Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Well I just finished uploading a whole ton of photos, so here's your tax.
Yes that is Tangent on Dawn's back.View attachment 3825661

OOOOOhhh. Free ride AND footwarmer all in one, what's not to love!!

 

[PTR]

I did the necropsy.

I couldn’t find anything. I think I saw lice/mites though. Gonna treat my whole flock for that tomorrow.

Her organs were not black. Sumatra, maybe? Her breast bone was black though. I didn’t look at the other bones - it started thundering before I could get the chance.

 

[Marie2020]

I can't do replies for some reason. As I write I land up in a different thread.

Have a good night everyone

@featherhead007 Have a lovely vacation. I'll bash you when you come home about the blond joke, you naughty boy oh here you go

I was also trying to say how much I loved the post about the Dom chickens. They sound adorable. @Silvester017

 

[PTR]

I can't do replies for some reason. As I write I land up in a different thread.

Have a good night everyone

@featherhead007 Have a lovely vacation. I'll bash you when you come home about the blond joke, you naughty boy oh here you go

I was also trying to say how much I loved the post about the Dom chickens. They sound adorable. @Silvester017

Good night Marie!

 

[Sylvester017]

Ok. I watched to 6:45. Here's what I'm seeing.

1. You're afraid of him and doing a good job of masking it, but he knows it.

2. In his mind, you're another rooster coming into his territory.

3. The way you're petting the girls, you're trying to MATE with his girls, IN FRONT OF HIM.

4. The girls see you as a better rooster than Pastel.

5. The way he's going for your toes is the same way any chicken would tell another to back off or give ground. They peck toes and/or heads, whichever is more accessible.


Solutions (some of these MUST be implemented if you're going to keep ANY rooster).

1. Change the way you pet any of the birds. Running your hand down their back is a familiar gesture, especially if you have any experience with furry critters. HOWEVER in chickens, it's MATING. Instead, bring your hand in low and in front and rub their breasts/wattles. In rubbing their breast, you can also do a but of crop massage and get a pretty good idea of how well/poorly each is eating. You can also get an idea of if they're gaining /losing weight through their keel. An added benefit of petting this way (its more like scratching behind a dog's ears) is the hen stands up more which shows any rooster watching that you're NOT attempting to mount HIS ladies. If you do NOT make this change, 100% guarantee that you will eventually have problems with every rooster you have.

2. Toss Pastel the choice treats. HE will call the ladies to him, raising him in their eyes and helping reassure him that you aren't trying to steal his girls. Choice treats for this: walnuts (break them into chicken bite sized pieces), banana chunks (they split into 3rds lengthwise and break up nicely after that), blueberries, grapes (split big ones in half). Do NOT expect Pastel (or any roo) to eat out of your hand in front of his girls.

3. Spend time out there just sitting. Read a book, color or draw something. Don't be the center of their attention. They will swarm you, but when they realize you don't have goodies (or rather Pastel has them), they will go back to their regular activities. At first, sit just outside their run, as getting them to ignore you will take some time and he needs time to see you as a lesser threat. While Pastel is still considering you another rooster after his girls, make sure your back is to something solid. And read a hardback book. That way you have a shield if he does fly at you (which is a possibility with his current thought process).


4. When chickens tell each other to back off, they peck. They don't understand the word "no" at this point. You need to "peck" them (a sharpish finger into their shoulder will work, but needs to be FAST) when they (the girls) do things like hop up on the bucket. Getting the ladies to give you a but more space will also help Pastel recognize you're not trying to steal the girls.

Sorry for the dissertation, but from what I saw, he's actually a very good roo, who is acting as a proper rooster. He simply needs to be reprogrammed to not see you (and your mom) as roosters out to steal his ladies. The reprogramming may or may not work. I don't know if you'll be able to work past your fear of him. Changing the way you interact with the hens is imperative if you don't want to have the same thing happening with your cockerels when they reach the idiocy phase.

Thank you for saying what I wanted to. Roos or an alpha hen that has no roo in the flock must get the food and attention first. From the video I saw Pastel seemed a fairly normal roo except that he was not given the feed first.

When we feed treats we give alpha first crack at it & when she walks away the other girls swarm in.

 

[notabitail]

Thank you for saying what I wanted to. Roos or an alpha hen that has no roo in the flock must get the food and attention first. From the video I saw Pastel seemed a fairly normal roo except that he was not given the feed first.

When we feed treats we give alpha first crack at it & when she walks away the other girls swarm in.

My alpha never goes for it first. She lets the others eat. I think it has to do with her belief I am a rooster. Not to mention recent bullying from Dominica.

 

[Sylvester017]

Doing okay. Hot here and hard for everything to thrive.
This is not everything
View attachment 3838616View attachment 3838617View attachment 3838618View attachment 3838619

Oh hard one!!
Maybe cinnamon rolls and vanilla cake with jam in between the cake.

CC your photos are the bomb! Gorgeous!

 

[SimpleJenn]

Okay, I’ve insulted obesity.
I have insulted blondes in general
And I’m running out of bad jokes and racist remarks.

Hopefully you can stock back up on your vacation.
Later this week I have to go to the feed store after kiddos dr appointment. Going to get a bag of full plume and if there are clearance priced chicks...well Morinth is still a broody buttcheeks...
Nah probably won't. Hubby just got me a 3d printer file subscription so I'd best behave.
This weekend we are finishing the apron on the run. And after we're done I'll toss Mor-mor (kiddos nickname for her) in the breaker.

 

[featherhead007]

Hopefully you can stock back up on your vacation.
Later this week I have to go to the feed store after kiddos dr appointment. Going to get a bag of full plume and if there are clearance priced chicks...well Morinth is still a broody buttcheeks...
Nah probably won't. Hubby just got me a 3d printer file subscription so I'd best behave.
This weekend we are finishing the apron on the run. And after we're done I'll toss Mor-mor (kiddos nickname for her) in the breaker.

You need more chicks

 

[Sylvester017]

My alpha never goes for it first. She lets the others eat. I think it has to do with her belief I am a rooster. Not to mention recent bullying from Dominica.

Our alpha hen (a Dominique) must get 1st choice, takes a bite or two, & steps back or walks away for the others to whoosh in. Since she's the biggest, oldest, and assumes alpha we've noticed she avoids chasing the newest littles (Silkies) if we respect her status. If she goes first for food it eliminates her chasing or pecking a bantam. She's 7 yrs in August & have no idea how old she'll get before we'll be left w/ only 5 Silkie hens. For being a bigger bird than the Silkies she's been good w/them all her life.

A huge Cuckoo Breda (7.5 lbs) we had in the flock was so nasty to bantams we re-homed her -- she didn't like people either but she apparently didn't mind sleeping w/ her new friend where she was re-homed.