Carol's Chickens

At the moment it seems that every day I wonder who is going to be the next girl to lay.

Spot looked so ready to lay with her daily practising and then she seemed to give up and has stopped visiting the nest box for now without laying an egg. In the meantime Sugar started laying.

Then Gold looked like she was going to be the next girl to lay. She has been squatting every time I get near her and she has also had a few visits to the nest box today.

Then it looked like it was going to be Snowflake next to lay. She has been very vocal for the last few days. Today she had a scratch around in all three nest boxes. She eventually settled in the nest box by the gate and was in there for about an hour. I was sure she was going to lay but she too left the nest box without laying.

While Snowflake was in the nest box Storm hung around outside the whole time. She was looking in or pecking at the shavings that Snowflake had scratched out.

Next it was Salmon in the nest box and she came out shouting. Salmon has laid her first egg of the year and it has a good shell. That is such a relief. It did have her trade mark poop next to it and it’s bigger in size than Sugar’s eggs.

Next Spangle went in the nest box to take a look at Salmon’s egg.

In other news on their fifth night together both Gold and Snowflake found their own way in at bedtime and perched on the back perch with the rest of the flock. They have continued to go in each night since.

Storm is still perching on the edge of the nest box next to the chicken shed and I am putting her in but I am sure she will get the hang the of it soon.

Gold now jumps on my back when I poop pick the run like Speckles used to. She rides on my back and steps of on to a perch. Storm also jumped on my back yesterday.

If I hold my arm out to Gold she will jump on.

I am amazed at how tame Gold and Storm are. I also think Snowflake is getting more used to me now that I don’t have to pick her up at bedtime. I am sure that like Spot she will come round eventually.

I wonder which girl will be next to lay. Never a dull moment in the chicken run!

Edit

When I checked on the girls at dusk tonight Storm had gone in the chicken shed herself and perched on the back perch with the rest of the girls. Hurrah! I think we have cracked it.

The day before yesterday I found what I thought was Sugar’s first egg of the year but I hadn’t actually caught her in the nest box so I decided to wait a few days to be sure.

The reason I thought it was Sugar’s was that she had briefly been in the nest box the day before, she had also been in the grit and it was the same time of year she started laying last year whereas Salmon and Spangle started later.

On the same day Flame also laid. Flame is laying every other day and Sugar usually lays every other day too so I decided to wait until today to be sure.

Sure enough Sugar settled in the same nest box today and Flame as usual settled in the corner of the chicken shed.

When I checked a little later both Sugar and Flame had laid their eggs.

On the left is Sugar’s egg laid today and next Sugar’s egg laid the day before yesterday. Next is flame’s egg laid today followed by Flame’s egg from the day before yesterday. On the right is a medium shop bought egg. Well done Sugar.

Meanwhile Gold will squat if I hover my hand over her so I think she is getting ready to lay soon too. I tried to take a photo but it’s quite difficult to hover over her with one hand and click the camera at the same time with the other hand. Not perfect photos but they show the gist of it.

I am thinking that Gold is older than I thought she was as they usually start laying at around six months.

At this rate quite a few of the girls will beat Spot to laying. After a few false alarms Spot seems to have given up for the moment. Not to worry though as they will all start laying eventually.

I always worm the flock in March and September. I have been waiting for the flock to be properly mixed so that I could them altogether.

Also the e-mail with information about the delivery of the new girls advised worming them soon. It said that they had been given flubenvet but with so many chicks together it would be difficult to know that they all got a share so they advised doing it again.

I also realised that as Spot had joined our flock at the end of last year she had missed being wormed.

As usual I mixed the flubenvet into dishes of mash and will continue for seven days.

Snowflake was the only girl who wouldn’t come to the patio so she had her own dish. As long as they all have a little it will be enough to do the job. As the dishes emptied I took them away leaving the last dish which Storm and Gold finished.

Spot had her usual sit in the nest box and I wondered if today was going to be the day but she left once more with no egg. I can’t remember a girl having so much practice.

In other news the bedtime routine is still a work in progress. I realised that I am a distraction at bedtime as when I am with the girls the main flock stay out later and Gold just wants to jump on me all the time like Sugar used to do at bedtime. Gold would rather perch on me than anywhere else.

Last night I decided to try leaving them to it and to go out after the pop hole had closed.

