Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Coop entry order last night: Butters, Hazel, Queenie! Peanut, Popcorn

I got some nice video and did create a channel on YouTube but that's as far as I've gotten.

Yesterday morning Queenie got right in next to three Buckeyes at one food dish with a few bites before being driven off by somebody.

After eating their Wheaties breakfast they started bullying Queenie, but the intensity was way lower. No driving her head to the ground. It was more body blocking and general pecking. They went after Queenie in tag teams, in pairs generally: Peanut and Hazel, Peanut and Popcorn, Hazel and Popcorn. Notice Butters is not named. Peanut and Popcorn seemed to have the biggest axe to grind. I saw Hazel give Queenie a look once - and I could hear a short low raspy Bok - and Queenie immediately tipped her head down and stepped away.

Very interestingly, Butters did not peck Queenie at all that I saw yesterday. She was never in a pestering pair. She sometimes joined a run in a group chasing Queenie, but didn't participate beyond that. Keeping track of where each was, I noticed that in getting away from a bullying pair Queenie ran down to under the coop where Butters had been hanging out and stood by her on her far side. The bullying hadn't pursued her down there. Butters made no move toward her, and they both stood still with heads up.

It was damp and cold here yesterday, low 20's. Queenie seemed cold after breakfast. She got halfway up the coop ladder as if she wanted to go back in. She stood there and fluffed her feathers and tucked her neck in some. That lasted a couple of minutes, then she got down and acted normally. A possible problem?

She may have gone in at some point, because I left to get myself breakfast, and when I turned around to look out the window I saw Queenie come flying down the coop ladder with a Buckeye after her.

Queenie sorted through the oyster shell bowl for a little while yesterday too. The Buckeyes investigate it now and then, but hardly do that. I couldn't tell if she was eating any, but she was certainly testing them - chomping them in her beak. She might have eaten the little pieces. She also definitely ate some granite grit of all sizes from the bowl next to it.

Today they got some treats about an hour before roosting time, and Queenie had absolutely no interest. Another potential problem? She hung out preening under the coop while there was a feeding frenzy in the tall run, Popcorn jumping onto my lap as I doled out peanut pieces one by one. Queenie also sat down for a couple of minutes too, pecking a bit around her and fixing her neck and chest feathers. I was concerned a bit. Then I wondered if she was nesting there. It was so late in the day though. Then she stood up and whatever it was passed.

I saw Hazel and Queenie standing next to each other very peacefully prior to roosting, and then a bit later Queenie was standing next to Peanut on the log. Or given how they roosted, Peanut standing next to Queenie? All peace on the pecking front at that time. Generally preening.

I set up my stool at the entrance to the low run, then later moved to the halfway point so I could see who was who (due to Queenie's human face rock climbing incident I am now using my old single-vision and now computer glasses which don't work too well for distance or very close).

Butters went to roost first, and she was first to make the roosting wail. Hazel followed her. I think they both went to the back right side (the pop door is on the left front) as they were not visible in there. Butters came out once or twice, then went back in. I never saw Hazel after she went in, she stayed.

Peanut left the log to go roost, and Butters followed her as soon as she got to the area below the coop. Peanut jumped up on the perch near the pop door. Popcorn drummed on the bucket, then stood at the bottom of the ladder but kind of dithered there, standing sideways to it.

Queenie went over next to the ladder and "yawned" three times (or adjusted her crop? A potential problem? I am going to check her crop this morning). She tried to step up on the ladder but she was facing the side tube at chest height; she wasn't close enough to the bottom. It looked like she was trying not to disturb Popcorn who was facing away but not budging from her spot at the foot.

Queenie lifted one leg and then the other, but she couldn't lift them high enough and was just getting her feet on the slippery side tube. I could hear a toe scraping off the textured step cover. Then she abruptly stepped in and rotated enough to jump and beat her wings once to get up midway. Popcorn took a few steps away, and walked over to the bucket to drum on it a little.

