Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

My dear Poopy left us today. She was a very good chicken. She was 4 years and 3 months old. She gave us our first egg ever.
View attachment 4170672View attachment 4170673View attachment 4170674

I'm sorry poppy has left you.
She was pretty and obviously had a very happy 4 years

 

[Ponypoor]

Our hens have made proper holes in our fallow garden bed. They prefer the shady sandbox for hanging out or an occasional dustbath but if DH runs the soaker hose in the bed the hens love dustbaths in the damp soil.

I wanted to seed parsnips & radishes & possibly black seeded Simpson in the fallow bed but I still have too much yard cleanup from all the freeway maple leaves & palm fronds scattered so thick in the chicken yard the hens can't walk thru all the debris. It'll take me at least 2-3 weeks for cleanup plus this old lady has to take it slow & careful in my old age. If parsnips, radishes, & lettuce can survive a late planting maybe I'll still do it ~ but we'll see.
View attachment 4170365

Be very careful! Don’t make me come down there !

 

[Ponypoor]

Some firefly news for you.

https://www.goerie.com/story/sports...nia-with-recent-weather-patterns/84510011007/

Tax
View attachment 4170421

That was very interesting! I will have to go for a midnight walk tomorrow night - see what’s up with the fire flies here

This little fire fly is quite taxing at times

 

[bgmathteach]

You have to treat them as you would a human baby, or at least humanize them. And cannot neglect their time with you. Roosters seem to respond more favorably to a man than a woman. Might be a guy related to respect bonding thing.

Ahh-hem. Last I knew, @RebeccaBoyd isn't a man....

 

[Ponypoor]

So how do you train them? I am spending time with them every day. My husband or I pick them up every day and hold them, sometimes giving team a few treats and sometimes not. We are “firm but friendly” with them, except when Cotton misbehaves and then he gets carried around or locked in the hospital cage for awhile.

Any other rooster advice? @RebeccaBoyd or @Ponypoor ?
Anyone else?


They are beautiful, and love the puppy.

Right now I am finding that my young Roos have settled down quite a bit.

And there seems to be a sort of truce with Mr P and Mr LC.

I really didn’t do anything special with the youngsters - I am very hands on with all my gang, they get picked up and handled all the time. The youngsters were hand raised last year and both were very affectionate and enjoyed snuggling. These days they aren’t as snuggly but I still pick them up and chat to them and visit with them.

They need to acquiesce to my handling them, I do not let them go until they stop struggling. They get placed on my lap and held until they settle then I release them and when they hop down and go away I walk the other way so they don’t feel threatened. I don’t make a big fuss or anything. Just very matter of fact ‘I have you relax ok there you go, see ya later’.

Handling them is good for a couple of
Reasons, if they are Sick/injured they won’t struggle in fear and hurt themselves more. And it shows the others that they trust me. I do not have time for chasing them around getting both of us frustrated.

Of course there are times they just don’t want to be handled and I am good with that I will let them be. But the next time I go to handle them I do not let them get away.

It’s not so much training as conditioning them to being handled. Desensitizing them.

As for getting on together, that is likely an individual thing. My two youngsters pretty much ignore each other. Mr P keeps both of them in line, and so far the two boys give way to Mr P. I can see Mr LC giving Mr P trouble in the future but for now they are coexisting.

 

[bgmathteach]

My dear Poopy left us today. She was a very good chicken. She was 4 years and 3 months old. She gave us our first egg ever.
View attachment 4170672View attachment 4170673View attachment 4170674

 

[Ponypoor]

You have to treat them as you would a human baby, or at least humanize them. And cannot neglect their time with you. Roosters seem to respond more favorably to a man than a woman. Might be a guy related to respect bonding thing.

Hmmm - it’s all about respect - they respect me and I them. And trust. All they have know is safety security food and routine. It’s not magic it’s just spending time with them.

The more time one spends with them the more they learn their cues. And they learn my cues.

 

[Ponypoor]

Thirsty Thursday

Flooded the ground a bit for them tonight - I need to get a kiddy pool for them…

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thirsty Thursday

Flooded the ground a bit for them tonight - I need to get a kiddy pool for them…

View attachment 4170935View attachment 4170936View attachment 4170937

Did they actually wade into the water? We’re going to provide a wading pool tomorrow, but I’m REALLY skeptical.

 

[Ponypoor]

Night everyone - have an amazing fire fly evening!