Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[WhoDatChick]

Okay.. here’s a new development.... apparently Daffy has taken up eating beards and muffs! I saw her the other day yanking on Kelly’s beard.. and I mean yanking! Then yesterday I noticed that Poppy has no beard or muffs! Here is a pic of Poppy... zoom in on her hideous face (thanks to Daffy) .... I checked on beautiful Maggie today and sure enough.. she has a bald face as well ... but Daffy is looking dapper.... I remember reading that this could be an issue with EEs....

 

[BY Bob]

I believe around day 18 or so. Anna's teacher could here the chicks peeping around day 19 in the incubator.

Thanks!

 

[BY Bob]

Okay.. here’s a new development.... apparently Daffy has taken up eating beards and muffs! I saw her the other day yanking on Kelly’s beard.. and I mean yanking! Then yesterday I noticed that Poppy has no beard or muffs! Here is a pic of Poppy... zoom in on her hideous face (thanks to Daffy) .... I checked on beautiful Maggie today and sure enough.. she has a bald face as well ... but Daffy is looking dapper.... I remember reading that this could be an issue with EEs....View attachment 2186876View attachment 2186877

Oh my gosh! Why! If that's a thing there must be a reason why. Poor babies.

 

[Shadrach]

About when do the chicks in the eggs start making sounds?

Day 18 more or less. But, what type of sound is a bit of a mystery. Mums start talking to them about then.

 

[BY Bob]

Day 7: She Must Have Heard the Eggs Complaining

Sydney came off the nest at 12:10 today within 10 minutes of yesterday. It was already hotter as it was when she went back in around 2:00 yesterday, 88.7°F (31.5°C). I brought her some ice water to drink and refrigerated watermelon finds to peck at to try and call her down.

The eggs must have gotten to her. She only stayed out for around 50 minutes today.

Here is my sweety.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Oh my gosh! Why! If that's a thing there must be a reason why. Poor babies.

I don’t know... maybe they think that it shouldn’t be there ... ya know how they pick things off of each other.. perhaps they think it’s a mess... here is Maggie... she still has muffs at least....

 

[Shadrach]

Tack showed up this morning demanding breakfast. She's not broody so she's a stop out.
It's possible she didn't want to venture out in the rain at roost time and decided to stay wherever she was. I've had a couple of stop outs over the years. We shall see what happens tonight.

 

[Ali James]

Lilly's New Protégé

I alluded to this some time ago. There has been a significant change in flock dynamics that I find quite interesting. It is not related to Sydney setting as it started long before that. I'm sure you renege me pointing out that Sansa had been accepted into the cool group, the top 4 hens. Well she is in tight now with the big girl herself.

I mentioned before that Lilly had started tidbitting again. I went back and found my original post on her tidbitting behaviour. Lilly Tidbits. At that time she did it exclusively for Hattie. Maleficent and Aurora were not permitted to eat whatever she found.

She has switched her preferred hen. Now she only tidbits for Sansa. This was quite consisting for Hattie. At first she would still come running but Lilly would not let her have the food. Now she is resigned and just looks over at Lilly when she does it.

View attachment 2186491

Unlike Hattie, Aurora has no scruples when it comes to food. Lilly was tidbitting today and Aurora beat Sansa to the food. She stole it out of Lilly's beak. I missed that part, too slow with the camera. But I did catch the consequences of this unacceptable behavior on Aurora's part. Check out this video. Perhaps @Shadrach can provide a little commentary on the behavior which is occurring here. It is clear that Aurora is submitting but I've not witnessed some of what happens after she has bowed down before.

The two new besties are going everywhere together and don't separate for long. This includes roosting time where normally the two of them occupy the high roost together, alone.
View attachment 2186496

I like to believe that someone is being groomed to take over one day. She certainly has the attitude for the job.

As for Hattie, you will see her spending a lot of time with Aurora these days. They are on almost the same laying cycle and stay out late together every night.

Poor darling Hattie! She was just too polite and must be feeling quite wounded by this betrayal.

 

[BY Bob]

Day 18 more or less. But, what type of sound is a bit of a mystery. Mums start talking to them about then.

I'm excited that I got the camera with sound in position. I am hoping to pick something up on the mike!

 

[BY Bob]

I don’t know... maybe they think that it shouldn’t be there ... ya know how they pick things off of each other.. perhaps they think it’s a mess... here is Maggie... she still has muffs at least.... View attachment 2186972

Its making me sad. I love the muffs.