They will get out eventually!No change in Kerrie's decision to leave the ward. But I open the door each morning and don't close them back in until evening lock up. So the flock has been coming in and stealing their food. I was hoping hunger would drive her out to the feed troughs. Nope. So I sent DH in at around 4:30 today to fill their feeder up. I watched for a while as they pigged out. Then one of the WLHs, Peanut, popped her head in the door and Kerrie launched herself at her to drive her away.
There are three major differences between Barb's brooding and Kerries and any of them or all of them may be accounting for why she won't leave.
Barb ranked around number 2 in a flock of 26 birds when she went broody. Kerrie was in the bottom half of the ranking of a now 21 bird flock.
Barb hatched out during a summer heat wave.
Kerrie hatched out during an unseasonably cold spell in spring.
Barb only had 3 chicks to watch over.
Kerrie has 8.
Barb had her kids out of the ward on day 2.
Kerrie still has them in there on day 12.
Still... frustrating. The kids are starting to chest bump each other. Everyone is feathering out madly. They are a motley crew.