I found Gold on the shed roof and Storm perched on the edge of the nest box nearest the shed. Snowflake was inside the nest box nearest the shed. I lifted them all to the perch in the shed.

The good news is that they obviously want to be near the main flock. They just can’t seem to work out how to go through the pop hole. Tonight I will try going out just before the pop hole closes and see if I can guide them through it.

They always get the idea in the end but it’s taking longer than I thought it would. I feel sure that once they find their own way through the pop hole we will have cracked it but it’s just getting them to take that step.

I will keep trying different approaches each night until we get there.

Yesterday morning I put the run back to usual. I opened up the wire by the patio area and at the bottom end of the run. I put the little coup back on the patio as a third nest box and we took down the high perch.

I am leaving the extra feeding station by the shelter and the extra dish on the patio until the new girls are confident at using the usual feeding station on the patio without being chased away.

I decided to stay in the run before bedtime to see how it progressed. With hind sight I should have left the high perch up for one more night. As dusk approached the new girls were looking for their high perch.

The new girls have been settling before the main flock so they wanted to perch while the main flock were still pottering around. I could see that they wanted to fly up on to the dividing wire because their perch was no longer there.

I tried standing in front of it to block them. I hoped that if I could stop them perching then once the main flock were in I could guide them in too.

Instead Gold jumped to my shoulder. I took her to the chicken shed and put her on the perch. She came straight back out and jumped on me again. I had difficulty removing her from my back. Eventually she ended up on my head and I lifted her down.

I took up my position again and Storm jumped on to my arm. I also put her on a perch in the chicken shed but she too came straight back out.

I took some photos but I was guessing where to point the camera and they are rubbish but I thought that I would put them here anyway to give the gist of what was happening.

After this I decided that I would leave them to perch on the wire for now and when the rest of the girls were in and the pop hole had closed I would lift them down and put them in the chicken shed.

You can see Storm below them getting ready to join them.

I went indoors to put dinner in the oven and then returned. The pop hole was closed and I was surprised to find that Gold was now on the chicken shed roof.

I lifted her down and settled her on the side perch in the chicken shed. The main flock were all on the back perch. I then lifted Snowflake down and put her beside Gold. Then I lifted Storm down and added her to the side perch.

I waited a minute and then checked back in the chicken shed and all the girls were settled with the three new girls perched where I had put them. It will be so much better for them to be perched over night rather than in the little coup.

I was hoping that once the new girls come out of the chicken shed in the morning they would then know where to go at night. I am expecting it to take a few nights though.

I went out at seven o’clock this morning and whereas the pop hole is usually open at this time it was still closed as it was a really dull morning. I decided to take my camera and watch the girls come out.

Spot was the first to squeeze out as soon as the door started to lift. Flame was next and then Sugar followed by Spangle and then Salmon. Then there was a pause. I waited as I wanted the new girls to find their own way out as they would then be more likely to also be able to find their own way in.

After a minute Gold emerged followed by Storm and last as usual was Snowflake.

Snowflake was a blur so I skipped that photo. The girls went to the various food dishes and were all getting along fine so I was happy with that.

In the afternoon Spot was once more in the nest box and I again thought that she was finally going to get her first egg laid.

Later Spot was back out in the run and again there was no egg. This girl needs a lot of practice.

Tonight I stayed out with the girls at bedtime again. It actually went better than I thought it would. I could see that Gold really wanted to be with the main flock and she kept looking through the pop hole.

I put Gold in the chicken shed a couple of times but she was straight back out again. She then started looking as if she wanted to jump on me so I held out my arm for her. Gold would then jump on my arm and I would open the door of the chicken shed and persuade her from my arm to the perch.

Each time Gold would stay in a bit longer but eventually come out again. In the meantime Storm came to the chicken shed. I put Storm on the perch in the chicken shed and she too came out again.

However Storm was standing on the nest box so I picked her up and put her back on the perch in the chicken shed and she stayed there. I put Gold in once more and she too stayed there.

At this point Snowflake also came to the chicken shed. I tried to guide her through the pop hole but instead she went into the nest box next to the shed.

I decided to leave her there until the rest of the girls were in. Once the rest of the girls were in the pop hole closed. At this point I lifted Snowflake from the nest box and perched her next to Gold. Once again I checked a minute later and the girls were still perched with the main flock on the back perch and the new girls on the side perch.

