Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

My 21 red rock pullets have been doing a lot of the chest bumping and place claiming lately... and are just starting to lay. It’s fun to watch because they never take it too far (like that full on battle between Aurora and Hattie, though I have seen that too)

I think it’s cute when they do that if it doesn’t go too far. Mine love to ZOOOOM around the yard, seek each other out and do a double jump chest pump with flared hackle feathers. It’s hilarious!

 

[Kris5902]

I think it’s cute when they do thag if it doesn’t go too far. Mine love to ZOOOOM around the yard, seek each othed out and do s double jump chest pump with flared hackle feathers. It’s hilarious!

If I hadn’t bought them as sexed chicks I would be putting them on the sausage??? List. But they are ladies, I like to think of them like high school girls, the attitudes fit similarly.

 

[Kris5902]

Hah!!!

I’m on page 76 and enjoying it so far!
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Another potential volunteer for leading our book club???
Slightly biased as we share a time zone... lol

 

[micstrachan]

If I hadn’t bought them as sexed chicks I would be putting them on the sausage??? List. But they are ladies, I like to think of them like high school girls, the attitudes fit similarly.

Great analogy!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

When you first described the differences between their combs - great way to tell them apart! - I wondered, Well what do chickens do about the varying combs in their appearance, does it become a problem because they look so different from each other? My birds notice the tiniest things about appearance. Maybe BECAUSE they are all so alike? It's mostly little pecks, especially if some dander or something has landed on them, so it's like grooming pecks. Once I did see one go after something around the other's beak and eye. So much so that the peckee kept pulling her head away and then finally down, and got a peck on the back of her head for that last move so she walked away. First time seeing that. I think that was a dominance thing. Something different, or is it all tied together?

Interesting that you should mention that ChicoryBlue.
Only one of my hens has feathered feet and I have noticed that the feathers looked pecked at. They are sometimes chewed back to the quill and once or twice have been missing entirely with just a bloody spot left on the leg.

 

[micstrachan]

I have been worrying that I might not always be able to tell which is Minnie and which is Dotty. There are some subtle differences in appearance but as they grow they have become more alike in character - Dotty has become bolder and Minnie a tad more restrained so I can no longer tell them apart that way.
but I think the difference in their combs will be a reliable way to tell.
Minnie’s comb just flops forward over her beak, no part of it even pretends to stand upright. Dotty’s comb stands more upright and then flops over her left eye.
View attachment 2438851
While they were posing for me I noticed some little scabs on their combs.
I hope it isn’t fowl pox, but I think it might be. Or it could be rough-and-tumble pecking injuries.
Apparently fowl pox resolves in its own and neither ladies seem remotely off color (rather the opposite - they seem full of beans chasing each other around the place) but I will watch carefully.
Anyone got any experience of this?
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Great shots. They look like peck marks to me, too.

 

[micstrachan]

I tried to grab a couple shots yesterday to save for chicken tax or whatever, but wanted to share this one because of the fall vibe and happiness of the flock being out of the run.

 

[LozzyR]

Great shots. They look like peck marks to me, too.

That would make sense, as Charlie keeps grabbing the Faverolles by their combs!

 

[LozzyR]

Interesting that you should mention that ChicoryBlue.
Only one of my hens has feathered feet and I have noticed that the feathers looked pecked at. They are sometimes chewed back to the quill and once or twice have been missing entirely with just a bloody spot left on the leg.

I’ve not seen this on my Faverolles, but I don’t think I’ve looked too closely.

 

[LozzyR]

I think it’s cute when they do that if it doesn’t go too far. Mine love to ZOOOOM around the yard, seek each other out and do a double jump chest pump with flared hackle feathers. It’s hilarious!

Do baby chicks play? Do adult chickens, for that matter?