Hen training!

So Monday the hens arrived. We don't let them out for a day so that they can get used to their new house and know where to come home to! Hens naturally like to 'perch' and we provide perches for them in a smart mezzanine area of the shed (!), near the next boxes where they will soon be laying their eggs! But did you know - they need to be 'trained' to go on their perches? They don't get an NVQ or anything formal but nevertheless they have to put in a bit of hard work - or should I say,we do!! Monday night Andrew had to lift nearly every bird out of the dark corners of the shed floor on to their perches! Hens naturally come in at dusk and then 'roost' and become quiet in the dark. However, if you turn lights on they wake up and become busy again. Andrew had taken a light with him, but it didn't work and so it made it a long winded job! So more training tomorrow..