Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

It’s a very windy day today, dry and bright too. I have finally managed to let the girls out, very late in the day and with much muttering on their part.

It might be the wind putting them off, but they have all chosen to have a group nap under the table next to me. They could have chosen from plenty of other sheltered spots, but they chose next to me, this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

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And the sun caught Echo just right to show how beautiful her feathers are

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Isn’t that the absolute BEST?!?!

 

[micstrachan]

Eve's Birthday

Today we're are having Eve's birthday party. It's a couple of days early but this is the weekend. Here is her cupcake cake.
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And to keep things chicken related, her birthday gifts.
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The cake is fabulous and the outfits adorable!

 

[micstrachan]

I've mentioned Lock on these threads before. She is a hen but she doesn't lay eggs and doesn't do hen stuff. I was watching her tonight at supper time. Her behaviour is extraordinary but even more extraordinary is the the rest of the tribes tolerance and reaction to her.
Lock neck grabs other hens and she does it to roosters as well. One would have thought such behaviour would elicit instant retribution from the roosters in particular. I watched her do the neck grab to Mag this evening and it did stratle him; he was eating at the time. He leapt up and spun around, but as soon as he saw it was Lock he just gave her a single not very hard peck and went back to eating. Lock then did the same to Bracket. Bracket just complained and moved around the feed bowl. If a young cockerel does that to Bracket she'll go for them full tilt and chase them around for a bit.
Lock does what a junior rooster would do at feed time and hangs back with Mag. She doesn't keep watch as such, she just doesn't eat with the other hens until there is space and that usually means the seniors have finished eating.
I tease some of the chickens by gently swatting their tail feathers. This normally produces indignant noises and immediate moving away. Lock doesn't bat an eyelid.
She has mock fights with Mag who is incredibly gentle with her. I was watching them today and Mag will leap up at her when she attacks him but he doesn't strike. He has never raised his hackles at her. Punch the senior rooster doesn't bother her. Neither try to mate with her.
Lock follows the tribe during the day at the same kind of distance a junior rooster would. At roost time Lock doesn't have a position in the who can go in the coop in which order.
I would need a few fairly long video clips to show her behaviour, but it's obvious just from watching her with the tribe that she is different.
The noticeable physical differences are her legs are stouter than the hens and overall she's a heavier build.
What I find fascinating is the rest of the tribe just seem to accept her as she is.
Anyway, here she is.
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This Bracket, Hinge, Nolia, Punch, Tack and the young cockerel all eating while Lock and Mag are standing next to me on the top step.
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This is Lock eating after the others had thinned out.
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This is Mag waiting to eat. He keeps watch and eats last in general.
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Fascinating! Androgynous almost!

 

[micstrachan]

Those poor old hens. That poor lady.

I know. Breaks my heart for all of them.

 

[micstrachan]

I love how Lock is simply part of the family. Doing her own thing and loved by her tribe.

Me, too! I’m growing quite fond of her myself!

 

[micstrachan]

I am pleased to announce Millie came out of broodiness. Yesterday I let her be out with the flock a lot of the day because broody jail seemed to be helping. But last night we went for a social-distanced, outdoor small gathering at the neighbors’ and got home after dark. When I locked up the girls, Millie was in the box, so I put her in jail for the night.
That was the end of it. Today she hung out with the flock and foraged all day. She dust bathed. She preened. And she went to roost in her usual spot beside Ruby. Phew!
You know what, though? It makes me sad breaking a broody. Their mothering instincts are so crazy strong it feels like an unnatural waste to break it. And I can’t help anthropomorphizing and worrying I am hurting their feelings. Like I’m rejecting them or something. It really bothers me. Is that nuts?

 

[MaryJanet]

I am pleased to announce Millie came out of broodiness. Yesterday I let her be out with the flock a lot of the day because broody jail seemed to be helping. But last night we went for a social-distanced, outdoor small gathering at the neighbors’ and got home after dark. When I locked up the girls, Millie was in the box, so I put her in jail for the night.
That was the end of it. Today she hung out with the flock and foraged all day. She dust bathed. She preened. And she went to roost in her usual spot beside Ruby. Phew!
You know what, though? It makes me sad breaking a broody. Their mothering instincts are so crazy strong it feels like an unnatural waste to break it. And I can’t help anthropomorphizing and worrying I am hurting their feelings. Like I’m rejecting them or something. It really bothers me. Is that nuts?

I've been wondering why they aren't allowed to sit until they're ready to get up. It's puzzling. I had to disrupt Peggy's brooding because she was sitting where the foxes could get her, so I had to put her away at night time. But if she'd been in a safe nest, I think I'd have let her be.

 

[MaryJanet]

Hi, By Bob.
I am a new chicken mom. I have been reading your thread here. Your thread is the reason I started an account. I am only on page 200 but thought I'd introduce myself, knowing you'd be getting tons of alerts for all my "likes".
My girls are about 10 weeks old. I cannot believe how fast they grow and I am quickly becoming a "crazy chicken lady". I could sit and watch them for hours.
I'd love to join your flock here.

Laura
Chicken mom to: Luna, Raven, Hallie, Annie, Daisy, Heizel, Alice and June

Hi Laura

 

[micstrachan]

I've been wondering why they aren't allowed to sit until they're ready to get up. It's puzzling. I had to disrupt Peggy's brooding because she was sitting where the foxes could get her, so I had to put her away at night time. But if she'd been in a safe nest, I think I'd have let her be.

Who knows. Maybe it would be ok. But 21 days seems like a long time. Last year Cashew got pretty thin sitting and Millie only seemed to eat, drink and stretch if I took her out. Millie seems just a little fragile, so I did not want to chance it. She’s had a limp on and off since she was a pullet and nearly starved herself to death last molt. The necropsy on Margo suggested my flock might have Marek’s (though the only one with symptoms was the 2-week old chick that died and there’s Millie’s limp.

 

[MaryJanet]

Who knows. Maybe it would be ok. But 21 days seems like a long time. Last year Cashew got pretty thin sitting and Millie only seemed to eat, drink and stretch if I took her out. Millie seems just a little fragile, so I did not want to chance it. She’s had a limp on and off since she was a pullet and nearly starved herself to death last molt. The necropsy on Margo suggested my flock might have Marek’s (though the only one with symptoms was the 2-week old chick that died and there’s Millie’s limp.

Oh I see! I guess hens that roam around eat more and are healthier. Makes sense.

I remember one of @Ribh's hens once died while broody.