Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Good morning Princess, Marie, pusscat, wee little man and new moggy- hope he is doing well.

Always lovely seeing you Kelly

Hi from us all here

 

[rural mouse]

A brief update here. No further rooster fiascos, seems we have a system (aka as distract and bribe with treats when Es is with me )for dealing with the big guy till his hormones calm back down.

Integration is going slowly. I had one challenging evening when I brilliantly decided to let the chicks explore the run. Then I struggled very hard to get them back inside again after the bigs had traumatized them. I have not tried that again . So the rest of this week, I am letting them explore the coop fully while the bigs are locked out of it.

Next week, I may attempt to let them mix. I would prefer to do this outside and have the coop run and outside but alas I truly do not have much hope of catching those little ones if they decide not to go to roost in the coop at night with the bigs. Such a dilemma!

Unofficial poll:
Option 1: Keep doing the coop exploration for another week and putting them in the tent at night? This would mean no direct mixing of the tweens and bigs.
Option 2: let the tweens out in the coop and run with the bigs, trusting that their bob and weave and flight skills to get them through.
Option 3: let them out with the flock where they could free range with everyone and pray they return to the coop with the flock at night?

If you let them loose with the bigs in any capacity, expect the littles to loiter outside the coop (whether in the run or fully outside) until the bigs have settled down for the night. They're of an age where the bigs won't let them near. That will probably last until the little girls are starting to lay.

If you see one if the big boys (probably Story (?) as he's lower ranked than Lore) moving around with one of the little girls, standing guard all over, she's testing out nest sites and will TRY HIS PATIENCE. Expect eggs to start from her within the next couple of weeks once that happens.

Personally, I say let them out with the bigs, trust the bob and weave and clutter the run with obstacles that include vertical escape options.

 

[rural mouse]

I finally got to see a baby on a mama in person View attachment 3858822these ladies are co-parenting so sweetly.View attachment 3858823

Those moments of mama/baby interactions are Soooooo sweet! I'm glad they're working together on this.

 

[rural mouse]

Mugs from the photo shoot and the tail of the night rain

Hetty keeps moving

Daisy

Focus

Rose

Kate

Hyacinth

The neighbor's little addition

 

[Ponypoor]

Mugs from the photo shoot and the tail of the night rainView attachment 3858896View attachment 3858897Hetty keeps moving

View attachment 3858898Daisy

View attachment 3858899Focus

View attachment 3858900Rose

View attachment 3858901Kate

View attachment 3858902Hyacinth

View attachment 3858903The neighbor's little addition

Wow hyacinth is gorgeous

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

That’s so lovely- that is a wonderful tribute to your passed feather friends.

Thank you. They'll be missed.

 

[RoyalChick]

If you let them loose with the bigs in any capacity, expect the littles to loiter outside the coop (whether in the run or fully outside) until the bigs have settled down for the night. They're of an age where the bigs won't let them near. That will probably last until the little girls are starting to lay.

If you see one if the big boys (probably Story (?) as he's lower ranked than Lore) moving around with one of the little girls, standing guard all over, she's testing out nest sites and will TRY HIS PATIENCE. Expect eggs to start from her within the next couple of weeks once that happens.

Personally, I say let them out with the bigs, trust the bob and weave and clutter the run with obstacles that include vertical escape options.

I am in the same camp. Trust to clutter and speed. And keep an eye on them of course.

 

[RoyalChick]

Mugs from the photo shoot and the tail of the night rainView attachment 3858896View attachment 3858897Hetty keeps moving

View attachment 3858898Daisy

View attachment 3858899Focus

View attachment 3858900Rose

View attachment 3858901Kate

View attachment 3858902Hyacinth

View attachment 3858903The neighbor's little addition

You have such pretty chickens.

 

[RoyalChick]

Mugshots for Monday.
Pooh, Sylvie and Bernie. The butterfly bush has really grown into a wonderful hideaway for them. It is a thick cave and must be nice and cool underneath.

 

[featherhead007]

Pony Sunday

Check out this beauty. Not sure what sort of moth it is.

View attachment 3857934View attachment 3857935View attachment 3857937View attachment 3857938View attachment 3857936

That is a beautiful flutterby!
(Because they flutter by)
Okay a moth maybe. (But what’s in a name?)