Coop duty at dusk

It’s 4:30 in the afternoon, but almost completely dark - welcome to November in Spokane! We really do pay attention to the winter solstice that comes each December, because it means the days will be getting slightly longer each day from that point on.

But for now, the only thing I can do is make sure to use the flash!

This photo more accurately shows the 4:30pm gloom.

The babies still sleep all together on two old ladders I set up by the window in the coop. This despite the fact that there is tons of space available on the primary roosts. I wonder if any of them will ever make the move. I noticed the bird on the top right is NOT a baby!

So for now, here are the current sleeping arrangements (again, thanks to the flash, as it was pitch black inside and out.)

Three hens still like to sleep in the nesting boxes. It doesn’t really bother me, which is good, because I don’t think there is anything I can do about it!

Stare down. Remember this room is completely dark. The gray baby to the left is clearly a rooster, as indicated by its large comb. I guess he’s asserting his dominance early.

Sarge and his girls. Three to five girls like to sleep up high each night, either on the tall roosts that cross the middle of the building or in the loft, as shown here. Interestingly, the gray bird in the left-hand side of the loft is one of the babies!

Sisters

A few girls trying to find their place for the night.

Chores done, heading back up to the house!