Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

The Order

The pecking order here remains quite obvious. Most of you should know that I stopped watching roosting a long time ago because of how nasty Aurora can be. Last night I was checking to make sure everyone was safe in the coop when i caught Aurora at work. I'm putting this behind a spoiler because it is not for the faint of heart.

I had checked in twice because the first time Hattie was not in the coop. On my first check Lady Featherington and Aster were on the low roost in front of the heat panel. When we check in this time you will see they are now in the high roost with Sydney. Im pretty certain they moved to avoid Aurora. Hattie was probably not in the coop because Aurora was keeping her out.

If you don't want to see poor Hattie picked on, don't watch this video. She is the only hen Aurora can reach.

Spoiler: Aurora at Work

I share this so everyone is reminded how Aurora maintains her position through brute force and terror at roosting time. She is not all warm and friendly.

Poor sweet Hattie. She really doesn't deserve that..

 

[Ponypoor]

Is Daisy an EE? My feedback from owners yrs ago 2013 was that some EE's were timid while others were very assertive & w/ that feedback we instead chose straight Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas (which the 2 we had were quite timid but lucky since our flock dynamic was gentle anyway).

Shellby & Taffy ~ they were gentle as Doves
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Daisy is an Americana, she is one of the chicks one of my egg clients bought for his daughter. Rosario was the other chick.

So both of them were raised away from a normal flock, and didn’t learn flock etiquette.

She gets along fine during they day, it’s just at night at roost time she has issues. But I move her over to the quiet girls and she’s fine. Silly chook, if only she would go next to those in the first place.

Sept 2024
Daisy

 

[Ponypoor]

Ok night night all - I have been putting off chores as it’s snowing like crazy - but it’s mild at 0C (32F). Going to drop like rock over night though.

Tomorrow I need to come home early and get the snow off mum’s gazebo, and the two cover-all fabric sheds. Don’t want them collapsing - I got about 6” of wet snow today added to the over foot already on the gazebo. I noted the long side of the roof starting to sag. Should have put a support on those sides also. Winter is just such a chore.

 

[rural mouse]

Well, I did a thing today, darn my brother and his enabling.

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They have been home about 30 minutes. I have them in the coop settling down. I saw them both, and could not decide on which one to take and leave the other.

Rosie already named them. Mr plum wattles is now Davy Jones and his brother is Hector Barbosa. Davy and Barbosa for short. Davy is the braver of the two. When I let them out of the box I spooked Barbosa by moving the box back and he went into the nest box and hid. Davy just stood there looking at me and I massaged his crop. I have yet to meet a rooster who does not enjoy a good crop massage and Davy is no exception. Tomorrow I will spend all day outside. Half my time with my dear George and the other half just sitting in the coop getting to know the boys.
Davy after his crop massage, I think he wanted me to do it again.
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I do not care what else happens this year all is right in my chicken world again. I have my black silkie roo's.

 

[rural mouse]

The boys namesakes....

Davy
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Barbosa
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The fancy hat!!! Perfect!

 

[BY Bob]

Phyllis is also irreplaceable. I will tell you now, you will not realize you are doing it until you are too late. I did not catch on to what I had done until Bubba was gone. I'm saying I will not compare these boys to Branch and I will try not to. They are just different enough I should be able to accomplish that. I will probably not always be 100% successful.

Truthfully thank goodness I have George. George is his own being and a stark difference from my past boys. He is not a Marans, he is not a silkie, he is George.

Feel free to remind me not to compare them if the day ever comes.

 

[BY Bob]

Mugs Monday

Flopsy - her poor comb is just so floppy now she is back laying eggs, I had hoped it would plump up more
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Marty - she is trying to decide if I need another beating
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Mr P - I cannot wait till his crest feathers are fully grown in, every time I go to put the Pick Stop on him someone picks him so he bleeds, it says do not apply to open wounds.

On the upside he is well able to see now - likely the best he ever could!
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Curly - couldn’t decide which pic I liked best
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Such characters in your group.

 

[BY Bob]

Poor Hattie is elderly though.

But as you say ‘tis the way of the chicken’.

Raven has no qualms about dragging hens off the nest box when they are laying eggs. And she doesn’t even go on the nest box! Have a couple that do that.

Hattie is only 6 months older than Aurora.

She is dealing with the arthritis now and Aurora is not so Hattie seems older.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh great another song in my head

You're welcome!

 

[BY Bob]

The Dumplings
The best I could do, they just don’t want to sit still! Or ‘hey look this way’

Holly
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Jolly
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They both like to snuggle on my lap, poopy feet and all.

How darling!