[joyfull]

Had a count up this morning and I have 7 tree dwellers at the moment plus one broody who is sat on eggs on the side of the beck. Should these hatch this will be the second lot hatched in the open by my hens and the first lot are some of those that live in the trees. The majority of my tree dwellers are araucanas. The silkie cross that is sat on the eggs lived outside throughout all that snow - she moved from the russet apple tree into the laurels with the blackbirds when the tree lost it's leaves. She does know about the coops and has laid eggs in them but prefers life under the stars 

[threeranger]

Wow, hatching in the open.....impressive stuff !

Well i've missed a few episodes recently, but actually not a lot has changed !

One of them (the new layer) happily goes to the coop for bed now, but the other still refuses, luckily we get to her before she gets to the tree. I think she might settle in the coop once she starts laying.....that's the hope 

[Casey76]

I currently have 9 tree roosters 

5 pullets which snuggle up together on one side of the tree, a cockerel which stays a little apart from them, and my three banty dottes sleep snuggled up on the other side of the tree.

My remaining pullets and hens are now all sleeping together in the big coop, which means I have two empty coops at the moment!

[joyfull]

room for more chickens then Casey 

[Casey76]

Next spring I'm getting a mix of cochins, brahamas and Faverolles for floofiness, and I'm setting up breeding pens for laced wyandotte bantams 

[evie2]

Got back from taking wee Evie home last night and the chickens had taken themselves in except for 2.  One was perched on the small run door the other was fast asleep in the apple tree

So much for the nice clean coop with new perches, fruit net cover and new perches in the big run

[joyfull]

Next spring I'm getting a mix of cochins, brahamas and Faverolles for floofiness, and I'm setting up breeding pens for laced wyandotte bantams 

lucky you - I wouldn't mind some black cochins - shame Dorinda lives a bit too far away 

[threeranger]

Ladies and Gentlemen.....

We have a winner in this gruelling battle of minds !

Meeeeeeeeee

They still tease by sitting on top of the coop and looking towards the tree......but for two nights running now they have gone inside the coop of their own accord ! Only took 11 days to get the message it is safer there....

RESULT 

[evie2]

Excellent 

[orchardlady]

It's interesting to read that one member has mostly Aracanas up a tree. Some years ago I hatched 17 Aracana chicks. Only one turned out to be a hen but that's a different story. 7 of them decided to roost in trees and spent a whole winter out, fortunately they were all boys. They seemed to fair well but once the days started to lengthen and they came down with dawn...yes Mr. Fox had them all, saved me a job!

[tiptopchickendon]

Went to put my 2 new girls to bed last evening, a little later than usual...no sign of them

Remembered this thread, so looked in the trees and lo and behold...found them...the sods

[evie2]

Clever chooks

[joyfull]

Araucanas do seem to be a lot closer to the jungle fowl than most other birds so this may be why they like to roost in trees still