I feel this is a real step forward and I am sure they will get the hang of it over the next couple of nights. It’s gone far better than I thought it would.

Yesterday when I went to check on the girls before bedtime I was surprised to find Snowflake on the main flocks side. Gold and Storm were on the high perch. I opened the dividing gate and Snowflake went back into her part of the run.

I waited to see if Snowflake would successfully perch this time. Snowflake easily made her way up to the high perch. She then jumped up to the top of the wire divider just under the roof. This was obviously how she had come to drop over to the other side.

I put my hand up to Snowflake until she dropped back down to the perch with the other two girls. I stayed a while until she settled down on the perch.

I had intended to mix the girls completely next weekend but because of this I decided to speed things up. Today I closed up the new girls coup to stop shavings being flung out and opened up both gates so that all the girls could mix.

The three seramas set about pecking at the open gate which is something they have always done. They obviously missed pecking at the gate.

The main flock immediately got stuck in to the new girls food. I realised that Gold wanted to go to the food dish but Spot was keeping her away. I filled another big dish with pellets and put it by the open gate and Gold soon found it.

Once Spot saw this she chased Gold away from the food once more. I haven’t done this process for a few years and I found that I was remembering how it goes as I was going along.

I remembered that I had always closed the main flock in to the new girls space to give the new girls the chance to find the patio area and feeding station. Once they are confident with the food dishes on the patio it will mean that Spot can’t keep them away from both feeding stations at once.

Gold was the first to find the patio area and the food dishes. I then directed Snowflake towards the patio and she too found the food dishes. Storm didn’t want to be directed towards the patio and in the end I picked her up and put her next to the food dishes. She soon started feeding.

The new girls had some food and then set about exploring the patio area. They looked in the nest boxes and had a good look in the chicken shed. They went all around the patio and both Gold and Storm had a peck in the grit and oyster shell dispenser.

The new girls were having a good time but Spot was getting very agitated and wanted to get out. I realised that she may need to lay an egg so I put both lots back on thier own side.

Spot went straight to a nest box and sat there while putting pine shavings on her back. I really thought she was going to get her first egg laid.

However the next time I checked on the girls Spot was back out in the run and there was no egg. Spot obviously needs a lot of practise and the urge to practise was very strong. I am certain that Spot will lay any day now.

The next time I checked on the girls it was obvious that Gold wanted to join the main flock again. She was pacing the dividing wire. I decided that as they now know where the patio feeding station is I may as well put them all together.

I opened both gates again and they mixed happily. I decided to leave them together and see what happens at bedtime. I will report back tomorrow with how bedtime goes.

This afternoon I mixed the girls for the first time. I decided to leave the new girls part of the run closed and just open their gate to let them into the main flocks part of the run before closing it again.

I didn’t want the main flock to go in the separated part of the run and trash it. I know from the past that they would be straight in there and soon have dirt flicked in the food and water.

Gold was the first through the gate and as soon as Spot saw her she was straight over to her. They raised their ruffs at each other. Spot chased Gold on to the wooden block and aimed a swift peck to her head.

Then it was all over as quickly as it had began. Spot won the spat and after that she totally ignored Gold and the other two new girls.

The seramas took no notice of Snowflake at all. I wonder if it’s because she looks similar to them or if it is because they sense she is no threat.

Flame had been laying her egg and when she joined the flock she kept well out of the way of the new girls. Flame made a mournful sound as if she wasn’t happy having them close and she kept her distance.

There was one moment when Spangle rose up in front of Storm and made herself as tall as possible but no attempt at pecking. Sugar also briefly chased the new girls away. Salmon who is top serama took no notice of the new girls what so ever.

I’m not ready to leave them alone together just yet so I opened the gate and let the new girls back into their space.

I think it went really well and I don’t think there will be any problems. Spot had to show Gold she was above her but it was all very fast and soon resolved. Afterwards Spot refused to look at the new girls while pottering around them.

I will give them some time together every day until it’s time to mix them.

Today I closed off the bottom half of the run from the main flock. I then opened up the hatch so that the new girls could have half the run giving them more space to explore.

They immediately went out into the new space and explored all the way round the run.

The new girls went back to their familiar part of the run but when I checked again they were back down the bottom of the new part. They follow the rest of the flock and when the main flock is down the bottom end of the run these three were too.

Although Gold and Spot like to keep checking each other through the wire they haven’t been pecking through the wire. I think they are ready to start mixing tomorrow.

