Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

She is looking stunning! So many speckles, do you think she has more than before her molt? We may need a side by side for science!

When she is done molting I will do a side by side. She has a whole bunch more spots than before. It's astonishing.

 

[BY Bob]

Your memories are amusing! But sorry not the video - they’ve lost FOUR chickens so far, and they are clueless that their chickens are living in terror. The hawk will be there and take one at a time until they’re gone. That yard offers zero protection, fishing line in such exposed places is worth zero against a determined and previously successful hawk. Her yell was their command to take cover and run for their lives. :sad

I agree. I fear for their safety. It's up to the chickens to save themselves. Instead of observing and learning or even researching, she is pushing on tiktok.

The good news is she is now famous.

 

[BY Bob]

Lillion:
I guess I'll try to catch her tonight when she's sleeping and move her back to the main coop. But I am a bit concerned. I've not had chickens long enough to know what to do when the pecking order changes so dramatically.

I agree 100% with @ManueB . The only thing I would add is to see if you can put more 'obstacles' and visual barriers in the run - give her someplace to run to/hide from, Tres. Something low enough she can duck under, but Tres can't get on top of her (something with 1' of height or so - not much more - like an old coffee table or something similar), and hang old grain bags, opened up scrap pillow cases, etc. strategically so the hens can get behind them and be 'visually hidden'.

FYI: I once got an old woden coffee table for free, placed an opened up grain bag over it so the 'long sides' of the coffee table were covered, I then put 2x2's the length of the coffee table (either side) - this held the bag in place - but also created a bit of height over the top of the coffee table - and then I screwed 2 roost to that. It gave them an elevated place to roost/hop onto, AND a hiding place for the hens (actually, I've had Roos running through that, too, to get away from a more dominant rooster when they tried to poach their hen!!!

The only other modification I did was to screw the legs onto 2X4s running the length to try to keep the legs from rotting. I've had it ?9? years - wow has it really been that long I've had chickens now?? Well, anyways, I've once had to trim the legs a couple of inches due to rot, and replace the 2X4 runners under it - and it is still going strong - and the chooks still make good use of it.

Very clever! Way to use what's available to improve their environment.

 

[BY Bob]

I found it quite interesting as I have never seen all mine freeze in unison like that. I hope mine know it is the right thing to do! Mostly they dive for cover when they hear the crows attacking a hawk.

I have seen both responses. I once posted a video of them all frozen by an alarm that Aurora gave. It was amazing to watch them wait for her to give the all clear. She also kept doing this low growl to tell everyone it was not clear. Mine had to learn this the hard way just as this woman's poor chickens.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes.
This was Diana’s sport!

Wonderful memories. I love a good chase.

 

[BY Bob]

Well it isn’t slowing him down! So far today he has bred 4 hens, chased Raven down when she was being a bad hen, he scarfed down a load of feed and has been in and out of the barn about 20 times. Right now he is standing watch as the crows and ravens are just squawking up a storm here. I think hunters are in the bush behind me as the horses are also very much on alert looking back there.

That sounds like a full day. Good work sir!

 

[BY Bob]

Cypriano

Great name!

 

[BY Bob]

Hello everyone.

It has been a week since I found time to get on and was over 100 pages behind. This week has been a doozy with Dad, Grandma, Rosie and Mom coming down with a nasty sinus infection and bronchitis a few days of each other. Everyone was tested for the respiratory panel and everything negative. If they had run fevers I would have swore I was dealing with the flu with all of them. They are starting to recover finally the last 2 days. Exhaustion finally won over with me and with mom able to function again and deal with grandma I was able to sleep 19 hours straight. Another 19 and I may feel human and not like a zombie but not going to push my luck. I have had a few breaks this week to spend some time with the chickens but no pictures. Serial stalker Dottie is no longer a serial stalker. She upgraded to serial pecker. If I wear my favorite comfy fleece leggings outside she pecks my ankle area. I really think she hates them but she is going to have to get over it. It is cold, they are comfy and right now all I care about is comfort and not fashion little girl. Since the first peck I have really focused in on time with her. Leggings or not I do believe she would have escalated to the pecking anyway. I have decided she is overtly in your business and wants attention. She pecks, I reach down and pick her up for a few minutes. She never backs away or tries to avoid being picked up. I pet her, she grumbles and growls but settles in. She stalks me, I can lean over and pet her without picking her up and she stays put, grumbling and growling. She also tries to peck the freckle on my wrist and any scratches or scabs on my hands. Constant pecking of hands thanks to the tiny menacing tornado Keeper. Dottie also has a few new nicknames. Pecky McPeckerson and Repeckahen.

Sorry to hear of all the sickness. It is running through here as well. Mrs BY Bob had it but I managed to dodge it while taking care of her.

I love that little pecker. I bet she is one you remember forever.

 

[BY Bob]

I love this photo

So do I. It reflects the way she views herself beautifully.

 

[Marie2020]

Oh that’s a great photo but she needs pearls and her clutch

Don't forget the diamonds