Chicken bald back

[Patricia W]

Some of you will remember that I have been trying for ( it seems like) months to integrate 2 newbies ( came in July) into my trio of Polands. It has been horrendous as the trio seemed joined at the hip with even Phillip the cockerel who I thought would keep order being aggressive.

 

So after a nasty experience where Mrs Phillip 1 cornered Babs and beat 7 bells out of her, I went back to letting them free range, but separated by Omlet netting. And because I was unsure about Phillip, I stopped them sleeping together.

 

The 2 newbies have been looking longingly over at the trio for the last couple of weeks, especially Joy who looks about ready to lay. The two existing wives meanwhile have stopped laying and Phillip has lost interest ( in you know what!).

 

Then one day last I caught Joy and Phillip drinking together from a puddle in between the netting - beaks touching! Aaaah! Next thing I know, I look out of the window and she is in there with him! I still don't know how she did it. I left them to it and Mrs Phillip more or less ignored her apart from a little peck and a bit of half hearted chasing.

 

Soooo... today I am working from home and I've taken the netting down. All's well so far, but I'll see how it goes. Mrs Phillip 1 is following Joy around but not doing anything, and Joy is looking for her big handsome Phillip ( who is preening on a bench !) Babs is off digging in the undergrowth and Mrs Phillip 2 seems to be ignoring them all.

 

Is this the breakthrough ? It would be so much easier to have the four girls and Phillip together! if this works, I'll get them sleeping together again.

 

Fingers crossed please.......

 

Tricia

[Patricia W]

Well. I have just put the netting back up. Joy had decided to perch on a branch about 4 ft off the ground where she stayed for at least an hour just looking down at the other 3 and Babs was hiding in the undergrowth so I thought I'd call it a day.

 

So no out and out fighting - which is progress if not real integration. I'm not in tomorrow so I can't try again till at least Wednesday. Maybe I'll put them to sleep together tonight.

 

I think this must be the slowest integration on record!

 

Tricia

[Egluntyne]

Mrs Phillip 1 cornered Babs and beat 7 bells out of her

 

You scared the life out of me there for a moment Patricia.....I read that as 'I cornered Babs and beat 7 bells out of her'!

[Laura & CTB]

Fingers crossed that you are finally getting somewhere Patricia! - One day you'll be able to relax.

[Patricia W]

Sorry Egluntyne - the 1 looks like a I - me agree! And thanks Laura - I do hope so...

 

Tricia