I also thought she might've been listening to Sydney.
I need to get your book. When is it coming out.
Great job! It looks to me like that went well, actually!Final Integration: Self Roosting
Tonight I blocked off their access to the prefab coop. Needless to say they were distraught.
Phyllis was the first one to check out the porch.
View attachment 2045190
But she did not go in. She left the porch.
This is more complicated than my previou
s integrations ast this point. My Big Girls have always roosted first. This left plenty of time for them to settle before the new hens found their way in later. This helped tip limit pecking as they settled in when it was darker.
My problem now is that Aurora, Queen of the Peck, is a late night bird. She goes in very late.
Back to tonight.
The littles were all on the other side of the complex at the big run door crying to be let in. I tried to get them to follow me to the other side but they would not. Then I got lucky.
Aurora showed up. The fled from my little T Rex not wanting to be pecked. Sansa and Phyllis went the way i wanted them to, Sydney ran to the garden. So i headed to the other side to take advantage of Sansa and Phyllis arriving on the correct side.
Sansa was easy. I directed her onto the porch without having to pick her up and in she went. She roosted on same spot from the last couple of nights. Easy Peasy.
Phyllis would look in but would not go in. I kept turning her back on the porch, she kept looking in and then trying to get off the porch.
I turn her, she looks, comes back.
I turn her, she looks, comes back.
I turn her, she looks, comes back.
again and again.
Finally I am not sure how, she is roosted on my arm. I pull my arm out and there she is looking at me.
While i am trying to figoure out what to do, of all things, Aurora scoots by and into the coop.
Phyllis eventually flies off of my arm and onto the top of the porch. At this point I'm like OK, I will deal with you later and I head back to the other side to get Sydney.
Sydney is standing in front of the door to the big run crying. She let's me pick her up. I walk her to the porch and in she goes. Simple.
I had the coop cam running on my phone and she went in, up onto Hattie's step, onto the main roost bar and right up to the high roost i have been putting her and Phyllis on all without Aurora ever noticing as she was at the feeder topping off.
Phyllis sees her friend go in and goes into the coop on her own after her. I immediately close the automated door. Now that they are in, they are not getting out.
As i watch on the camera Phyllis can't decide what to do. Aurora roosts so she is no direct threat but Phyllis starts wandering around the coop and the Bigs peck at her head as she walks by. Finally she gets up on Hattie's step. All she has to do is step onto the main roost next to Sansa and either fly up to Sydney or sit down and roost there. But no she gets down and goes over to roost right next to Aurora!
This is too much fun for Aurora. She is full on pecking at her trying to knock her off the roost. Finally Phyllis gets the hint and moves to the main roost and runs down to Sansa and roosts there.
The drama is over and everyone is ready to sleep. Here are the final roosting positions.
View attachment 2045251
Everytime I do this it tugs at my heart strings. We will all get through it but its hard. Just a couple of more nights to go.
I'm always happy if I can just get them into the right coop! I guess I'm pretty basic.
They'll be ok. Makes sense that the relationships are in flux at the moment.Sydney and Phyllis have slept roosted together every night until tonight.
