A sister for Dolly

[rick]

Is Meryl laying yet? That doesn’t really have anything to do with it unless she was well before POL or if they were stuck in the coop (often with the nest box at the back) until you let them out in the morning and Meryl's cycle happened to be first thing in the morning. Then she would be vulnerable. If they can wander out of the coop when they like in the morning then shouldn’t be an issue.
We have adopted the policy that anyone causing a major ruckus at bedtime, incessant head pecking etc,, goes into the dog cage until it gets fully dark and then is placed back on the perch. Linden and Aerial are regular detainees lately - Linden for Benny Hill style chasing and Aerial for more than tolerable head pecking at bedtime.
It does get better quite quickly - a week seems like an eternity when there's strife!

 

[Cj2512]

Thanks Rick and Marigold for all your advice.

For some reason I couldn't view the posts yesterday so I went with the coop division approach. I've put up a chipboard temporary wall and I'm pleased to say it worked well. I'm still getting up at 5 to let them both out. Dolly did manage to get hold of Meryl as one point yesterday - completely my fault, I thought I'd closed the run door behind me but I hadn't and Meryl came out into the lawn and Dolly was out so took the opportunity. I herded Dolly away and Meryl didn't seem too disturbed but I'm really not looking forward to the day I put them in together. I'm thinking not this weekend but the following one - that will have given them 15 days to have gotten used to each other plus will give me some time to prepare myself for it.

I'm sure I'll be in touch again soon - thanks so much for the support.

 

[Cj2512]

Sorry meant to say Meryl not laying yet - her comb is still small and very pale so I'm assuming she is still a way off.