Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

See, @BY Bob! I told you more was better! Besides, she's a BR. As far as I can figure they'll sit forever if let!

Not my BR "Rocket" Unfortunately.

 

[featherhead007]

Treacle was ill today and he had me seriously worried. I found him outside my house, head sunk into his hackles, eyes partially closed looking very sickly.
I checked him over for any wounds first...nothing. He's external parasite free.
I gave his crop a check and there wasn't much in it. I had to go and feel Cillins to make a comparison.
Next I though of coccidia, we are having the ideal weather for worms and coccidia and I'm watching them very carefully for any signs.
I couldn't work out what was wrong but I thought he may have eaten something he shouldn't have.
I tube fed him 40 cl of water hoping to help flush and dilute. Then I got some clod lumps of coconut oil down him. He ate the first couple of lumps and the next couple got stuff in his beak.
He started looking a bit better in a couple of minutes; even drank some more water of his own volition. Ten minutes later he was eating a bit of cheese and half a walnut. A bit after that he was eating the normal feed and when I felt his crop before he headed off to bed it had a reasonable amount of food in. He started crowing again (he's really noisy normally).
I've checked on him a couple of times since he's gone to roost and he seems okay.
I hope I've done enough.

Hope he's OK.

 

[Shadrach]

Is this poopy backside a common problem? I confess I haven't had that experience yet with the Princesses. The new chicks are still projectile pooping but that is more likely to hit me in the face than it is to stick to their fluffy butts.

It is here. Diet for any creature must play a major role in feces consistency.
I can't think of one hen hen here who has a constantly clean rear end.

 

[BY Bob]

Treacle was ill today and he had me seriously worried. I found him outside my house, head sunk into his hackles, eyes partially closed looking very sickly.
I checked him over for any wounds first...nothing. He's external parasite free.
I gave his crop a check and there wasn't much in it. I had to go and feel Cillins to make a comparison.
Next I though of coccidia, we are having the ideal weather for worms and coccidia and I'm watching them very carefully for any signs.
I couldn't work out what was wrong but I thought he may have eaten something he shouldn't have.
I tube fed him 40 cl of water hoping to help flush and dilute. Then I got some clod lumps of coconut oil down him. He ate the first couple of lumps and the next couple got stuff in his beak.
He started looking a bit better in a couple of minutes; even drank some more water of his own volition. Ten minutes later he was eating a bit of cheese and half a walnut. A bit after that he was eating the normal feed and when I felt his crop before he headed off to bed it had a reasonable amount of food in. He started crowing again (he's really noisy normally).
I've checked on him a couple of times since he's gone to roost and he seems okay.
I hope I've done enough.

O gosh I hope so.

 

[BY Bob]

I did Bob but forgot to reply.
From what I saw she was grooming. I don't think it's a simple bossing about. Hens will groom each other, but it isn't as simple as a hen grooming their rooster from what I've seen.
One would have to see a lot more of their behaviour over time to draw any conclusion.
Otic used to groom Blue Spot from time to time. Blue Spot was senior but Otic was twice her size and was Blue Spots minder for want of another description.
Your video clips are great but often the clue to what is going on isn't caught and on many occasions one can learn more by watching what the rest of the flocks reaction is to the event.

The event that triggered this was Aurora taking food from Lilly's beak which Lilly was tidbitting for Sansa. Lilly's reaction was instant domination and Aurora immediately submitted and bowed down. Sansa then arrived as you can see in the video. Phyllis scattered when it happened and I think Hattie was laying at the time.

 

[Ribh]

Not my BR "Rocket" Unfortunately.

Give her time. She'll be back @ it. She won't be able to help herself.

 

[featherhead007]

Someone say Phyllis? BLU just said that post.

 

[MaryJanet]

They all have relationship behaviour that is outside what gets called the pecking order here.
The circumstances dictate who is more senior in a given moment. Personal likes and dislikes that may not show when the whole tribe is present or a rooster is there. Tap will intimidate Hurry if Cillin isn't there, but at feeding time Hurry is before Tap.
Since the death of Ruffles Mel is tribe minder. She is more tolerant of Tap than she is say of Tackle. But Tackle knows her place when it's time to eat and so does Mel.
They're complicated little feckers. No doubt about that.

I've noticed flexibility in the pecking order too. Janet is the boss at roosting, except she never pecks Mary. Janet will flare out her neck feathers and jump at Ivy if she wants a bite of food, Ivy accepts it as normal interaction and runs away or submits. Mary pecks only for educational purposes and it makes very light contact, even when the one being pecked has bowed before her. I have never seen Mary grab and hold another but Janet does it every roosting. Mary permits everyone to eat ahead of her while she keeps watch. I have never observed grooming. Previously, Janet pecked everyone at roosting and ruled with an iron fist, but never actually fought others.

I wonder if Janet and Mary are sharing rooster duties? We also have to factor in the possibility of Janet having a headache from her eye infection and surgery, and being grouchy.

 

[BY Bob]

Is this poopy backside a common problem? I confess I haven't had that experience yet with the Princesses. The new chicks are still projectile pooping but that is more likely to hit me in the face than it is to stick to their fluffy butts.

Aurora had the worst of the worming/coccidia poos and so there was build up that she never cleared. Once there is build up that creates more build up. So if she doesn't clear it by a certain point then I intervene. I do not want to risk fly strike.

Lilly no longer tilts far enough when she poos so it gets hung up in her feathers. When we do clean Lilly we try to trim her Fluffy feathers to try and help but this will be a long term issue for her.

 

[BY Bob]

I've noticed flexibility in the pecking order too. Janet is the boss at roosting, except she never pecks Mary. Janet will flare out her neck feathers and jump at Ivy if she wants a bite of food, Ivy accepts it as normal interaction and runs away or submits. Mary pecks only for educational purposes and it makes very light contact, even when the one being pecked has bowed before her. I have never seen Mary grab and hold another but Janet does it every roosting. Mary permits everyone to eat ahead of her while she keeps watch. I have never observed grooming. Previously, Janet pecked everyone at roosting and ruled with an iron fist, but never actually fought others.

I wonder if Janet and Mary are sharing rooster duties? We also have to factor in the possibility of Janet having a headache from her eye infection and surgery, and being grouchy.

I would be grouchy.