Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Ok everyone I have a Twig conundrum and may have to rehome him. Let me state this first, he is not aggressive at all and still a very good boy. The problem is Bubba and Branch do not like him and are trying to run him off. Twig is now taking his small harem of girls and leading them to places that is not safe and I do not want them to go to avoid the older 2 boys. He has them down at the barn, and has taken them across the road to the other hillside. I simply cannot have that. It is actually Bubba who is the main aggressor towards Twig. Twig is beautiful and my only Branch offspring and I do not want to rehome him, but, for his and some of my girls safety I probably will have to.
Twig this afternoon.
View attachment 3420572

@featherhead007 get your flight plans laid out.....

 

[bgmathteach]

Dear Aurora,
I have a conundrum regarding 'The Way of the Chicken.", and I am hoping you can clear up my confusion. Now, I know you have little experience with Roosters, but I also know you are wise beyond your years, so here goes:

As I understand it, the top hens have the power, and are the strongest - if not physically, then mentally. Chickens should go broody and continue the species. Low ranking hens get harassed and should not raise chicks, else they may move up in the pecking order, and sometimes the top two hens are so busy that they don't have time to be broody - what with the planning of sneak attacks and all to keep the others in line.
So with that in mind, why do roosters give most of their attention to the top and the bottom on the girls in the pecking order. Wouldn't it make sense for them to curry favor with the top hens, and breed with the middle to upper half, so that the best genetics (without imposing on the Queen, that is) get continued? I am a beautiful upper-mid-level hen, with fine barring, and I'm strong and smart (see my picture below - I was clever enough to escape the run!). I would love to hatch my own babies. Sadly, the roosters pay little mind to me, and frequent the girls at the bottom - to the point of making them bald! Can you help me attract the attentions of my chosen Rooster without also causing him to constantly be wanting nooky, nooky? Once a day would be nice....fertilize my eggs, but not mess up my beautiful feathers too much.

Signed,

Broodless BR in MA

P.S.: This picture was just before molting and getting my shiny new feathers, but it shows both my strength AND smarts!

 

[Ponypoor]

Ok everyone I have a Twig conundrum and may have to rehome him. Let me state this first, he is not aggressive at all and still a very good boy. The problem is Bubba and Branch do not like him and are trying to run him off. Twig is now taking his small harem of girls and leading them to places that is not safe and I do not want them to go to avoid the older 2 boys. He has them down at the barn, and has taken them across the road to the other hillside. I simply cannot have that. It is actually Bubba who is the main aggressor towards Twig. Twig is beautiful and my only Branch offspring and I do not want to rehome him, but, for his and some of my girls safety I probably will have to.
Twig this afternoon.
View attachment 3420572

Oh dear - yes that is a conundrum for sure Is there anyone nearby who wants a lovely Roo that you can send him to, that way if you want to breed him to some of your gals he will be close by... ?

 

[Lilion]

Happy Fluffy Butt Friday! (More like Rainy-a$$ Friday here.) My chickes seem to prefer to keep moving, even when plied with tasty greens. But I tried.

All the fluff in the coop.

Eenie and Meanie fluff

And Eenie asking "WTH are you doing taking pictures of our butts, you freak!"

 

[Ponypoor]

Dear Aurora,
I have a conundrum regarding 'The Way of the Chicken.", and I am hoping you can clear up my confusion. Now, I know you have little experience with Roosters, but I also know you are wise beyond your years, so here goes:

As I understand it, the top hens have the power, and are the strongest - if not physically, then mentally. Chickens should go broody and continue the species. Low ranking hens get harassed and should not raise chicks, else they may move up in the pecking order, and sometimes the top two hens are so busy that they don't have time to be broody - what with the planning of sneak attacks and all to keep the others in line.
So with that in mind, why do roosters give most of their attention to the top and the bottom on the girls in the pecking order. Wouldn't it make sense for them to curry favor with the top hens, and breed with the middle to upper half, so that the best genetics (without imposing on the Queen, that is) get continued? I am a beautiful upper-mid-level hen, with fine barring, and I'm strong and smart (see my picture below - I was clever enough to escape the run!). I would love to hatch my own babies. Sadly, the roosters pay little mind to me, and frequent the girls at the bottom - to the point of making them bald! Can you help me attract the attentions of my chosen Rooster without also causing him to constantly be wanting nooky, nooky? Once a day would be nice....fertilize my eggs, but not mess up my beautiful feathers too much.

Signed,

Broodless BR in MA
View attachment 3420685
P.S.: This picture was just before molting and getting my shiny new feathers, but it shows both my strength AND smarts!

Ahhhhhhh Poor Broodless! (and you know how I love a nice BR!) You need to come and Visit Mr P, I bet he would be wowed by your curvy bars

 

[Lilion]

why do roosters give most of their attention to the top and the bottom on the girls in the pecking order.

Maybe it's because I literally only have 3 hens, but I'm not aware of any pecking order between them. I couldn't begin to say who was top hen. The only girl I've seen Manny "give attention to" is Eenie, my smallest and sweetest girl. But everyone seems to get along.

 

[featherhead007]

@featherhead007 get your flight plans laid out.....

As much as I would love to have Twiggy. My tribe is a one rooster only tribe.
I would end up with the same problem. I wouldn’t do that to Twig, or Jaffar

 

[bgmathteach]

As much as I would love to have Twiggy. My tribe is a one rooster only tribe.
I would end up with the same problem. I wouldn’t do that to Twig, or Jaffar

Awe....but you have enough girls and space to go around...plus...you mentioned getting more chickies...... just saying! Slow integration...yup, it could be possible!

And...we are talking about....

TWIGGY!!!

 

[bgmathteach]

Ok everyone I have a Twig conundrum and may have to rehome him. Let me state this first, he is not aggressive at all and still a very good boy. The problem is Bubba and Branch do not like him and are trying to run him off. Twig is now taking his small harem of girls and leading them to places that is not safe and I do not want them to go to avoid the older 2 boys. He has them down at the barn, and has taken them across the road to the other hillside. I simply cannot have that. It is actually Bubba who is the main aggressor towards Twig. Twig is beautiful and my only Branch offspring and I do not want to rehome him, but, for his and some of my girls safety I probably will have to.
Twig this afternoon.
View attachment 3420572

Twiggy is such a cutie - and a strong, proud boy. I do hope you can find a way to accommodate him/them and not have to get rid of him.

 

[featherhead007]

Awe....but you have enough girls and space to go around...plus...you mentioned getting more chickies...... just saying! Slow integration...yup, it could be possible!

And...we are talking about....

TWIGGY!!!

Yes I know that it’s Twiggy making the decision even more difficult