Mine is a large open cage with the coop up top. When it got near evening my youngest & littlest one, a partridge Silke named "Little-Bit" curiously walked up the plank to check out the coop. She wasn't sfraid of the darkness inside. She was in there long enough to check it out well, then came to the doorway & chirped as if to say, "hey girls come check this out!" they all ignored her, & she tried again. They all ignored her again so she came back down to be in with them. Soon it was nightfall & she chirped at the rest, as if to say, "its bedtime, lets go get warm & cozy theres a great place all ready for us upstairs". Unheeded by the rest, & unaffected by their unwillingness to follow, as if she was too little to know what she was chirping about, she confidently headed up the plank alone to do her own thing in her own space, stopping once 1/2 way up the plank as if to say, " Come on girls it's ok, really". With No response from the rest, she turned around & put herself to bed all comfy & cozy alone. Later the temp dropped & all the other gals were huddled below. I, being the " new mother" worried for them in the chill, plus I knew that for their own good I needed to teach them to sleep in the coop. So I gently coaxed them up there, talking trustingly to them, only to have a few come right back down; then down comes Little-Bit to help me & tell them too. A couple followed her, & the rest I gently place inside the door assuring them all the while. Within a few short minutes they had all settled in, had a few moments of their nighttime "whisper-giggles" & soon were all asleep & quiet. That was a week ago, & Little-Bit still leads by example, & they all go happily to bed when she lets them know its time & she's ready.
I wonder what's so different about Little-Bit. ... I chose her from her flock because she held her head high, looked around & didn't run as if the sky was falling when I found her.
She is the one chick in my flock that I know was raised continually with her Mother. Anything beyond this is speculation. I'm grateful for this little chirping feather ball of Fortitude: Little-Bit.
My point is to share a story, & that the hens thrive on assurance & safety as does any creature.
I wonder what's so different about Little-Bit. ... I chose her from her flock because she held her head high, looked around & didn't run as if the sky was falling when I found her.
She is the one chick in my flock that I know was raised continually with her Mother. Anything beyond this is speculation. I'm grateful for this little chirping feather ball of Fortitude: Little-Bit.
My point is to share a story, & that the hens thrive on assurance & safety as does any creature.
