Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

MugsView attachment 3315565Jess is sticking close to the coop or to Hector.

View attachment 3315567Whiskey got the wing clap
View attachment 3315566Uh-oh, I'm busted
View attachment 3315569Primula (win Nox close by) is willing to come up for chest rubs.
View attachment 3315570Indigo, not so much. But she's laying the prettiest little eggs
View attachment 3315572White on the right is standard size from Nellie, I think. Indigo's is in the middle, Lark on the left, with Pippa and Maizie in front. View attachment 3315573Back in the carton designed for large eggs. Maizie and Pippa are laying 2 distinct shades of green (one is very olive toned)....now if only I knew which was which....

I know what you mean! Whiskers and Misty lay eggs so Close in colour I keep forgetting who is who laying which eggs - one has a bit more of a blue tone than green

Love those really dark olive ones beautiful!

 

[bgmathteach]

I see the CM (construction manager) was on site.

Here they are called 'Clerk of the Works", I bet she was busy all day supervising!

 

[Ponypoor]

I had to look this up as it sounded like some kind of psychedelic amphetamine, but I was so disappointed - plain old paracetamol .

Congratulations to you and @TX Chick Noob for getting all that done. Now I'm feeling ashamed of being sore for what little activity I did yesterday .
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I'm very interested in reading that some of you make change to roosts location ! I've only added roosts, but never moved any, and I'm now wondering if it could help us with our rooster Theo's aggressive behaviour at bedtime. (We have found a middle term solution to relocating either Gaston and his hens, or Théo and Chipie depending on how things goes). In the actual coop the four teenagers chickens including Gaston sleep on a roost that is just 50 cm (20 inches) above Théo's roost. This means Théo tries every night to jump on Gaston to chase him off. There is a free roost available but no one wants to move there.
Theo's roost is a mobile structure : do you think it would be helpful to move it, either to widen the space between Gaston and him, or to completely change it's location to force Théo to roost elsewhere ? Or would it just make things worse ?
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@bgmathteach Thank you for the input regarding Chipie's feathers and that she may be doing a second molt. It could indeed be that as she's behaving like a molting lady !

Mugs for Monday, and wishing a nice week to all of you.

Blanche is as nutty as she looks.
View attachment 3315578
Merle the two tails mythical black dragon
View attachment 3315581
Léa is growing very timid these days
View attachment 3315582
Piou-piou
View attachment 3315583
Gaston
View attachment 3315585
Théo says cocorico!
View attachment 3315588

Hey Theo, Cocorico! Cocorico!
Good Morning!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

A Job Mostly Done

It was time to figure out the roost. I decided to split the roost in 3. Two thirds would be the original 2x4 the third in the middle and higher is the roost from the prefab that Daisy, the greatest hen ever, and Maleficent loved so much. I had to find a way to include it. It is a little lower the high roost that Sydney and Aurora love but higher than the main roost.

At this time it was getting dark and everyone wanted to roost. Sydney and Aurora roosted without a roof and Hattie and Betty went into nest boxes. Phyllis, Glynda, and Lady Featherington went into the Cluckle Hut. You can see in this photo I still need to put the second piece of roof up.

View attachment 3315290

I got the second piece of roof up and it was dark. Totally dark. No moon.

View attachment 3315291

Once the roof was all on, Hattie left the nest box to lay on the floor.
View attachment 3315293

Sydney seemed excited by the new roost. She can get up high and get away from Aurora.

I’m confused, maybe misunderstanding the previous post picture / text? Aurora and Sidney roosted together, or not? Did they roost together? And if so, then Aurora gets mean and Sidney moves?

 

[Ponypoor]

But the hen saddles and that are 2 different 'beasts'. The saddles are fairly loose, so can flop around...and they are only used when over mated to cover bare spots. It is easy for hens to fluff their remaining feathers is cold, and they can somewhat decently dust bath with them on. The knitted/crocheted 'garment' is somewhat fixed, doesn't allow them to fluff their feathers (if cold), material (loose yarn) is much more likely to get caught on something - including a rooster's toes/claws when mating, and it is much more difficult to dust bathe given it goes completely around their body.

Saddles have a legitimate purpose, and when used for that reason, are suitable. This is just a 'fashion thing'. While it might be fun for a photo shoot (say, a red & green one to get picture with Santa - but then removed RIGHT after short shoot), it really serves no purpose but for our 'fun', and if left on can actually be harmful to hen in ways mentioned.

BTW: I've used saddles at times for my poor, over-mated hens (? 1 roo to 14 hens, half were STILL bare backed) But, all of them learned how to wiggle/pull/scratch their way out of them in short order.

Agreed with the use of wool/knitted item, that is a bad idea! I just like the idea of the belly covering Fluffy and Curly where so tattered I was so upset, and it was so darn cold, one of the worst winters in a long time, it was -20 in the barn (-30 outside).

Anyways they decided that staying on the nest was prudent - poor little ladies.

 

[RoyalChick]

Do you have a massage therapist locally? Treat yourself to a nice massage....the muscles will heal quicker from their 'abuse', and it will be a nice treat for you. DO make sure you communicate if they press too hard - everyone's pain threshold is different & they need your feedback.

Of course you are right. That would be sensible. I was imagining his cats all making biscuits on his shoulders as the solution!

Sorry - unsuccessful experimentation using quotes.

 

[RoyalChick]

As promised, the pic of the finished Fleur sweater.View attachment 3315563The "hood" is the cowl part from around the shoulders.


Tax: we wanna play peekaboo!

View attachment 3315564BTW, the snow all melted off as the highs got into the mid 40sF.

Love the colors of the sweater. I feel like you and everyone on this thread is so talented!

 

[Ponypoor]

But the hen saddles and that are 2 different 'beasts'. The saddles are fairly loose, so can flop around...and they are only used when over mated to cover bare spots. It is easy for hens to fluff their remaining feathers is cold, and they can somewhat decently dust bath with them on. The knitted/crocheted 'garment' is somewhat fixed, doesn't allow them to fluff their feathers (if cold), material (loose yarn) is much more likely to get caught on something - including a rooster's toes/claws when mating, and it is much more difficult to dust bathe given it goes completely around their body.

Saddles have a legitimate purpose, and when used for that reason, are suitable. This is just a 'fashion thing'. While it might be fun for a photo shoot (say, a red & green one to get picture with Santa - but then removed RIGHT after short shoot), it really serves no purpose but for our 'fun', and if left on can actually be harmful to hen in ways mentioned.

BTW: I've used saddles at times for my poor, over-mated hens (? 1 roo to 14 hens, half were STILL bare backed) But, all of them learned how to wiggle/pull/scratch their way out of them in short order.

So far I haven’t seen Mr P being overly aggressive with breeding. And I have caught him breeding Marty, Henny, and Fluffy, along with a couple of the other ladies.

Actually since I wormed him last week he seems to be feeling much better, and has been very active! (Told him to get a room with Misty haha).

 

[Ponypoor]

Sorry - unsuccessful experimentation using quotes.

Morning RC - have an awesome day, I am running late so I need to get rolling! My chickies are going to want out and take advantage of the nice weather!

 

[rural mouse]

Surprise!

What the bok happened?

BUUUUK THIS!