Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

They are so cute right now, the flock is totally cool with them. I think it helps that my bully chicken, Digger died earlier this summer. The second biggest bully is Livi my only RIR, but she's just coming off being broody and is molting pretty bad right now.

The littles are a bit bewildered as to why all these big chickens aren't chasing them!! They all are mingling, eating, and drinking together.

We all want to see pictures of them all hanging out together. Pleeeeeeeeeez!

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

We all want to see pictures of them all hanging out together. Pleeeeeeeeeez!

I'll get them tonight! I'll be home earlier, they might even get some free range time too, if it's not raining.

 

[RoyalChick]

This may be a first. It certainly was for me!
I just finished dust-bathing with the Princesses. It was as dirty and disgusting as you would imagine, and also just as lovely.
It was a complete accident, but in hindsight predictable.
I continue to have a mouse problem in the Chicken Palace and worry that if there is a breach in the Palace walls it might be a way in for something bigger like a weasel.
I have been using the cameras to identify the rodent access points and then sealing them up. They are usually at corners where two bits of hardware cloth come together and I have been using wire and spare scraps of hardware cloth to patch them up.
Today I took the day off work and was using the time to close a rodent super-highway.
This involved me lying flat out on the ground (outside the Palace) with my head up against the concrete footings that anchor the whole thing in place.
So naturally the Princesses came to the other side of the hardware cloth to investigate what I was doing and to keep me company.
Then they decided to dust bathe. Because of the hill they were just about at the top of my head. We were separated only by the hardware cloth and they kicked all the dust into my hair, my eyes and my nose. That 3rd eyelid they have sure would have been useful!
I finished my patching up in a hail of dirt and small stones and accompanied by lots of chicken purring right next to my ear.
I don't think it will replace showering any time soon - but it was an experience worth having.
Somehow the chickens look much better for their bath than I do!

 

[Shadrach]

She is lovely. It is a great photo. I have to say I admire her even more now when she sets herself up in the big coop. She has a way with her that is very appealing.

She's completely different to her sister Tap. Tap looks more like their mum Mel and has the same attention seeking behaviour. Mel settled down. I hope Tap does the same. She's a right PITA at the moment.

 

[BY Bob]

I'll get them tonight! I'll be home earlier, they might even get some free range time too, if it's not raining.

Thanks. Looks like bad weather up your way tonight. Be safe. The warnings are already up.

 

[BY Bob]

This may be a first. It certainly was for me!
I just finished dust-bathing with the Princesses. It was as dirty and disgusting as you would imagine, and also just as lovely.
It was a complete accident, but in hindsight predictable.
I continue to have a mouse problem in the Chicken Palace and worry that if there is a breach in the Palace walls it might be a way in for something bigger like a weasel.
I have been using the cameras to identify the rodent access points and then sealing them up. They are usually at corners where two bits of hardware cloth come together and I have been using wire and spare scraps of hardware cloth to patch them up.
Today I took the day off work and was using the time to close a rodent super-highway.
This involved me lying flat out on the ground (outside the Palace) with my head up against the concrete footings that anchor the whole thing in place.
So naturally the Princesses came to the other side of the hardware cloth to investigate what I was doing and to keep me company.
Then they decided to dust bathe. Because of the hill they were just about at the top of my head. We were separated only by the hardware cloth and they kicked all the dust into my hair, my eyes and my nose. That 3rd eyelid they have sure would have been useful!
I finished my patching up in a hail of dirt and small stones and accompanied by lots of chicken purring right next to my ear.
I don't think it will replace showering any time soon - but it was an experience worth having.
Somehow the chickens look much better for their bath than I do!

Communal bathing is a great way to bond. Somehow I don't think it was how you wanted to bond with them but I'm certain they liked it!

 

[Shadrach]

I don't know if this helps at all but before I joined BYC I had an alarming fox event when I was right by the Princesses. They all flew (quite high) to get away from a young fox who was as startled as they were.
Maggie landed like a canon-ball with a thump (she is not a small lady) and later that day I noticed she was limping badly.
As a new chicken tender I of course scoured BYC which told me to separate her but my instincts told me not to do that. I also remembered my old medical physiology about healing times and just watched her closely.
She was good at resting it (by standing on one leg and by sitting down often) and just like in humans it took several weeks, but she was completely healed. It is only because I have video that I can even tell which leg it was.
I know you know 10,000x more than I do about chickens, but I do know a fair bit of basic biology and physiology, and being patient may be the best thing.

Your probably right. I worry about them when they are not fully fit.
She was out and about today and seemed fine. Kept up with everyone. Barged her way into the food fray no problem. Maybe it's me that needs the medication.

 

[Shadrach]

You couldn't make this stuff up! What a racket.

 

[BY Bob]

Your probably right. I worry about them when they are not fully fit.
She was out and about today and seemed fine. Kept up with everyone. Barged her way into the food fray no problem. Maybe it's me that needs the medication.

Sounds like she is back on it. Remember Lilly had the same issue this year. She limped her way around and sat a lot. But she slowly recovered on her own. They are pretty resilient.

 

[BY Bob]

You couldn't make this stuff up! What a racket.
View attachment 2305881

Mine just don't do that. They stand and yell.