Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Thank you all for your input. I assumed the one Manny was showing the most attention to was #1. But thinking about it, Meanie is often kind of glued to his side. Interesting.

So here's a little video of Eenie when I went back to her tonight. WARNING there is a very bad word in the last 15 seconds when a mouse ran by me!!! She once again started by biting me LOL and eating a little tomato like it was life-saving. Then I got the video.

Wrong video? Loving the new hay, again. Love watching it, but....didn't you mean to post a different one?

 

[Lilion]

Wrong video? Loving the new hay, again. Love watching it, but....didn't you mean to post a different one?

It was. I fixed it. The right one is there now.

 

[rural mouse]

It was. I fixed it. The right one is there now.

Going to watch it now, then.

 

[rural mouse]

@Lilion the location of the feather damage looks like its a bit high for damage from breeding. However, I've seen it occasionally there, usually from young (inexperienced) roos.

Hector, my australorp roo, has some feather damage on his shoulders at the moment. It's not quite as close to his spine as hers is. His is down his sides a bit. Where his is at makes me think he's scraping them on the bird hatch when he goes dashing through it to rescue a girl from unwanted attentions.

Is it possible she's scraped her back against something?

The tut-tut-tut she's doing, combined with the rapid pecking of food does make me think she's broody or seriously considering it (egg laying = not 100% there yet, probably about 75%).

Mouse....really weird thought: could she be getting semi-into the broody trance and having a mouse chew on her feathers while she's tranced? I know REALLY weird thought.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Queen snakes? Never heard of them…

I think that they are an aquatic garter snake type of thing.... I saw it on YT from someone who lives in Ontario and are quite educated on reptiles....

 

[Ponypoor]

Thank you all for your input. I assumed the one Manny was showing the most attention to was #1. But thinking about it, Meanie is often kind of glued to his side. Interesting.

So here's a little video of Eenie when I went back to her tonight. WARNING there is a very bad word in the last 15 seconds when a mouse ran by me!!! She once again started by biting me LOL and eating a little tomato like it was life-saving. Then I got the video.

Sorry but the laugh is for the mouse

Well she looks like a typical broody - what you can do is sprinkle some scratch grain on the floor to give her something to find when she is scratching around.

Thoughts everyone??

 

[rural mouse]

Sorry but the laugh is for the mouse

Well she looks like a typical broody - what you can do is sprinkle some scratch grain on the floor to give her something to find when she is scratching around.

Thoughts everyone??

Not with the mice that bold.....wait a min...

"Thoughts everyone??" Don't you owe SHRA for that?

 

[Ponypoor]

Came home from work, went out and checked the babies. All good. Came in, had dinner, had a storm blow through. Clearing off, time to close the coop.

Head count:

21 adults, some purring, they're all good, everything is right with their world.

5 babies, twittering away, preening feathers, settling for bed, all is right with them too.

Where is the 6th? Where is Chia?

Look around, recount....scoop up Havoc. Let's go play Marco, Polo....again....

Nothing....back inside....I swear I hear them all, but where is the little devil hiding this time?

Spoiler: "I'm hiding here!"

View attachment 3553584I will be SOOOOO glad when they get past the "they can't possibly fit there" phase......oh, wait, that happens when the adults find creative places to nest.

Hahahaha oh I am glad others have chicks like that!

What a little monkey!

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Awww a Bielefelder Butt

Ahh! They had Bielefelders at the TSC today! I FREAKED out!! Mainly roos, but three or for pullets. Ohhhh I wanted them so badly!!

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

AND...the mystery deepens. Eenie is definitely laying. View attachment 3553401
I only have 3 hens and I picked up a blue and a brown yesterday and a blue the day before. Broody hens don't lay, right? This is the 2nd time since Sunday I've gotten 3.

Also, I just went to shut the others out just now. Usually, I toss them a treat to keep them busy as I close the door. Today, it was a few cherry tomatoes. Eenie came down the ramp like her tail was in fire and nabbed the first tomato she saw. Meanie was having NONE of it! She puffed up like a Tom turkey and chased Eenie back inside with Manny joining in! I closed the pop door and Eenie was back on the nest. She jumped out and gobbled down the two tomatoes like she hadn't eaten in a week (bit my hand on the way) and got right back on the nest as soon as she was done.

So now I'm wondering if she's being picked on. Would she hide in the box they ALL use? That doesn't make a lot of sense, when there are boxes she'd be left alone in, but what do I know? I'm not a chicken.

I thought she was my dominant hen...as much as any are. I've never seen any fights. If not her, then Sheba. I've literally never caught Manny "attending to his job" with Meanie whereas he's on Eenie abd Sheba all the time. She's the only one with all her back feathers; pretty unruffled. But she was a scary chicken for a minute there. They REALLY like those tomatoes!

This is maddening. I can't afford to put in video cameras to figure out what they do all day while I'm at work.

You are likely all tired of this saga. But it's such a mystery to me! I suppose though, worst case scenario, I've wasted 6 eggs and I'll have to figure something else out.

I really hope someone more knowledgeable on chicken behavior can chime in.

Maybe make a thread?