Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Well I don’t really have one big queen other then Penelope, there seems to be more fluidity here. My nieces black hen Raven seems to be the leader of her pack of velociraptors. And the older chicks really don’t have a leader; Rico is the de facto big boy on the block, but most of the chicks ignore him.

This morning my nieces hens wouldn’t come out of their pen, Rico was waiting for them but they didn’t want to go out so I let them stay in their pen. As Fluffy had broke my quarantine a couple time with the Azur’s I decided to let them in with the nieces hens, and of course Fluffy had to go in also - I think she just also wants to get away from Rico and Penne.

What surprises me is that Mr P chases my nieces hens away, they want to join his group, and I bet his protection, but he chases them off if they come near him.

So as it stands right now, the nieces hens, Fluffy and the Azurs are together. Locked in away from the boys. Not sure what to do with them, I can’t keep them there all the time, and with quarantine broke because of Fluffy I am a bit panicked with that. Though I am not extremely worried as my biggest worry would be avian influenza from thos factory farms, but seems that is very low I haven’t heard any places under quarantine or any wild bird deaths from the flu. I am more worried about Weat Nile with the explosion of mosquitoes here.

Ok well enough worrying I need to throw down hay befor it startes to rain here. Any thoughts on the Rico situation let me know.

Once the ladies have had breakfast/the morning mate fest is mostly over, open things up and let them sort it. They're wanting to avoid Rico. Are they avoiding Floyd or Penne? If not (or not as much), then Rico should be on the list of rehome/freezer camp and the other two on the probably keep list. As long as the ladies have time to eat unmolested, they will sort things out with the boys.

 

[Ponypoor]

Once the ladies have had breakfast/the morning mate fest is mostly over, open things up and let them sort it. They're wanting to avoid Rico. Are they avoiding Floyd or Penne? If not (or not as much), then Rico should be on the list of rehome/freezer camp and the other two on the probably keep list. As long as the ladies have time to eat unmolested, they will sort things out with the boys.

Floyd is a less dominant male here, I have seen him a few times try to go after the girls but they chase him off. I am not sure how he would be in Rico was out of the picture. I would say he is #3 in the Roo chicks.

Penne gets bold at times (I say he is #2 in the Roo chicks), but because he is hanging around with Mr P and his ladies Mr P clobbers him fast. I have seen him dancing for the ladies right in front of Mr P, who lets him be as long as he doesn't cause the ladies to scream blue murder. Right now as he is fully integrated with Mr P and his ladies I feel like just leaving him.

I had hoped that Rico would settle a bit with having my niece's girls here, but the big hen Raven won't let him near her, Sharpie also is big and strong enough to chase him off, not sure about the BR Larry, which leaves poor Tuff and Red who are not feeling great, this morning he got hold of Tuff and she was screaming, I knocked him off her and chased him out, Tuff went and hid behind me. Though have to say, Tuff's comb is perking up and getting red, and her tail is up and she seems to be gaining weight (can't find my scale to see), and Rico did breed her the other day without her screaming blue murder. But Red is not well and I feel she is going to need her abdomen drained soon, I don't want to do it unless she really shows signs of being in distress. Don't want to risk infection.

Chiiiiickens!

 

[Ponypoor]

.... and don't even get me started on the Azurs - I am having fits thinking of what will happen when I turn them loose the first time. Will they stay with the pack? or will the run for the hills?!

I will likely just keep everyone in the barn that day so that they can't fly away anywhere.

At least they have settled down and don't run away like I am a big bad wolf! This morning they were lounging about and I was able to just walk through them and they didn't even move, I think seeing me handling the others makes a big difference. Of course having Fluffy in there with them, and they seeing her run up to me for treats and me picking her up and all, they seem to be following her lead, and following her around when she was in there.

I think maybe next Wednesday or Thursday I will see about turning them loose. Or maybe wait till winter when they all stay in all the time and don't go outside!

 

[featherhead007]

.... and don't even get me started on the Azurs - I am having fits thinking of what will happen when I turn them loose the first time. Will they stay with the pack? or will the run for the hills?!

I will likely just keep everyone in the barn that day so that they can't fly away anywhere.

At least they have settled down and don't run away like I am a big bad wolf! This morning they were lounging about and I was able to just walk through them and they didn't even move, I think seeing me handling the others makes a big difference. Of course having Fluffy in there with them, and they seeing her run up to me for treats and me picking her up and all, they seem to be following her lead, and following her around when she was in there.

I think maybe next Wednesday or Thursday I will see about turning them loose. Or maybe wait till winter when they all stay in all the time and don't go outside!

Are you the Big Bad Wolf? I never thought that.
They are just being chickens. I have seen my birds all panic at the sight of one, tripping over herself.

 

[featherhead007]

Waiting for the Cocorico from Jaffar. I’m about to run out there and check them out.

 

[featherhead007]

There he goes! Trouble is averted

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I really am having a great birthday today. Usually I like to be alone, by myself and not be bothered, but today seems different than previous birthdays. Lots of kind greetings from friends and family. And the chooks are behaving themselves today. (I wonder what could be wrong, that I haven’t noticed yet?)

Happy belated Birthday, Alex!
PS thank you for the rock comments!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Thank you all. I fixed the photo problem. I spent a few hours typing that, trying to figure out what to say. A few tears were shed, but not too many. ❤❤❤❤

That was beautiful, and I enjoyed learning about her other companions too!

 

[rural mouse]

Caturday adventures

Even Castor likes the boulders

 

[RoyalChick]

We can’t get that here either .

It’s either chick starter we can get medicated and non medicated from 3 different makers (the Sharps brand has large crumbles hard for little chicks to eat), Grower from the 3 different makers (Purinas is just dust!), and layer ration from the 3 makers. I haven’t tried Purina layer brands.

There is a serious lack of variety here, oh hey I haven’t looked at Peavey Mart to see if they have an all flock… they carry their own brand of feeds.

EDIT: nope Peavey Mart has just starter medicated, grower at 16% and layer.

I am surprised there is no game bird feed. Do people not raise game birds?
Edit - looks like you found some. You can mix it with a lower % protein feed to get what you want.