Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Go Hattie!

That was so funny. She sounds like a cat after doing something clumsy. "Nobody saw that right? Right, it didn't happen. Just act natural."

Exactly!

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you for the encouragement, suggestions & tips! My DH/partner is suggesting full body armor, helmet and face shield for any further encounters....

But this morning I was playing with Big Boy the cat, lifting a rug corner and zooming a furry tail toy on a stick in and out under there, and he was diving and reaching and grabbing and kicking, all four paws and claws of death in action. I knew how his body would move, and how to keep myself safe. So this will come with chickens. Hopefully. Gotta stay safe as I learn though!

I too wonder about Queenie's take on this. She seems quite eager to get in there and "mix it up" and I actually have a little worry for the Buckeyes. These guys have known nothing else except their little 4-hen community plus me and my DH since they were day-olds. Queenie's been among 8 other B.O. hens plus a young rooster. I don't know if she and her sisters and the roo were thrown together as pullets and a lone cockerel, or grew up together as chicks. So maybe she's been around the block at least once before. Maybe she wants to be boss and kick everyone else's little fluffy butt!

Her taking control would be a great outcome. In my limited experience Orpingtons have exactly the right attitude for a leader. Her being more worldly and experienced can only help your flock as well.

I do expect that it won't happen though. She will likely join at the bottom. Over time she may likely evolve as a leader but I don't think they will just cede her control. It doesn't happen that way.

If you let them mix it up together today, please take some video so I can see their interactions.

 

[micstrachan]

I meant to ask you before, do you cook the beef liver treat or give it to her raw?

I cook it.

 

[BY Bob]

Broody Trance

I have been contemplating the broody trance and why ladies that have no eggs seem to get stuck in the trance and forget to leave the nest to eat, poo, and bathe. I believe it might be a good idea to give them some ceramic eggs. Let me explain why.

I went back and looked at all the video I shot of Sydney when she was hatching. She was very active. She did not seem to sit still for more than 5 minutes at a time. Between grooming herself and moving the eggs around every 15 minutes or so (I need to look at the chart to find the average again) there are not long stretches where she stares into nothingness. Perhaps with more responsibility, i.e. eggs to take care of, they will not zone out completely and forget they have other stuff to do.

If nothing else it would be an interesting experiment to see if their behavior improves.

Remember, Sydney had a 100% hatch rate. I believe that she knew what she was doing. This is 30 minutes of her setting. If you can watch without getting bored, you will see she seems to be in motion most of the time.

 

[RoyalChick]

I cook it.

Thanks for the tip!
I must try that. Feels like it would be good for both chickens and cats so having some on hand cooked and frozen would be a good idea.

 

[RoyalChick]

Broody Trance

I have been contemplating the broody trance and why ladies that have no eggs seem to get stuck in the trance and forget to leave the nest to eat, poo, and bathe. I believe it might be a good idea to give them some ceramic eggs. Let me explain why.

I went back and looked at all the video I shot of Sydney when she was hatching. She was very active. She did not seem to sit still for more than 5 minutes at a time. Between grooming herself and moving the eggs around every 15 minutes or so (I need to look at the chart to find the average again) there are not long stretches where she stares into nothingness. Perhaps with more responsibility, i.e. eggs to take care of, they will not zone out completely and forget they have other stuff to do.

If nothing else it would be an interesting experiment to see if their behavior improves.

Remember, Sydney had a 100% hatch rate. I believe that she knew what she was doing. This is 30 minutes of her setting. If you can watch without getting bored, you will see she seems to be in motion most of the time.

I confess I didn't watch in real time but I watched super fast time and indeed you are right, there isn't much sitting and staring and contemplating the universe. It all seems quite busy. Lots to do!

 

[micstrachan]

Awwwww! Who is that?

That’s Flo (one of this year’s babies).

 

[BY Bob]

I confess I didn't watch in real time but I watched super fast time and indeed you are right, there isn't much sitting and staring and contemplating the universe. It all seems quite busy. Lots to do!

I've been intrigued by these tranced hens like Ivy. It is amazing to me and does not match with my experience. As far as Sydney went, being a Mum seems like a lot of work.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

If you let them mix it up together today, please take some video so I can see their interactions.

Gaaah I just about figured out how to get pics from my phone to the PC quickly (my charger cord is USB and that connects to the PC, yay So much better than through our wifi). I just loaded pics from this morning. I'd use the BYC app on my phone but it really is quirky and annoying, my cursor jumps back and forth and I'm editing more than writing

Yes I would like to figure out how to put video up here but haven't yet. Create YouTube channel, load it to there, link here to there, yes? I DID figure out how to edit them down to short lengths on my PC though, once I figured out the transfer issue.

I am on the expanding horizon of tech learning. Ex: I would post a pic of my face but it would need a spoiler and I haven't figured that out either! Baby steps here (loved that movie, what is the name? haha).

This morning they all ate together, the waterers are also together on the right side. After they ate enough for a first meal there was a little face-off. Then lots of scratching around where the treats were yesterday, in search of more, followed by more looking and mirroring, mostly by Popcorn and Peanut. At one point Queenie held quite still in a firm pointy-face low-head stance while the Buckeye kept her head high and stretched-out, but moving it. Here they were beak-to-beak. Later Queenie was standing up against the fence and let herself be touched (it seemed) through the fence on her side feathers by a curious Buckeye beak.

 

[RoyalChick]

I've been intrigued by these traced hens like Ivy. It is amazing to me and does not match with my experience. As far as Sydney went, being a Mum seems like a lot of work.

Maybe they are actually doing a Greta Garbo ("I want to be alone") and this is their way of getting some 'me time' away from the flock.
I have noticed in the past that Maggie sometimes wants time away from the flock. She sometimes goes for a walk (accompanied by me) and only returns to the group when she is good and ready.