Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Lovely picture of Eli (hopefully I got her name correctly)

Yes. Eli is my green chicken with a beard. I think she is just beautiful - but I am a complete sucker for black green and purple chickens.

 

[featherhead007]

Feeble attempt to cheer up:
Everybody, let’s dance!

 

[knoturavggrl]

Ask Aurora

Today’s letter comes from @ManueB rooster Theo.

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And he writes……..

Dear Aurora,
Let me introduce myself. I am the most beautiful, most angry, and most proud little rooster in the world.
My name is Théo and I live in France in the mountains.

Here is my problem. I have four hens who should honour and worship my beautiful self. Unfortunately, I happen to be half bantam. Can you believe that those french humans have the cheeks to call us bantams "dwarves", by the way? Anyway, my hens are bigger than me and since I live on a very steep slope, I never manage to mount and mate them properly. Because I need to maintain some balance, I must grab their feathers as I would fall otherwise, and this displease them so much that they run away from their duty to my gorgeous self.

Would you have any advice on dealing with this shameful problem? I trust your discretion not to mention this to any of your beak book friends.

Cocorico from your beautiful Théo.


Dear Théo,

You are the second rooster to write to me requesting advice. Most of my knowledge of roosters has come from stories told by Lilly and Hattie so I am relying on them some to answer your question. So don’t blame me if I miss something somehow.

Despite this, it is wise of you to seek council so that you can better understand the hen’s point of view. This speaks well of your character. So many chickens are unwilling to admit they need help and seek out creative ways to learn. In fact, the world would be a much better place if everyone took the time to understand why others are reacting to situations in the manner they may be. It is only by trying to understand the motivations of others that we can better relate to them and avoid conflict.

Too much of the world is focused on themselves and what is happening to them. This Self or “S” focus leads to a point of view that is more “I can’t believe they are doing this to me” instead of “I wonder why they would react in that fashion”. Things are always happening to these S individuals and they take no responsibility for their own environment.

Individuals who are Other or “O” focused spend their time trying to understand why others react as they do. By understanding the motivations of others you can modify your behaviors and approach and create an environment suited to a better life for you and everyone around you.

Take Phyllis for example. I have spent a lot of time watching her and trying to decide why she reacts as she does. I have determined that those silly head feathers of hers are passing through her skull and impeding brain function. It is not her fault she reacts as she does. So being the “O” focused hen that I am, I am assisting her by trying to pull out her head feathers whenever I can. One of these days I will get enough out, or get the correct one, to fix her. I even have Sydney helping her as well. It is not easy, but it is my way of being O Focused and concerned about others.

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Let me now discuss your concern over the use of the term “Dwarves” to describe bantams. If you solely focus on those goofy dwarves from Disney’s Snow White, I could see why you would be so offended. But that is hardly the definitive imagine of dwarves. Did you know that JRR Tolkien was so offended by Disney’s portrayal of dwarves in that film that he put in his will that Disney could never have the rights to any of his materials. My suggestion is to accept this term as a compliment and picture yourself as one of Tolkien’s brave dwarves, maybe Gimli.

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Now on to your main question. Clearly you are doing some things right as your ladies are willing to have relations with you. That speaks well of you. You must bring them food and keep them safe. Great work! So what you are really asking me is why the ladies get upset when you grab some feathers to balance yourself.

You must agree that now that I have broken this down to the crux of the problem, your questions seems silly. Do you like it when someone grabs and pulls your feathers? You don’t have to be a leghorn to figure out why they might be upset.

Do try to remember that not only Roosters are proud of their feathers; hens are too. One of the most prized possessions we ladies have is our feathers. We spend a lot of time fluffing and grooming as well. Even more important is the amount of harassment a bald hen would take from the other ladies. You are doing her no favor if you pull some out.

What to do? Well, I am going to suggest you work on your balance more. Try to become more agile. Jump onto a branch and practice your motions with nothing to hold onto. Maybe even try that French training methodology, parkour.

Barring your ability to be able to complete the process without grabbing on I am going to suggest that you petition your human servant to bring in some dwarf hens for you. I fear what might happen if a full-sized rooster shows up. You could lose all your hens. At least those that wish to have babies someday.

Aurora

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Fantastic response I feared a bit for Théo but his bravery was rewarded with a well crafted reply. All hail the Queen!

 

[bgmathteach]

Yes. Eli is my green chicken with a beard. I think she is just beautiful - but I am a complete sucker for black green and purple chickens.

