Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Integration of Dusty the wheaten Marans rooster has gone okay, considering. He is definitely not alpha. His sweetness may even be stupidity, compared to my free-range raised flock. He’s also very clunky, both on his feet and with the ladies. I get the feeling he didn’t get quite the stimulation and exercise (and possibly the nutrition) that he is getting now at his last home. But he is able to hang in the outskirts and even interact with the ladies now, without getting chased off (too much). His gait is getting better. Not so heavy footed. He roosts with the rest of them just fine, even if he is one of the last to go in for the night. He’s quickly become endearing. He makes these cute noises, unlike any of my others. And he gets bolder when he sees me around. Because I’m not tolerating any meanness beyond normal pecking order stuff.
No blood drawn yet, anyway.

He sure is a looker. I'm glad he is fitting in.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I just remembered this and I think I might need to steal this suggestion and have Big Bertha be my oldest pullet's BYC name, if that's ok with you and @ChicoryBlue. She's a chonky solid girl with an attitude that's earned her the IRL name Boss B*tch and I can't be bothered trying to remember to censor that on here.

Fine with me. You could call her Boss Bertha. Is she second in pecking order?

 

[rural mouse]

Sorry for the insanely long post! The basic is this first sentence: I didn’t see what happened yesterday after the early morning because I was gone all day, but today Hazel decided she was taking herself totally out of the picture and stayed in the coop all day. Weather may have played a role, windy, rainy, cold at 43F (6C), but I think she’d had enough.

After four hours since the pop door opened and she was alive by camera and still hadn’t emerged, I checked on her in person. She seemed okay. I collected a couple eggs under her (from yesterday), which she stood up for me to get but didn’t leave the box. I then brought feed and water, and she left the box and ate a little bit and drank a lot. She walked a bit around in the coop, fluffed up her feathers, and went back to the nest box. I left the food and water dish under the opaque window in the coop with her. DH and I went for a walk, but before I left I put Tedi and two pullets in the attached little run thinking it could help reset their relationship with Hazel. That was a mistake. I thought in case Hazel wanted to go out she would be with a BO, and Tedi is very easy-going with the pullets.

When I came back Tedi was pacing to get out of there, one pullet had managed to get out past the tarps, and the other was also anxious to join her broodmates, doing circles around the bucket to keep away from Tedi who was just pacing.Let them out, then closed the big run doors to the aviary so no one would come out (they were all in there) and bother Hazel while I checked her. She seemed very content in the nestbox, as if all was going to plan. Her feed was completely gone, water tipped over with foot mud and litter in it and prints from her reluctant companions everywhere.

Brought more feed and fresh water, and she ate several bites and drank a little. Walked around a bit, looked out the open back with me there, and let me change out the roostbars which were really dirty - during which usually she would want to leave - and poop scoop the poop tray. She paid very close attention to what she could hear of the goings-on outside. Then she pooped, and went back to the nestbox. None of these times did she even peek out the pop door or go out on to the veranda. I checked her legs and head, belly and back, no signs of injury.

I kept the access to that little run open to the aviary and did some chores everywhere and observed up to roosting time. Because the weather is nasty - rain, blowing, 43F, everybody else was more or less in the big run and several were usually up on the perches. I put one of the pullet feeders at the far end and moved one of their waterers near it, so the Buckeyes had their end more or less. I set out “treats” of the pellet feed all over on things, hand fed everybody too, and everyone had some.

Everybody was getting along pretty famously, some pushing by BO’s, but also perching quite close together too. Shehnai was hanging out peacefully, patrolling in and out between perching or mostly just standing nearby. He never went over to Hazel’s coop or seemed to seek her out. Out of sight, out of mind?

So I decided that I’ll finish the run extension before working further on the roof and just get some new tarps, and concentrate on more interior space first. Try to arrange the coops and their runs up to the big inside space so that I can sequester reasonable areas. The way Hazel behaved today I’m tempted to have her in a no touch situation for awhile, with no-see places for her to feel safe. I can’t have her living in the coop for weeks, can I? I suppose I could, as if she were broody?

DH is suggesting I rehome Shehnai to solve all this. But it seems way early to give up now. DH has some deep fears because he encountered aggressive attacking hens in the way past, so roosters are like that times ten in his mind I think.

Shehnai is not letting the pullets eat first, he digs right in when I offer him feed treats first, but when a pullet comes next to him and starts eating too, after a few seconds he walks away, partly because a BO might be approaching, but maybe because he’s letting her eat?

