Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

What an expert you are. Amazingly well reasoned.

What breed is this chick combined with where did this trait come from educates a curious mind in a hurry. Without a DNA test broken down like ancestry does (doubtful if possible with chickens yet), it's unlikely to be entirely certain any time you have a bird that doesn't match "breed standards". Throwbacks also mix things up a bit, but feathers are so pretty that digging through various breeds (with pics) is enjoyable.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Blue vs lavender vs self blue tends to be darker color on the head vs all same color +/- darker "lacing" on the body feathers. Lacing is in quotes because it's a darker shade of the same color rather than a completely different color like the laced wyandottes. There's more to it genetically but that gets technical and I don't follow all of that well enough to explain it yet.

Thats a really great way to explain it!

 

[RoyalChick]

Dear Aurora

My name is Peep. I am a Japanese bantam and i live in Connecticut, although i am completely breathtaking, with my deep masculine crow and crazy long legs, no girls seem interested in me. Humans compare my masculine voice to a squeak toy or a balloon leaking helium. Is it possible that their delusions are rubbing off onto my lovely ladies? I have had to resort to long, unblinking eye contact from the bushes in hopes i would impress a lady but they still run. I have tried everything from chasing to tidbitting rusty screws and pinecones but alas nothing is working. Even tid bitting food and eating it when they run over before they can. I so desperately need your advice, View attachment 3407932

clearly, its a girl problem. They always make these weird honks after pooping out their white golf ball and are dramatic about everything. But what can i do to impress these golf ball dispensers?




Yours sincerely, Peep

Good one! Poor Peep.

 

[featherhead007]

What breed is this chick combined with where did this trait come from educates a curious mind in a hurry. Without a DNA test broken down like ancestry does (doubtful if possible with chickens yet), it's unlikely to be entirely certain any time you have a bird that doesn't match "breed standards". Throwbacks also mix things up a bit, but feathers are so pretty that digging through various breeds (with pics) is enjoyable.

Especially the variable colors of EE’s!

 

[Lexicon]

Mystery solved, now…what to do about it?

Well it looks like the cause of my “naked butt” girls is from one of them “feather plucking/pecking”, and pretty sure the culprit is Scarlett.


I observed it happen several times this morning. It shouldn’t be dirt related, since they are on a food that is 18% protein. And it doesn’t appear overtly aggressive (although there is definitely some mild aggression to it). It is more like she sees a fluffy butt on a girl with her head down and can’t resist going over and grabbing a few of those fluffy little feathers. So now, what I do to stop it? Especially with my limited mobility right now?!

I don't remember what your set-up is like, but I did have a feather plucking problem my first winter with pullets. Bistro was the culprit. She has the smallest body mass and is the best flyer and didn't like to go outside in the cold. She would just sit by the door to the coop, idly plucking the one bird with a beard and then moved on to neck/chest feathers. Luckily spring soon arrived and she was busy with her normal chicken business, so this behaviour stopped.

The next winter, I gave the ladies access to the storage side of the coop and made another run, this one covered and incorporated a covered area into the original large run. This gave Bistro snow free areas to explore even in winter and she has never restarted this bad habit again.

So, the short answer is try to evaluate their living conditions. Could this just be a high energy hen who needs more room? Do they have enough enrichment in their lives? You mentioned protein, could a weekly treat of some sardines help? Just some ideas. Let us know what happens next!

My reformed feather plucker:

 

[RoyalChick]

It is killing me not to be there!
Just four days short of eleven months old and Bernadette is exploring the nest boxes.
I can’t see all the way in with my cameras but I think she is building a castle as she has been in there 45 mins moving bedding into her chosen spot (before changing her mind and moving to another spot).
I can’t bear it that my trip looks like it will cause me to miss being there for her first egg.
Of course this might be a practice run - Babs spent four days doing this before she laid - so who knows.
The lady caring for chickens and cats knows to take a photo, but I am a bit hurt Bernie didn’t wait for me to get home (and her full 11 month point).
Here she is in construction mode.

 

[Chicken poppy]

A liaison behind a lilac tree
I really like that dark head look - I don't have enough knowledge of red vs blue colouring on the chickens, but I like the look.

I do, there is red coloring and then there is blue. What more is there to know?

(Just kidding )

 

[ValarieF]

I have a genetic Silkie question. If you get eggs from a white and buff Silke are the chicks gonna be those colors or can throwback genetics work its way in and give me diff colors.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

It is killing me not to be there!
Just four days short of eleven months old and Bernadette is exploring the nest boxes.
I can’t see all the way in with my cameras but I think she is building a castle as she has been in there 45 mins moving bedding into her chosen spot (before changing her mind and moving to another spot).
I can’t bear it that my trip looks like it will cause me to miss being there for her first egg.
Of course this might be a practice run - Babs spent four days doing this before she laid - so who knows.
The lady caring for chickens and cats knows to take a photo, but I am a bit hurt Bernie didn’t wait for me to get home (and her full 11 month point).
Here she is in construction mode.
View attachment 3407990

Aww, Bernie is thinking of giving you a welcome home present.

 

[Marie2020]

When our friend’s wife found out what happened, she got very upset and basically said OMG, are we raising a serial killer?!? He replied that he didn’t think their son would get that bad, but they are taking the issue very seriously and trying to take steps to stop things from progressing any further.

Being aware is extremely important I really hope these people can find this kid a way to become a decent adult through their guidance and professional support