Ex-batts becoming more chicken like

It is four weeks today since we collected our three new girls. They still look pretty sparsely feathered, but they are improving. The range fairly freely in their cordoned off bit of the orchard, able to see the other three through the fence but not be bullied by them.

Today, in between the snow and rain showers, the sun shon, and to our surprise, the three newbies tried to dustbathe in the damp earth. They even did a bit of sun-bathing, lifting their stumpy little wings to catch the sun.

This must be ingrained behaviour as there is no way they would have been able to do anything like this in their battery cages. So sweet.

Sunny-side up

I've been working from home all this week and so have been able to let both sets of chickens out into their separate areas. The ex-bats have a smaller area cordoned off and the three originals have most of the orchard.
As the sun moves across the sky at this time of year (OK, I know we're moving around the sun, but from a chicken-perspective this is how it looks) the orchard where the chickens live is mostly in the shade, however as the afternoon progresses a shaft of sunlight hits the left side - starting at the far corner by the hedge and then covering the ex-batt's area. Both sets of hens have a bit of sun and here are some pictures of Amber, Nutmeg and Patsy enjoying the sun. Nutmeg, shown above, is sunbathing, rolling onto her side and then lifting the topmost wing to let the sun underneath. Looks idyllic.

This pic is of the three of them after they headed down for the sunny spot. On fine days, they spend alot of time here, digging dustbaths out and generally lolling about. Hopefully the new chickens will soon be able to join them :)