No attempts at mating with anybody or any tidbitting that I saw today. A couple of days ago he did lift a leaf up a few times for one of the BO’s before running away.

He is leading the pullets to roost in their coop each night.

The pullets with Tedi. I'm not so sure it was a mistake. Yes, 1 got out. The other clearly respects Tedi. I think it's worth trying for at least a week, whether any of the BO are included or not.

Shehnai is demonstrating some leadership skills and is attempting to tidbit. He needs to use good treats. The time is coming to keep the extra goodies and only give them to him to give to the ladies. Currently, he is still growing so needs the extra protein and calories. Try to time the treats for when they're nearing ready for mid-morning/mid-afternoon feeding times and avoid the first/last meals of the day.

Hazel clearly doesn't want the leadership position. Until one of the BOs steps up clearly for it, she's got it by default. When Silver died, I thought for certain her crown would pass to Pear, the next oldest. No. Storm was brooding her chicks and claimed the crown. She passed not only Pear, but PITA, Blanche, Nellie, Twirp, Cuckoo, and possibly Thing and Jessica (can't remember timeline on their deaths) for it. Since, all but Pear, PITA, and Nellie have passed. Did they know the health of most of those was failing? I don't know. You don't have the numbers to draw upon that mine do. Your pullets don't have the experience yet, so shouldn't be queen yet. Unless one of the BOs steps up (seems they're not quite ready either), Hazel has it. I think that's making for a somewhat disfunctional leadership position. If Hazel passed, would the crown pass to one of the BOs.....maybe. if Shehnai was removed, would things settle down....maybe. Is Hazel fading....maybe.

Before I joined BYC, 2 of the 3 hens I started with died, leaving me with Silver and Buster. She avoided him. He tried to mate with her incessantly (hormonal idiot/only hen). We ended up with her in the garage and him in the coop. Let her out in the morning, him in the afternoon. Got babies. Raised in the garage, fenced off from her but able to see.

They all went to the coop when she protected the babies and they responded to her alert call. She promptly started hiding from Buster again, abandoning the chicks, giving him his other rooster duties: teaching the next generation.

We sort of stumbled into it. One of the people I worked with had had chickens in the past and talked about the broody abandoning the chicks. While we didn't consciously do that, it kinda happened anyway. Pear is the last of those babies. Buster was older than Shehnai is. Silver was younger than Hazel is.

If you do pull Hazel for a while, get a few chicks for her to come back with. She won't sit on them to keep them warm, but if she's been with them from tiny, she should still be "parent". It will also raise her status in the flock. Mamas are respected.

Lots to think about and more observation.

 

[Ponypoor]

You would shave it off.

Hahahaha

Not completely! I was eyeballing Mr P and was thinking ‘hmmmm I can give him a real funky doodle doo soon, make him look all macho macho male’

 

[RoyalChick]

Happy 2fer Tuesday everyone
Two little chickens

Two big black chickens (for once not fighting).

A big chicken and a little chicken.

A little chicken and a littler chicken

Have a great chicken day everyone (as @notabitail knows, every day is a chicken day).

 

[rural mouse]

Happy 2fer Tuesday everyone
Two little chickens

View attachment 4232357

Two big black chickens (for once not fighting).
View attachment 4232359

A big chicken and a little chicken.
View attachment 4232361

A little chicken and a littler chicken
View attachment 4232362

Have a great chicken day everyone (as @notabitail knows, every day is a chicken day).

Cookie's getting her mottled breast! The back is coming soon! She's already stunning! And the more I see her, the more I think I'm right on the breeding. I may have to figure out a 2nd coop with a run to test it....and get both from a different source just to make sure....

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The pullets with Tedi. I'm not so sure it was a mistake. Yes, 1 got out. The other clearly respects Tedi. I think it's worth trying for at least a week, whether any of the BO are included or not.

Shehnai is demonstrating some leadership skills and is attempting to tidbit. He needs to use good treats. The time is coming to keep the extra goodies and only give them to him to give to the ladies. Currently, he is still growing so needs the extra protein and calories. Try to time the treats for when they're nearing ready for mid-morning/mid-afternoon feeding times and avoid the first/last meals of the day.

