If you didn’t see it with your own eyes you wouldn’t believe it! I thought we needed to come up with a more permanent and weather proof nest box for the bantys than a cardboard box. I bought a plastic pet carrier, it didn’t cost much plus I had a money off voucher and it would be handy if we ever needed a vet visit so win win!<\/p>\n
When Amber decided she needed a nest box this afternoon she got very agitated like she did a few days ago. She marched up and down the fence making a vocal protest and looking for a way out. She ignored the pet carrier. I thought the air holes were perhaps letting in too much light so I covered it with a cloth. She didn’t like the cloth and looked even more stressed.<\/p>\n
I looked for an alternative and put in a small wooden log box with pine shavings in it. I sprinkled corn around it and a little in it to draw her to it. She ate the corn and put her head in the box to take the corn from inside then continued with her stressed march around and kept looking up to see if she could get out anywhere.<\/p>\n
I gave in and retrieved the cardboard box from the dustbin. I taped it back together and returned to to the same spot as before. Amber went straight in and settled herself happily. I wouldn’t mind so much but like before she came out half an hour later without laying an egg and happily carried on with her day.<\/p>\n
All that stress to get into the correct box which she must have imprinted on already and yet she didn’t even need to lay yet. She would have been willing to risk the big girls to get out to where she knows the bedtime nest box is or she would except her cardboard box and yet no other box was going to do.<\/p>\n
My husband says he will replicate the cardboard box in wood but I wonder if that will please her. They are such funny little things. She has only been here a few days and yet already has such strong attachments!<\/p>\n
Just before dusk we went in and opened the gate to the bantys area. Again they tried to get on the coop roof with the big girls but were getting a few pecks. I lifted the big girls down and put them in leaving the separated off nest box open. One of the bantys went straight in. The other went in and I went to close it but she flew out again. I closed itanyway as I was afraid the other one would come out and we would two to catch.<\/p>\n
I decided to retreat for a bit and see if she would settle somewhere. When I went back she was on the coop roof. I tried to pick her up but she flew off. I opened the nest box to see if she would join her mate but she again went to the coop roof and the other one was getting agitated. I shut the nest box again as I couldn’t risk having two to catch. I had to catch her and put her in.<\/p>\n
This isn’t ideal as it is stressful each evening for both them and me. Tomorrow we will try a different approach. We will put the big girls in then leave the nest box open and retreat until after dark to see if they will go in on their own. I am not sure if it will work but this bedtime routine is not good either. If we could establish a habit of them putting themselves to bed it would make things easier on them and us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you didn’t see it with your own eyes you wouldn’t believe it! I thought we needed to come up with a more permanent and weather proof nest box for the bantys than a cardboard box. I bought a plastic … Continue reading