big coop or the little coop I heard a sound above me. There were the two little girls, sat on my little chair, which hangs just under the roof. They looked so sweet! I can imagine that Pepper probably wouldn’t let them stay on the coop roof so they found an alternative.

I picked up one of the little girls and put her in the coop, the other one flew off. I lifted down each of the big girls and put them in the coop. The remaining little girl was stood by the ramp of the little coop but hadn’t gone in. I laid my torch on the ground so that it showed the big coop entrance and waited to see what she would do. As good as gold the little girl sauntered over to the coop and went in. I shut the door, job done!

I feel really pleased at this progress and hopeful that eventually the little girls may even start going in the coop instead of on top. Even if they don’t, I now think this will probably work each evening instead of  having to pick them up.

This means the little coop is no longer needed, so I decided it’s time to take it out. This will give the girls a bit more space too. The little coop will be put away in case we ever need it in the future. This means, after five weeks, integration is now complete! Hurrah!

Amber laid her first tiny egg in the run, the day before yesterday. Both yesterday and today, Honey and Amber had been visiting the big coops nest box and practising egg laying.

At one point today Dotty and Amber were in the nest box together. I took a peek and was dismayed to see fresh blood on Amber’s comb. Bluebell has been chasing and pecking at her a lot today and I imagine it is Bluebell that has made her comb bleed for the second time. If this continues I may have to separate Bluebell.

I went back a little later and Honey and Amber were now in the nest box together. I lifted  the lid to show my husband Amber’s comb and this disturbed them causing them both to run out into the run. As I watched them I saw another tiny egg drop from Amber. If only I hadn’t disturbed them, I think Amber would have laid it it the nest box. It was still tiny but fractionally bigger than her first one.

When I next checked on them Dotty and Honey were back in the nest box. I checked again a short while later and there in the nest box side by side were Dotty’s and Honey’s egg. This is Honey’s sixth egg after a three day gap.

Dotty’s egg on the left, Honey’s egg second left. Ambers first egg on the right and second egg second right

Honey’s egg on the left and Amber’s egg on the right

Size comparison

I broke both of Amber’s eggs into little dishes. They appeared to have no yolk but although all white in colour the centre blob was round and felt like firm jelly to the touch. It looks like it is a yolk but is the same colour as the white.

Amber’s first egg on the left and second egg on the right

Amber is smaller than Honey and whereas Honey has been squatting for weeks, Amber only started to squat a few days ago. I think this probably means Amber is younger than Honey and has started to lay her eggs a bit earlier. This may be why they are not fully formed.

I am pleased that they both want to lay in the nest box though. I have now taken the plastic egg out of the little coop and now that they are using the nest box it will be easier to remove the little coop. I may do this soon but I think I will leave it for a few more days.

It will be interesting to see what Amber’s next egg is like.

Yesterday was the bantys third full day with the big girls. We ate out in the evening and got back home soon after dusk. I went up to the girls and once again all five were roosting on the big coop roof and the automatic door had shut.

This time instead of the bantys being either side of the big girls, one was on the side nearest me and one in the middle. I thought that I would try to lift them down again, but this time decided to lift the bantys down first, instead of lifting them down in the order nearest to me. This worked much better as I was able to easily pick up the first, then the second banty and pop them in the big coop. Once in the coop they made no attempt to leave.

I then lifted down the big girls and put them in too and closed the door. Again with my torch pointing towards the ground, I had a peep in and all five girls were settled on one perch. This was so much easier than the evening before and I felt really pleased by how it went. From now on I will always lift the bantys down first whichever position they are in.

I went out at six o’clock this morning and they were all fine together. This means the little girls get an extra hour out of the coop in the morning and it also means it doesn’t matter how early I go out. Once I am happy that they are in a routine of all sleeping in the big coop I will remove the little coop.

I feel sure that at the end of summer, like last year the big girls will go back in the coop, instead of on top. When they do this, I am also sure that the little girls will follow. I think the little girls are only going on the roof because they want to be where the big girls are.

We made another improvement to the girls run yesterday, it doesn’t look very attractive but we are hoping it will keep the run dryer. We used the felt left over from roofing the garden shed to clad the batons holding the sliding panels in place (this is where during heavy rain it drips through). We left the felt quite loose so that it forms a sort of drain pipe for the water to run down. My husband then fitted some gutter at the end (also left over from a previous job) for it to run into with a turn at the end, facing out to the veg plot.

Water proof cladding

The black strip at the bottom end is the drain pipe.

The view the chickens have over our garden

Another thing that happened yesterday was that Bluebell and Dotty went into the nest box together (as they often do) when Amber decided to join them. When I realised that she was missing from the run I lifted the lid of the nest box and she looked so sweet, looking up at me, squeezed between Bluebell and Dotty.

I ran to get my camera but by the time I got back Dotty had laid her egg and left the nest box. I did manage to get just one photo of Bluebell and Amber.

Bluebell and Amber in the nest box together

The funny thing is that Bluebell tolerates Amber in the nest box with her yet once back outside she tried to stop them going in the coop. Once Honey and Amber went in the coop and Bluebell went in and chased them out.

Bluebell also tried to stop Honey going in the little coop at one point too. I am still having to tell Bluebell off and spray her when she grabs the bantys, but mostly it is getting better.

Honey was laying an egg every other day (five in total) but hasn’t laid for three days now. I wonder if it is due to the stress of being with the big girls, or more to the point, being with Bluebell!

Later in the afternoon the big girls had their snooze. Dotty has taken to snoozing with her  head under her wing. I wonder if this is to do with her having a bare neck!

Dotty the headless chicken

The bantys have also discovered that they can stand on the little coops roof and reach the leaves of the dogwood shrub.

Honey finds a way to reach some leaves

It didn’t take Bluebell long to copy this.

Bluebell can also reach some leaves

This may be another reason to remove this coop before they strip the shrub.

I am so pleased with the progress now. After a month of very little progress it seems to have happened all of a sudden and apart from the odd spat they are at last becoming one flock.