Hazel clearly doesn't want the leadership position. Until one of the BOs steps up clearly for it, she's got it by default. When Silver died, I thought for certain her crown would pass to Pear, the next oldest. No. Storm was brooding her chicks and claimed the crown. She passed not only Pear, but PITA, Blanche, Nellie, Twirp, Cuckoo, and possibly Thing and Jessica (can't remember timeline on their deaths) for it. Since, all but Pear, PITA, and Nellie have passed. Did they know the health of most of those was failing? I don't know. You don't have the numbers to draw upon that mine do. Your pullets don't have the experience yet, so shouldn't be queen yet. Unless one of the BOs steps up (seems they're not quite ready either), Hazel has it. I think that's making for a somewhat disfunctional leadership position. If Hazel passed, would the crown pass to one of the BOs.....maybe. if Shehnai was removed, would things settle down....maybe. Is Hazel fading....maybe.

Before I joined BYC, 2 of the 3 hens I started with died, leaving me with Silver and Buster. She avoided him. He tried to mate with her incessantly (hormonal idiot/only hen). We ended up with her in the garage and him in the coop. Let her out in the morning, him in the afternoon. Got babies. Raised in the garage, fenced off from her but able to see.

They all went to the coop when she protected the babies and they responded to her alert call. She promptly started hiding from Buster again, abandoning the chicks, giving him his other rooster duties: teaching the next generation.

We sort of stumbled into it. One of the people I worked with had had chickens in the past and talked about the broody abandoning the chicks. While we didn't consciously do that, it kinda happened anyway. Pear is the last of those babies. Buster was older than Shehnai is. Silver was younger than Hazel is.

If you do pull Hazel for a while, get a few chicks for her to come back with. She won't sit on them to keep them warm, but if she's been with them from tiny, she should still be "parent". It will also raise her status in the flock. Mamas are respected.

Lots to think about and more observation.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and the stories of your experience!


One thing is it would be sad for Hazel to lose her BO buddies / friends so I want to incorporate time with them…

Much to think about. Not sure there are great solutions right now.

Hoping that the pullets coming into lay will change dynamics with Shehnai, but also that I can keep Hazel as part of the group with the BO’s. That coop could hold 2-3 more. Thinking of the coop / run arrangements. Need to settle that soon, winter is coming.

Possibly can add a few chicks, but that goes against my plan of trying to stagger the ages here. So the saying “Best laid plans” definitely applies. Would have to try to brood the chicks with Hazel near. A winter brooding, outside…

So many moving parts, too many!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Happy 2fer Tuesday everyone
Two little chickens

View attachment 4232357

Two big black chickens (for once not fighting).
View attachment 4232359

A big chicken and a little chicken.
View attachment 4232361

A little chicken and a littler chicken
View attachment 4232362

Have a great chicken day everyone (as @notabitail knows, every day is a chicken day).

Gorgeous!
Cookies foot feathers are amazing, she could clean a hallway with one pass.

 

[RoyalChick]

One sandwich short of a picnic?

A bit of drama yesterday. Cookie couldn’t find her way into the coop. When I got home from dinner with a friend she was all hunkered down in a corner of the run. Not too exposed but it was a cold and windy night with driving rain.
My cameras failed me. The last they recorded was her pacing back and forth peeping while Tassels called from inside.
For context I closed the people door so the chickens have to come in and out of the chicken door and use the blue stairs.

In summer I leave the people door wide open to maximize air flow. But in winter I close the windows in the coop and the people door to reduce any wind or driving rain. When it gets very cold I close the chicken door too, but no need for that yet.

Cookie has used the blue stairs many times. It is a convenient way to get at the hanging waterer. She even poses on them for photo shoots.

I have never seen any evidence that she can’t see to jump up on things - actually she is like Geronimo and tends to go up on stuff.

Anyway she was huddled in that corner to the right of the people door.

I picked her up and she screamed blue murder which caused Tassels to come out of her cardboard box and call for her. She also struggled like hell.

Even though I have lots of evidence she can see just fine, I grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped her head feathers on the spot. May have done a real hack job. We will see if that makes a difference, but I am left wondering if she was just too dumb to go in a different way from the one she is used to.
Here she is this morning after my snipping.

 

[rural mouse]

2 fers

2 preening cockerels (Hawthorne and Jax), thank you Tundra for joining them.

2 pullets (Matilda and Koonj) with a moulting Primula (she and Belladonna are going at it hard)

2 babies, Jax and Tundra, with Nellie (they're getting big aren't they)

@ChicoryBlue for you, 2 play "things"