Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

For the first time ever my ladies have stayed in their coop all day. Even in the nastiest weather my hens are usually huddled up somewhere outside. Made it to 27° briefly, even the hummingbird feeder keeps freezing! There is something weird about this storm.
View attachment 3725401

I feel blessed that the snow missed me, I may still get snow squalls, but for now it’s just really windy now and getting colder.

Earlier I opened to barn door and they all rushed to the door - and stopped. Nope they said not going out there. I put some old straw and hay down, but then the wind picked up and turned cold, that was the end of them going out!

 

[featherhead007]

It makes me scared. Aurora is super scary. I'd better take blueberries if I'm going to get near her as a peace offering.

Bribing Queen Aurora doesn’t work!
Trust me I have tried!

 

[featherhead007]

Sir Jaffar is now out with his girls. His condition improved dramatically after an afternoon of rest and vitamin water.

 

[rural mouse]

I feel blessed that the snow missed me, I may still get snow squalls, but for now it’s just really windy now and getting colder.

Earlier I opened to barn door and they all rushed to the door - and stopped. Nope they said not going out there. I put some old straw and hay down, but then the wind picked up and turned cold, that was the end of them going out!

View attachment 3725408

Looks like my crew: CHARGE!!!!! WAIT A MINUTE! STOOOOOPPPPP!!!!!!!

 

[SimpleJenn]

@Ponypoor snow! Hubby shoveled it off for me a bit later, he saw me heading out to do it and told me "oh no you don't!"

 

[RoyalChick]

Pooh inspection report

It is a wild night out there with gusts of wind throwing debris against the walls. but I went out to inspect Pooh.
She was not going to be taken quietly so she screamed bloody murder the whole time, and between that and the noise of the storm everyone (most significantly Bernie) was awake and very alert.
Bottom line I can't see a scratch on Pooh. That seems unbelievable so I am a bit nervous that it is just that I am incompetent chicken inspector. But even where some fluff was loose and falling out, her skin showed not a scratch.
I inspected her back and under her wings and then I briefly laid her on her back to inspect her underside.
It is very odd. She does seem to be very fluffy, could that have protected her? Or did the fact that she fought and ran and Bernie and maybe others joined in have meant that the hawk never got a good grip?
I fear the most likely is that I am just not observant enough and have missed something, so I am still going to watch closely.
Examining Bernie this evening was absolutely not going to happen - she had me in her sights like she did the hawk as I was clearly murdering Pooh!
Bernie has also decided that one night of special roosting privileges was quite enough and so Pooh is back in her old spot.

Pooh roosting with her buddies.

 

[bgmathteach]

I have unsealed it.

yup - got that from the first 2 notices

I love that flag - it is SSSOOOOOOO Aurora!

 

[notabitail]

Bribing Queen Aurora doesn’t work!
Trust me I have tried!

Maybe entire bags of blueberries, homegrown mealworms, and some food will be good enough. If not for her, then Phyllis.

 

[bgmathteach]

Pooh inspection report

It is a wild night out there with gusts of wind throwing debris against the walls. but I went out to inspect Pooh.
She was not going to be taken quietly so she screamed bloody murder the whole time, and between that and the noise of the storm everyone (most significantly Bernie) was awake and very alert.
Bottom line I can't see a scratch on Pooh. That seems unbelievable so I am a bit nervous that it is just that I am incompetent chicken inspector. But even where some fluff was loose and falling out, her skin showed not a scratch.
I inspected her back and under her wings and then I briefly laid her on her back to inspect her underside.
It is very odd. She does seem to be very fluffy, could that have protected her? Or did the fact that she fought and ran and Bernie and maybe others joined in have meant that the hawk never got a good grip?
I fear the most likely is that I am just not observant enough and have missed something, so I am still going to watch closely.
Examining Bernie this evening was absolutely not going to happen - she had me in her sights like she did the hawk as I was clearly murdering Pooh!
Bernie has also decided that one night of special roosting privileges was quite enough and so Pooh is back in her old spot.

Pooh roosting with her buddies.
View attachment 3725440

Did you check her neck? Hawks try for 1 of 2 things: Grab the back to carry it (prey) off, or go for the head/neck. Smaller hawks nearly always try to get the neck - they repeatedly squeeze, trying to pierce and suffocate or exanguinate their prey

 

[Ponypoor]

Pooh inspection report

It is a wild night out there with gusts of wind throwing debris against the walls. but I went out to inspect Pooh.
She was not going to be taken quietly so she screamed bloody murder the whole time, and between that and the noise of the storm everyone (most significantly Bernie) was awake and very alert.
Bottom line I can't see a scratch on Pooh. That seems unbelievable so I am a bit nervous that it is just that I am incompetent chicken inspector. But even where some fluff was loose and falling out, her skin showed not a scratch.
I inspected her back and under her wings and then I briefly laid her on her back to inspect her underside.
It is very odd. She does seem to be very fluffy, could that have protected her? Or did the fact that she fought and ran and Bernie and maybe others joined in have meant that the hawk never got a good grip?
I fear the most likely is that I am just not observant enough and have missed something, so I am still going to watch closely.
Examining Bernie this evening was absolutely not going to happen - she had me in her sights like she did the hawk as I was clearly murdering Pooh!
Bernie has also decided that one night of special roosting privileges was quite enough and so Pooh is back in her old spot.

Pooh roosting with her buddies.
View attachment 3725440

Marty and Bernie would be a scary team! Can you imagine the two of them while trying to check on chicks or Mr P ? I would have to count my fingers after!