Hmm, I think I will stick with my BRs, DC, BOs, EEs and lovely mutts

 

[bgmathteach]

Can anyone tell me what breed is Cinnamon I think speckled sussex but I could be wrong.
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Hi @ValarieF
I do not know for sure what breed she is, but I am pretty sure she is not a speckled sussex. Do you have a list of potential breeds you might have been sent? she might be a NHR or RIR (though RIRs usually have black in their tail feathers. What was the name of the hatchery you got them fromagain? I have forgotten.

This is what a speckled sussex looks like:

(Not unlike @BY Bob s Lady Featherington - though she is a Jubilee Orpington, they look pretty similar in couloring (body style is a bit different, but feather coloring is similar.)

I hope this helps some. @rural mouse : I'm tagging you because you are the breed guru around here!

 

[ValarieF]

Hi @ValarieF
I do not know for sure what breed she is, but I am pretty sure she is not a speckled sussex. Do you have a list of potential breeds you might have been sent? she might be a NHR or RIR (though RIRs usually have black in their tail feathers. What was the name of the hatchery you got them fromagain? I have forgotten.

This is what a speckled sussex looks like:
View attachment 3407094

(Not unlike @BY Bob s Lady Featherington - though she is a Jubilee Orpington, they look pretty similar in couloring (body style is a bit different, but feather coloring is similar.)

I hope this helps some. @rural mouse : I'm tagging you because you are the breed guru around here!

I have another that looks like her but not with black on her and her comb is different. One of them i think is a cinnamon queen was one of the choices
nutmeg

 

[ValarieF]

This is what they could be
RARE BREEDS could include: Appenzeller Spitzhauben, Barnevelder, Blue Andalusian, Buff Brahma, Cochin, Columbian Wyandotte, French Black Copper Marans, French Cuckoo Marans, French Wheaten Marans, Lavender Orpington, Light Brahma, Midnight Majesty Marans, Olive Egger, Polish Buff Laced, Polish Gold Laced, Polish Silver Laced, Polish White Crested Black, Polish White Crested Blue, Prairie Bluebell Egger, Salmon Faverolle, Sapphire Olive Egger, Silver Lakenvelder, Speckled Sussex, Starlight Green Egger, Turken, Welsummer. STANDARD BREEDS could include: Amberlink, Americana, Asian Black, Barred Rock, Calico Princess, Black Sex-Link, Black Australorp, Jersey Giant, Brown Leghorn, Buff Orpington, California White, Cinnamon Queen, Delaware, Dominique, Golden Comet, Golden Lace Wyandotte, ISA Brown, New Hampshire Red, Sapphire Gem, Production Red, Rainbow, Rhode Island Red, Silver Lace Wyandotte, White Leghorn, White Rock.

 

[knoturavggrl]

The feathering on those two ladies is just fantastic.

I have to second this they really are beautiful

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

This is what they could be
RARE BREEDS could include: Appenzeller Spitzhauben, Barnevelder, Blue Andalusian, Buff Brahma, Cochin, Columbian Wyandotte, French Black Copper Marans, French Cuckoo Marans, French Wheaten Marans, Lavender Orpington, Light Brahma, Midnight Majesty Marans, Olive Egger, Polish Buff Laced, Polish Gold Laced, Polish Silver Laced, Polish White Crested Black, Polish White Crested Blue, Prairie Bluebell Egger, Salmon Faverolle, Sapphire Olive Egger, Silver Lakenvelder, Speckled Sussex, Starlight Green Egger, Turken, Welsummer. STANDARD BREEDS could include: Amberlink, Americana, Asian Black, Barred Rock, Calico Princess, Black Sex-Link, Black Australorp, Jersey Giant, Brown Leghorn, Buff Orpington, California White, Cinnamon Queen, Delaware, Dominique, Golden Comet, Golden Lace Wyandotte, ISA Brown, New Hampshire Red, Sapphire Gem, Production Red, Rainbow, Rhode Island Red, Silver Lace Wyandotte, White Leghorn, White Rock.

I think you have a Cinnamon Queen on your hands. I have 2, but for the longest time was very confused about them because they did not have the traditional straight comb.
Here is one of my girls.

 

[ValarieF]

I think you have a Cinnamon Queen on your hands. I have 2, but for the longest time was very confused about them because they did not have the traditional straight comb.
Here is one of my girls.
View attachment 3407124View attachment 3407125View attachment 3407126

I have one with a straight comb and one with another I too think cinnamon queen they are looking closest too