Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

I go inside for a minute to get some more coffee and I find this when I come back out!
View attachment 2184705

Oh my frick! That’s hilarious!
We have Saturday late afternoon family zoom and Dorothy LOVES to jump up onto the laptop and hog the camera!

 

[micstrachan]

Ladies of the Evening

View attachment 2185991

Gorgeous!

 

[micstrachan]

Yall... a bird got eaten right here in my backyard! Of course this happens when I left for one hour ... I am constantly in and out the back with the chickens, parakeets, or fish.. doing whatever... and I had just put the babies up thank goodness cuz I had them in this little cage on the grass for awhile... poor things would have been traumatized! The only thing I could think it would be is a crow.. I’m wondering if the bird was down eating the seeds I throw out and got caught there..? It’s a little unsettling... View attachment 2185995View attachment 2185996View attachment 2185997

Oh no! I’m so sorry!

 

[micstrachan]

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.

Chicken flock (or tribe, as Shad would say) dynamics are fascinating!

 

[micstrachan]

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

What a stinker, that Daffy! LOL!

 

[micstrachan]

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.

YAY!

 

[micstrachan]

Looking good!

Someone is looking good this afternoon!
View attachment 2191251

And check out that butt!

View attachment 2191252

Aurora says, "Happy Friday everyone!"

Beautiful fluffy butt!

 

[micstrachan]

Won't your lot share?
Most of mine will ~ though this is a little extreme. I think there were actually 4 in this nesting box.
View attachment 2191324​

Oh my! That’s funny!

 

[micstrachan]

I do it with bare hands. I find gloves get in the way. Chicken shit doesn't bother me. I don't get them as clean as a bath would but I get the worst off.

I use bare hands, too. Poor Buttercup had a chunk right beneath her vent I had to soak, pinch and pick off today. She didn’t seem to mind.

 

[micstrachan]

When the girls are free ranging they will often take a break and perch on the pergola bench.

I tried to get a "family" photo but Alice decided she didn't want her photo taken.
Kids these days!
The branch that Edwina is perched on will be the basis for my new sleeping coop if I ever get around to building it.
View attachment 2192358

Once all the young 'uns had hopped down to forage, the two matriarchs were left to survey from the best spots.
View attachment 2192357

Great photos!