MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

Today was Katie's turn for camaraderie with Sarah. Unfortunately I was a little too busy working to stop and take a photo, but it was good to see.

I'm so glad to hear this.

 

[BDutch]

My expectations altered when the chicks were so easy to integrate. No one was ever pecked until roosting. Comparatively, Sarah's having a very tough time.

I had a lonely pullet once too. She was left alone after her brothers had to go and the hens didn’t want her to roost in the extension/coop where they slept. I suppose it was a traumatic experience for her. Anyway Janice gave up to roost in the extension and slept alone in the tiny coop ever since when she could. She got more confident after she started to lay.

She is still a bit of a loner, but finally after 6 years she doesn’t prefer to sleep alone anymore. Prefers to sleep in the playhouse coop with Ini mini , my oldest and the 2 Amrock pullets. Avoids to sleep in the extension with the bullies.

 

[MaryJanet]

All five hens had spent the weekend as a flock with no one pecking Sarah, but she was still roosting in the spare coop at the end of the day. So, I thought it was time to encourage roosting with the flock and I carried her over after dark. All five immediately settled down to sleep.

This morning she was pecked only once, by Peggy. So I think we can say she's one of the flock now.

The hens are spending the entire day in the run as I'm at the office today. So they'll have lots of time together.

 

[RoyalChick]

All five hens had spent the weekend as a flock with no one pecking Sarah, but she was still roosting in the spare coop at the end of the day. So, I thought it was time to encourage roosting with the flock and I carried her over after dark. All five immediately settled down to sleep.

This morning she was pecked only once, by Peggy. So I think we can say she's one of the flock now.

The hens are spending the entire day in the run as I'm at the office today. So they'll have lots of time together.

Sounds good!

 

[MaryJanet]

Sounds good!

I got away from work with enough time to let the hens out for 45 minutes. At roosting time, Sarah thought about roosting in the funrun with the others, but was put off when Melissa gave her a nasty look.

Later, I carried Sarah in and placed her on the roost, opposite the others. Melissa immediately bullied her out of the roosting box.

Sarah cried a little and tried a few other perches. As the last light faded, Melissa was on Sarah's perch opposite the older hens. So Sarah put herself among the old ladies for roosting and they didn't even bat an eyelid!

She'll be nice n snug next to Mary.

 

[RoyalChick]

I got away from work with enough time to let the hens out for 45 minutes. At roosting time, Sarah thought about roosting in the funrun with the others, but was put off when Melissa gave her a nasty look.

Later, I carried Sarah in and placed her on the roost, opposite the others. Melissa immediately bullied her out of the roosting box.

Sarah cried a little and tried a few other perches. As the last light faded, Melissa was on Sarah's perch opposite the older hens. So Sarah put herself among the old ladies for roosting and they didn't even bat an eyelid!

She'll be nice n snug next to Mary.

Awww. Mary will be nice to her.

Sounds like goal achieved.
Well done!

 

[MaryJanet]

Awww. Mary will be nice to her.

Sounds like goal achieved.
Well done!

With a bit of luck and with Mary's scent on her, maybe Peggy won't even peck her in the morning!