Queenie ended up a little below and next to Peanut who was still on the perch left side, looking in the pop door. She paused a bit; Peanut didn't bother her, she even moved her left foot in some like making room. Queenie then flew/jumped right to the top step! Paused again bobbing her head looking, then stepped onto the threshold, and kept going. She went to the back left corner. Peanut immediately went right in after her, and then Popcorn jumped up and went in. They were waiting on Queenie. Wowee.

Yesterday morning I saw Queenie's head right near the door opening as it opened, but then somebody else pushed by her, then another, and another, then Queenie came out, then the last Buckeye. I couldn't tell who came out in what order except Queenie. This morning it was again Queenie third but I got the order: Peanut, Hazel, Popcorn, Queenie, and Butters last.

Very fast integration. Keep an eye on them but this is almost done. I'm not really worried about any of the behaviors you have pointed out. They seem normal to me. I don't suspect anything is wrong with her.

Great job with describing what has been happening. Very helpful. I think they have got this mostly sorted out already.

 

[BY Bob]

So am I! Sorry for the way too long post. It would be better by video, am working on that!

No worries. You are doing great. Good post.

 

[BY Bob]

Monday Mugs
Fran
View attachment 2475193
Nora helping Fran (pardon the human mug)
View attachment 2475194
Peggy
View attachment 2475195
Corny Bobby
View attachment 2475196

Those are great!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

It has rained and iced here for days. They were fed up yesterday and the flock would periodically go out into the rain to scratch around. Because she cannot oil her muff feathers, they are the worse for wear.

That's what I was just wondering now, if they can't reach those feathers with oil! Thanks!

 

[Shadrach]

It's still really crappy up here so I'll let them stay the night. They have been so relaxed and quiet that I forget they are here.

It's easily done. I've gone to close up for the night and found one missing only to find her in the house usually in the nest box.

 

[Anonymous Chicken]

Monday Mugs!

Our Francis ("No-neck Francis")

Turkey mug!

When he was younger...

 

[Shadrach]

Looks like to me that you have room for at least 6 more!! And they won’t even be squeezed

Six! Another ten easily!

 

[featherhead007]

The Pretties were promptly evicted at 4:35 this morning when Phoenix started crowing...

Roosters crowing in the house is where Rich draws the line.

At least, it was easy to tell the time! !

 

[Shadrach]

It was nice while it lasted but Tribe 2's hens have started laying eggs again.
I know, most people would be delighted but for me here it's added stress. I've already spotted Hings scuttling down the bank behind the donkey shed. Nolia is laying in the yellow coop which is a relief.
Not sure about Tack. She was in the yellow coop with her brother Link early this morning but now she older it's difficult to tell her eggs apart from the others. All Tribe 2 lay white eggs.
Even worse, Donk is eating commercial food again and her comb has gone red. I checked her vent and pin bones this evening much to her disgust and she's not laying yet but it won't be long. Another season of following Donk around I guess.
Bracket is laying in Tribe 3's coop. That won't last long once Knock gets wind of it.
Myth is laying in her own coop, Tribe 3, as she usually does.
The only one in Tribe 1 who looks like they may lay soon is Moon.
I'm going to make some alterations to the blue triangular maternity coop to make it more egg laying friendly in the hope some will take the hint.

 

[featherhead007]

It was nice while it lasted but Tribe 2's hens have started laying eggs again.
I know, most people would be delighted but for me here it's added stress. I've already spotted Hings scuttling down the bank behind the donkey shed. Nolia is laying in the yellow coop which is a relief.
Not sure about Tack. She was in the yellow coop with her brother Link early this morning but now she older it's difficult to tell her eggs apart from the others. All Tribe 2 lay white eggs.
Even worse, Donk is eating commercial food again and her comb has gone red. I checked her vent and pin bones this evening much to her disgust and she's not laying yet but it won't be long. Another season of following Donk around I guess.
Bracket is laying in Tribe 3's coop. That won't last long once Knock gets wind of it.
Myth is laying in her own coop, Tribe 3, as she usually does.
The only one in Tribe 1 who looks like they may lay soon is Moon.
I'm going to make some alterations to the blue triangular maternity coop to make it more egg laying friendly in the hope some will take the hint.

Hopefully, not too much stress.