Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Mug Monday
View attachment 2466804View attachment 2466805View attachment 2466806

That first mug is amazing! What a beauty! I just love the beard and muffs on number 2. That is one contented hen in number 3. Great photos!

 

[BY Bob]

Ester Update

Ester dropped tons more feathers today. I won’t be surprised if she is mostly bald by morning and it’s looking like a light freeze tonight. I saw her shiver a couple times, so I gently nudged her (with as little contact as possible) into a pet carrier and provided a private snack of baby bird formula. I let her eat until she wanted out. She was first to roost and found a spot on what I think is probably the warmest roost (closest to the ceiling of the lower coop, and away from the pop door leading to the upper coop). This is the roost Bridge has relocated to, when she used to roost on the highest board in the upper coop. Since she roosts wherever she wants, I think this must be the prime spot, at least on cold nights. Ester is lucky Bridge tolerates her. I saw Bridge kicking others off that spot, but let Ester stay. Maybe it’s because they are the same breed? Anyway, if Ester is naked tomorrow, I may bring her in one night, since it’s likely to freeze.

Poor girl. I just hate when they molt this time of year.

 

[BY Bob]

I just realized a few minutes ago that one of the photo's I submitted back in the summer was chosen for POW. I'd actually forgotten about submitting that photo. Its sweet though that the solid yellow chick ended up blossoming into my beautiful but spoiled Butter.

Somehow I missed that! Congratulations! That's very cool.

 

[BY Bob]

Last Night's Roosting

The following is a break down of last night's roosting. I have 50 video clips documenting the process so I will summarize what occurred as the final outcome is interesting.

1. At 4:50 Phyllis enters the coop and ascends to the high roost
2. 2 minutes later, Lilly enters and removes Phyllis from the high roost. Phyllis settles into Aurora's old spot on the main roost by the door.
3. A short while later, Sydney enters, ascends to the main roost, patrols the length of it and Phyllis hops down as she approaches.
4. Sydney settles into Aurora's old spot
5. Phyllis goes to Daisy’s, ghe, spot on the far end of the roost
6. Sansa enters the coop, gets onto the main roost, and heads to Phyllis. She pecks at Phyllis.
7. Hattie enters coop and goes to eat.
8. Sansa finally convinces Phyllis to jump down.
9. Hattie gets a few shots in on Phyllis as she scoots away.
10. Phyllis remounts the roost in the same spot next to Sansa and gets some abuse for the choice.
11. Hattie mounts the roost in the middle and sidled down to Sansa.
12. Aurora enters the coop and immediately pecks Sydney's feet
13. Sydney immediately hops onto the high roost with Lilly. Lilly expresses her displeasure but only 3 pecks and Sydney stays up
14. Aurora has a snack and then goes to her traditional place on the main roost by the door.
15. At 4:59, 9 minutes after it started, Aurora ascends to the high roost and we are done. We are left with this combo on the main roost for the first time that I can remember.

 

[BY Bob]

Queenie Update

@ChicoryBlue Aren't we coming up to the end of Queenie's quarantine? What is the latest on the search for the rest of her flock?

 

[BY Bob]

Last Night's Roosting

The following is a break down of last night's roosting. I have 50 video clips documenting the process so I will summarize what occurred as the final outcome is interesting.

1. At 4:50 Phyllis enters the coop and ascends to the high roost
2. 2 minutes later, Lilly enters and removes Phyllis from the high roost. Phyllis settles into Aurora's old spot on the main roost by the door.
3. A short while later, Sydney enters, ascends to the main roost, patrols the length of it and Phyllis hops down as she approaches.
4. Sydney settles into Aurora's old spot
5. Phyllis goes to Daisy’s, ghe, spot on the far end of the roost
6. Sansa enters the coop, gets onto the main roost, and heads to Phyllis. She pecks at Phyllis.
7. Hattie enters coop and goes to eat.
8. Sansa finally convinces Phyllis to jump down.
9. Hattie gets a few shots in on Phyllis as she scoots away.
10. Phyllis remounts the roost in the same spot next to Sansa and gets some abuse for the choice.
11. Hattie mounts the roost in the middle and sidled down to Sansa.
12. Aurora enters the coop and immediately pecks Sydney's feet
13. Sydney immediately hops onto the high roost with Lilly. Lilly expresses her displeasure but only 3 pecks and Sydney stays up
14. Aurora has a snack and then goes to her traditional place on the main roost by the door.
15. At 4:59, 9 minutes after it started, Aurora ascends to the high roost and we are done. We are left with this combo on the main roost for the first time that I can remember.

View attachment 2467141

Does everyone see the size difference between Hattie and Sansa? I amity that both are fluffed out and that certainly makes Hattie look larger and as her feathers are normally very sleek and next to her body but come on, look at that difference in size. Last I weighed Hattie she was right around 7 lbs. A GLW should be a dual purpose bird between 6 and 8 lbs. Sansa is essentially the same size as Lilly. The last time I weighed Lilly she was 5 lbs. I need to weigh everyone again but there is no way that Sansa has reached 6 lbs.

I point this out because both her and Sydney just seem really small for their breeds. They have not grown as I expected them to do. For example, there is no way Sydney is going to grow to be Soda's size.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Monday Mugshot:
DESDEMONA
View attachment 2466644​

She is gorgeous. There is depth in that expression! And I like this name. If it feels long after you've gotten to know her better, she could go by Desdi, Desi or Mona

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

This is actually a very good idea. I bet we could talk @CrazyChookChookLady into sending you some of Stanley's amazing eggs. She must still have a couple around.

I'm not sure how many eggs I have left...they have only recently started laying after their molting break.


I will say Ned seems to have picked up on being the only boy now. He started crowing and I saw muddy foot prints on the back of Gertrude yesterday. She was one of Stanley's favorites.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Alex, would you consider phasing out hens over time (once they pass on their own, of course) and keeping roosters only? It seems there are always roosters in need of good homes. But if you were keeping several, I think there cannot be ladies involved. Unless it’s a full free-range situation with seperate coops, like Shad has.

I have plans to do a bachelor pad for roosters once I buy land. I love roosters!!

 

[BY Bob]

I'm not sure how many eggs I have left...they have only recently started laying after their molting break.


I will say Ned seems to have picked up on being the only boy now. He started crowing and I saw muddy foot prints on the back of Gertrude yesterday. She was one of Stanley's favorites.

Gertrude must like the boys.

Has he not been crowing until now?