Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I like Whiskey better...a few more spangles! But all her boys are lookers!

Whiskey is certainly better mannered.

Beautiful boys, I hope their brains return soon. They are very close in age to Twig. He celebrates his first birthday May 25th. I'm so thankful Twig has not done something so stupid I have threatened to wring his neck over. My biggest issue with him has been being afraid of Branch and Bubba and not standing up for himself. He is starting to overcome that and staying where he is supposed to now. He did get a little rough with the girls when he first started trying to breed them. This led to beatings from the hens and from the boys so he is trying to be gentler. Thankfully he is a fast learner, he does not seem to make the same mistakes more then 2 or 3 times. With more practice and willing hens he is also learning to be gentle with them, for the most part. Sadly first thing in the mornings and before bed if Twig looses is mind over a hen, it is then. Thanks to my constantly broody girls, and staged hatchings Twigs has been around broodies and their chicks his whole life so far. Neither he nor Bubba actually are allowed the privilege's of being around and close to the chicks the first 2 weeks like Branch is. The hens and Branch will not allow it. I've saw some interest in the younger chicks, but, never felt it was in a malicious way. When they are allowed to mingle, he will let them steal food, but not call them to him to feed them. He also very very quickly learned that a broody hen was off limits breeding wise in all stages of the process. Thank you Momma Hen for that one, she delivered a smack down when she came off the eggs in December and he tried to breed her. He ended up limping for a day or two after but got the message crystal clear. Twig is a pro on escort duties and nest building. He actually chose the spot Gryffyn is brooding in and made the initial nest.

This is encouraging. I haven't had the incessant broodies but I'm actually hoping Twirp turns broody. She double Karate kicked Hector in the face early on with him. He's been pretty good since with the girls. The 2 idiots need it. Horus turns 1 on may 3. Kren and Whiskey on may 4/5 (they hatched overnight). I see lots of potential in each of them followed quickly by the "teen, I'm not sure you'll survive to adulthood" moments. The girls also need to get better at standing up for themselves. That takes time too.

 

[lightm]

Babs has a bald patch on her head.
I don’t see blood. I will try to get a better picture but she doesn’t stand still.
Could this be due to Bernadette’s activities?
Who needs a roo when you have Bernadette?

View attachment 3460248

Foxy has a similar bald patch. I think it is no biggy. Pretty sure her bald patch is from Light . Light is lowest in her flock, so only above Foxy and Meimei, the two youngsters. Light picks on Foxy and mounts on Foxy all the time...

Foxy and Meimei are just two besties, do not see who is above whom. Sometimes Foxy nest guards for Meimei.

I feel like Foxy has a rooster's soul trapped in a hen's body She has never once sang the escort song. She is a tough little chicken that has ADSD...

Edit to add a picture: not the best angle to look at bald patch, but you can kinds see that there is a dip on her head.

 

[RoyalChick]

Foxy has a similar bald patch. I think it is no biggy. Pretty sure her bald patch is from Light . Light is lowest in her flock, so only above Foxy and Meimei, the two youngsters. Light picks on Foxy and mounts on Foxy all the time...

Foxy and Meimei are just two besties, do not see who is above whom. Sometimes Foxy nest guards for Meimei.

I feel like Foxy has a rooster's soul trapped in a hen's body She has never once sang the escort song. She is a tough little chicken that has ADSD...

Edit to add a picture: not the best angle to look at bald patch, but you can kinds see that there is a dip on her head.
View attachment 3460310

Yes! And that is what Babs looks like from the side too.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Sorry for my very long absence... I was grounded. I'm gonna try to catch up. Everyone at my place is fine.

 

[RoyalChick]

Sorry for my very long absence... I was grounded. I'm gonna try to catch up. Everyone at my place is fine.

Grounded doesn’t sound good!

 

[MaryJanet]

@micstrachan will be glad to hear that mealworm reductions have occurred and we are heading into April with over a 1/4 box of mealworms remaining. That will put us to the good side of usage.

They were at the backdoor knocking when I woke up this morning. Mrs BY Bob had left them out and then left for her meeting today. I was strong and they got nothing. I do have some nice leftover fish for them though so treats are coming.

I'm pleased to hear it too. Once a year (ish) I give mealworms, and every time Peggy scoffs then and then has bloody poop for a couple of days. I'm sure her liver can't handle them.

 

[MaryJanet]

I doubt a human was involved in the decision. If it the same as many other platforms someone probably reported it and then the AI took over.

Exactly.

And AI can't make discerning judgements.

 

[featherhead007]

Being grounded is not fun. There’s many reasons why I can be grounded. Weather, mechanical issues, improper flight planning. Or my own health, can ground me!

 

[featherhead007]

Exactly.

And AI can't make discerning judgements.

But AI is supposed to be perfect, where nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong.

 

[MaryJanet]

But AI is supposed to be perfect, where nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong.

I know you're making a joke but I don't need much invitation to speak a little bit on AI.

It's trained on years old data, so it goes wrong all the time.

Management by AI and big data = management by rear view mirror.

No one would drive their car forwards by rear view, so why would anyone drive their business by looking where they've been? Any technology involving huge amounts of data has to be understood as fallible and kept in perspective.