Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Do be careful. They say bad flash floods.

I’m a safety guy!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Sigh, I am really missing Butter tonight. I did not realize just how much I depended on that hen and her peace keeping skills. Raven's chicks now know they need to roost in the coop. They want to, but those dang girls are evil to them. This evening Lilly was standing guard at the entrance and would peck them if they tried to run by her. I had to grab her behind and toss her on the roost so they could come in. They have been used to having the front roost to themselves as the girls had been until this evening content to stay on the back one. The chicks get on the roost, get settled and then Goose has to show herself. She flew to their roost and was aggressively pecking at them trying to run them off. I repeatedly put her on the back roost but she kept coming. I finally resorted to letting her on the front roost. Every time she went to peck at the chicks who were huddled at one side I used my fingers and pecked her head and neck to reprimand her. Finally after it had been completely dark for about 10 minutes she gave up and settled on the other end of their roost. I thought of bringing Raven in to use a buffer between the chicks but she has been reprimanding them herself when they try to gather closely around her. If Butter were here she would not have let Lilly bar them from entering the coop. She also would have placed herself on the roost between the chicks and the other hens and beat the tar out of any who tried to peck them. They have to sleep in the coop for now and I hope this does not become a nightly event. When they are older they may choose to sleep on the big roost between the horses. That seems to be the natural progression of things with some of them. I think if it happens tomorrow I will pull Branch off the big roost and see what he does. I know he will not be happy as he does not like sleeping in the coop anymore. I also believe though he will not let Goose or the others harass the chicks.

 

[featherhead007]

Sigh, I am really missing Butter tonight. I did not realize just how much I depended on that hen and her peace keeping skills. Raven's chicks now know they need to roost in the coop. They want to, but those dang girls are evil to them. This evening Lilly was standing guard at the entrance and would peck them if they tried to run by her. I had to grab her behind and toss her on the roost so they could come in. They have been used to having the front roost to themselves as the girls had been until this evening content to stay on the back one. The chicks get on the roost, get settled and then Goose has to show herself. She flew to their roost and was aggressively pecking at them trying to run them off. I repeatedly put her on the back roost but she kept coming. I finally resorted to letting her on the front roost. Every time she went to peck at the chicks who were huddled at one side I used my fingers and pecked her head and neck to reprimand her. Finally after it had been completely dark for about 10 minutes she gave up and settled on the other end of their roost. I thought of bringing Raven in to use a buffer between the chicks but she has been reprimanding them herself when they try to gather closely around her. If Butter were here she would not have let Lilly bar them from entering the coop. She also would have placed herself on the roost between the chicks and the other hens and beat the tar out of any who tried to peck them. They have to sleep in the coop for now and I hope this does not become a nightly event. When they are older they may choose to sleep on the big roost between the horses. That seems to be the natural progression of things with some of them. I think if it happens tomorrow I will pull Branch off the big roost and see what he does. I know he will not be happy as he does not like sleeping in the coop anymore. I also believe though he will not let Goose or the others harass the chicks.

I’m very sorry for you having lost Butter.
She was a great hen. I wouldn’t expect you to get over losing her. Just remember that you have the others that need the guidance.

 

[featherhead007]

With that, I decided that I would confess to everyone that my chooks are nuts!
I take full and complete responsibility for the way they have grown up. I say this, because I’m also nuts. There’s no history of insanity in my family, until I got into the hobby of raising chickens. Now I’m the only one. I also believe that the demographics of my homestead is a major factor in my insanity. Everyone around here in this tiny town are just as crazy as I profess to be!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Jailbreak at Chickatraz!

Newly installed perch + lots of calisthenic wing flapping exercises for two days = this...

Then this.....Gauging height + distance

Bingo! She was short, but hooked her chin on the top edge and with tremendous effort, flapping like mad, pulled and climbed up.

This one got a closer launch spot and easily managed, but her perch was really wobbly. Third one left behind started peeping but then blasted up too. Soon they got up on my shoulder, which I loved. Can't say I was anxious to get the top on, I want them flying!

Got them to bed by lowering the lights, putting them in again, then getting down right next to the brooder plate and calling them. They hopped down. Stuck my arm in the lower hatch opening there, tapped on the warm side, & cupped the kiddos next to my hand under there. Little beaks in my fingers, love it!

 

[GregnLety]

Where's the spoiled chicken?

 

[RoyalChick]

Jailbreak at Chickatraz!

Newly installed perch + lots of calisthenic wing flapping exercises for two days = this...
View attachment 3614499

Then this.....Gauging height + distance
View attachment 3614497

Bingo! She was short, but hooked her chin on the top edge and with tremendous effort, flapping like mad, pulled and climbed up.
View attachment 3614496

This one got a closer launch spot and easily managed, but her perch was really wobbly. Third one left behind started peeping but then blasted up too. Soon they got up on my shoulder, which I loved. Can't say I was anxious to get the top on, I want them flying!
View attachment 3614498

Got them to bed by lowering the lights, putting them in again, then getting down right next to the brooder plate and calling them. They hopped down. Stuck my arm in the lower hatch opening there, tapped on the warm side, & cupped the kiddos next to my hand under there. Little beaks in my fingers, love it!

They are like a circus act!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Late today, an expedition outside for the junior jungle fowl

 

[Marie2020]

I find that body language has a lot to do with the communication between the animals and their humans. Coco for example, will come up and want a snuggle and cuddle with me. That’s saying “I love you daddy!”

Then again she's always after a few tasty bits like meal worms or a morsel of steak .

 

[Marie2020]

They are like a circus act!

If you add dry milk powder, 1/2 - 3/4 cup for each three cups of milk, that works to make it thicker. I use dry whole milk powder.

But wouldn't the dried milk take away the good bacteria?

I wouldn't mind using that dried milk method in a pudding though.