It’s been a while since I have had young girls at this end of the year so I thought I would check on the internet at what age they can start on layers pellets.

I had it in my head that it was at six months because that is the age that they can start laying. However it said that they should start on layers at five months to get them ready for laying.

This is great news because it means I can mix the girls towards the end of March instead of the end of April. I was glad I checked and it won’t be long now before the the girls can be mixed together.

The bedtime routine is now sorted and easy. Gold has become totally used to me and follows my hands when I am clearing up and my boots as I move around. She almost follows me out of the dividing gate if I’m not careful. She also gets right up to the camera when I am taking photos.

Storm doesn’t mind my hands at all and allows me to get close and to touch her but doesn’t follow my every move like Gold does.

Snowflake remains cautious and doesn’t like me to get close to her at all.

Gold and Storm will now peck at spinach from my fingers and they like to peck at my boots.

I have given the new girls a little chopped tomato in one of the white dishes I use for treats and they love it. The first time they were flicking it out of the dish but they are now used to pecking it from the dish.

It’s all going really well. Over the next few days I will open up the bottom part of the run for them and get them used to a bigger space. After that I will start putting all the girls together for a short time each day to get them used to each other.

At the end of April I will be able to mix the girls as the new girls will be old enough for layer pellets then. It will be good to have one flock again.

The step worked perfectly for the new girls at bedtime tonight. They easily found their way to the high perch with none of them ending up over the top of the wire. They looked so cute together that I just had to take a photo.

I waited until near dark to lift them down and put them in the coup. I am happy that we now have an easy bedtime routine.

Yesterday evening I kept popping out to see how the new girls were getting on. Earlier I had lifted Gold to the new perch and let her find her own way down in the hope that she would now know it was there.

That made no difference and like the previous night Gold was looking agitated and once again pacing the perimeter and looking upwards. I decided that they would just have to find it themselves.

The next time I checked on them both Gold and Snowflake were on the high perch and Storm was on the top of the wooden shelter looking ready to jump up. I was really pleased by this and retreated to leave them to it.

The next time I checked Storm was perched next to Gold and Snowflake was on the top of the shelter looking ready to jump up. I watched her jump up and nearly knock Storm down before she herself dropped back down. I imagined that Storm must have knocked Snowflake down earlier.

The next time I checked Gold and Storm were perched side by side but no sign of Snowflake. She wasn’t on the high perch or in their part of the run or in the little coup. I then realised that this time it was Snowflake on the main flocks’ side of the run. she must have gone over the top. She was on the chickens’ patio with the three seramas. Flame and Spot were already in the chicken shed.

Snowflake looked in one of the nest boxes and seemed to recognise it as the same as the new girls’ coup. Salmon then ran her off the patio but not in an aggressive way, just in the way that shows they are above a flock mate.

I opened the gate to the new girls’ part of the run and Snowflake ran through the gate and straight into their little coup. I think that if the other two girls weren’t so intent on perching high up Snowflake probably would go in the coup. I thought that as Snowflake was now in I may as well lift Gold and Storm down and put them in too.

I decided that another tweak was needed. I have now put a step on top of the shelter to make it easier for the new girls to get to the high perch. It’s an upturned plastic crate with a board on top. Luckily we have plenty of off cuts in the shed.

I really think this will solve the problem and that all three of them will get to the high perch tonight.

Tonight I did the same as the night before and kept checking on the new girls before bedtime. It’s as well that I did because I soon realised a further slight tweak was needed.

Gold was already on the high perch. Snowflake was trying to jump up to the perch. I had positioned the step on that end of the shelter because that was the spot that Snowflake was trying to jump from last night.

Instead of stepping on the step she was trying to jump from just in front of the step which was even more tricky as it needed a steeper jump. Of course the step is new so is not to be trusted! Suprisingly she did actually make it but it didn’t look easy and involved a lot of flapping.

Storm was unable to jump up so I went in to move the position of the step. Storm dropped back into the run and I moved the step to the other side of the shelter. This way the girls would have to step onto it when jumping from the top of the coup.

Storm jumped on to the step and easily jumped up to the perch. Phew!

It has taken a bit of tweaking to get this right but I think we are actually there now. I think these three will easily get to this perch every night now and I can go in after dusk when they are calm and lift them down and put them in their coup with minimal fuss.