[Pertelotte]

At the moment my new girls sleep in the coop while the old girls sleep on the wheelbarrow, which I'm trying to discourage. A couple of the new ones tried to perch on the supports of the wheelbarrow but were awarded the order of the boot for their troubles.

I'm trying to encourage bunking up together in the coop as the wheel barrow is not nice to use after a good night's kip!

Will they cuddle up to each other in time? Or do I leave the barrow out of the shed? I can"t see any sign of red mite, just a fat, red, chickeny posterior poking out the pop hole. (Earlier on the new girls were excluded by a white chicken pecking at all comers from a corner within. I think a Point is being made.

Pertelotte

[joyfull]

whilst the older girls are sleepy/asleep lift them off the wheel barrow and place them in the coop. However get up very early and let them out so they can get away from each other before any pecking starts. You may have to do this a few nights but eventually it will pay off  .

[hen maiden]

Your description in the post of a "red chickeny posterior poking out" really made me laugh. I have had my hens since last July and I love them, I find them such good company.
About 5 weeks ago, one of my six, Maxine, decided she wanted to sleep under the stars, and broadcast the event every night loudly to all the foxes who cared to hear her within a five mile radius. I have been going out every evening and picking her up,[ she quickly snuggles down in my arms], and then depositing her on a perch inside with her sisters. In the last couple of weeks her naughtiness has been spreading. I go out at late dusk and find three of them perched up outside snuggled close together getting snoozey. I have up until this week been able to usher the others inside, Maxine however always insists on a cuddle first. For the last two nights, FIVE of them have been outside and I can't get them in. Last night I flashed a torch around inside and there was no sign of red mite. I did have an old horse blanket over the coop for extra warmth when it snowed. I wondered if it was getting a bit hot in there for them and so removed it two days ago, but they still don't want to go in. The run , or panic room, as I call it, is, I hope, completely foxproof,wire is dug in deep and covers the top, all joins are sewn up with wire, but I worry about drafts !...... Do I need to worry ?

[ehs284]

Do I need to worry ??

Yes; your life is controlled by 5 chooks who know just how to get you to do what they want.

[Pertelotte]

My encouragement is to wait until they've settled and then shunt the white:old ones into the coop and close the door behind them. There's a little bit of 'language' for  few bops, but they settle down. just before I go to sleep I trot out and open the coop door and the rabbit hutch (which the old ones also like to sleep in. What has started to happen with this is the little bu angels, judging by the poo distribution, wait for me to finally go to my coop before going back to where they were in the first place.

What I'm thinking of doing is replacing the coop with a bigger one. The current one is full to capacity and I've still a mind to introduce some Light Sussex ladies. As you do. I know the whole process will repeat itself, but with brand new perches, but at least nobody can clam prior ownership. I am at least luckier than hen maiden as my girls only demand supper rather than cuddles before tucking in.