Blimmin escape artists!

I spent hours on Sunday carefully constructing a covered run with inches of beautiful dry flax and hemp bedding for my new Sabelpoot (well at least until I can get the permanent pens up)

I got home last night, in the pitch dark as I had a late meeting.  I went to close up the main coop and there he is... all snuggled up with the girls!  So much for quarantine 

At least I know that all show birds have to be vaccinated, so it's not too much of a worry, but still...

Little b*gger had forced open the "gate" I made myself for easy access to the pen... oh, and the 3ins of flax bedding... spread over about 10sq m of the pen    doesn't he realise I'm doing all of this to protect his foot feathers???

Consequently I was out ther this morning at 6:30 strapping eveything together with cabel ties... hopefully that'll keep him in - at least until the weekend when I can build a more permanent run for him!

I have a feeling the girls will be helping to find a way out, knowing my hooligans!

Sorry, yes, for newcomers... I live in France, and the rules are slightly different than the UK for showing.

All birds have to be vaccinated against Newcastles Disease, and the vaccine is uaully available as a combination with infectious bronchitis.  This is a spray on vaccine and is usually given at the end of summer/autumn at least  4 weeks before the first show, so the birds have immunity but are no longer a risk for shedding live virus.

We don't normally vaccinate against MG.

In the UK, I would always adivise having at least a two week quarantine for any new birds brought into your flock... I had planned this, but unforutnately my new boy decided otherwise!  He is now separated again, and I hope to keep him that way for a while.

He will be most indignant now then and swearing at you when you get home tonight 

That's because he realised the girls were in bed and he could let his softer side show    You try it again when they are around