Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Right! My Leghorns have been wearing a Cochin jacket all day today. (Jaffar)!

Look at Jaffar using the situation to his advantage! Good job buddy!

 

[featherhead007]

I don’t know what you can do about Sansa. If it were me, she’d stay in with me, but my situation is very different than yours

 

[BY Bob]

I don’t know what you can do about Sansa. If it were me, she’d stay in with me, but my situation is very different than yours

Yes it is. Thanks for your thoughts though.

 

[RoyalChick]

Sansa Update

Since I believe that I may be the cause of Sansa's anxiety, I have been trying to think of how I can examine the situation better without effecting it with my presence. The solution came to me this morning, the cameras. I observed Sansa for over an hour this morning via the cameras and the hen I was watching seemed to behave as she should and normally does. She was eating, scratching, hanging out with Lilly. She just really seemed normal.

Then the sun came out and I released everyone from the complex. As you saw in an earlier post, everyone came to the deck except Sansa. She would not come. So I took her over her own bowl of chopped up cheese omelet and fried potatoes. She ate them. After that initial visit, everyone went back to the coop to hang out with her.

Later in the afternoon I look out the door and I see Sansa standing alone in the 1 yard square grass patch looking at the deck. That is when I realized everyone except her and Sydney are on the deck. Well everyone that braved the killer pool cover deserve snacks and so I provide them. In this case some leftover Taco meat and walnuts. Sydney must have been laying an egg and before you know it a Barred Rock hen is sailing over the pool. Flying for all she is worth. Well she did not quite make it but the pool is solid ice. She hit, skidded, and would up on the deck like she planned it that way.

Feeling bad for Sansa, I grabbed a couple of walnuts and went over to the coop to share them with her. She is very much anxious being around me but she did take one from my hand. I went to put the rest on the pavers and we wound up switching positions with her now between me and the deck. I went to go back and in order to stay away from me, she went first. So Sansa wound up on the deck with everyone else this afternoon. I learned that apparently I am scarier than the pool cover.

As I said, they enjoyed their day playing on the deck, grooming under the table, eating exotic foods from foreign countries (taco meat), and in general, enjoying a day out. Sansa seemed to enjoy it as much as everyone else, especially the Killer Corn!

I did not see everyone else leave and go back to the coop so I have no idea how long Sansa was left behind but I came out and found her alone on the little fence. I could tell right away she was measuring for flight and before I could even get my phone out of my pocket, she was airborne. Over the pool she sailed. Sadly, just like Sydney, she did not make it. About a foot short of the other side she hit the ice, slid, and was up on solid ground like she planned it. Into the complex she went.

Everyone roosted as usual and I sit here wondering what to do next. Aside from her new found fears of me and the pool cover, she seemed fairly normal today. What to do?

Hmmm. That is a puzzle. I do think you need more than one day of real camera observation to be sure. The reason I am not convinced is that video where she didn't eat even when she had Aurora-free access.
But assuming you are right, can it really be all about the time you lifted her up when she didn't want that? Is there anything else about you (you went back to your usual clothing right?).
I am thinking bribery is the answer. You already made progress as she took a piece of nut from your hand. I know the weather isn't exactly conducive, but just 'being there' may help too.
Probably not very helpful, but its all I got.

 

[featherhead007]

Yes it is. Thanks for your thoughts though.

Rocks-Anne is in here with me, I’m talking to her about your Sansa situation.
I noticed my bird sneezing and has a runny beak at the moment

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sansa Update

Since I believe that I may be the cause of Sansa's anxiety, I have been trying to think of how I can examine the situation better without effecting it with my presence. The solution came to me this morning, the cameras. I observed Sansa for over an hour this morning via the cameras and the hen I was watching seemed to behave as she should and normally does. She was eating, scratching, hanging out with Lilly. She just really seemed normal.

Then the sun came out and I released everyone from the complex. As you saw in an earlier post, everyone came to the deck except Sansa. She would not come. So I took her over her own bowl of chopped up cheese omelet and fried potatoes. She ate them. After that initial visit, everyone went back to the coop to hang out with her.

Later in the afternoon I look out the door and I see Sansa standing alone in the 1 yard square grass patch looking at the deck. That is when I realized everyone except her and Sydney are on the deck. Well everyone that braved the killer pool cover deserve snacks and so I provide them. In this case some leftover Taco meat and walnuts. Sydney must have been laying an egg and before you know it a Barred Rock hen is sailing over the pool. Flying for all she is worth. Well she did not quite make it but the pool is solid ice. She hit, skidded, and would up on the deck like she planned it that way.

Feeling bad for Sansa, I grabbed a couple of walnuts and went over to the coop to share them with her. She is very much anxious being around me but she did take one from my hand. I went to put the rest on the pavers and we wound up switching positions with her now between me and the deck. I went to go back and in order to stay away from me, she went first. So Sansa wound up on the deck with everyone else this afternoon. I learned that apparently I am scarier than the pool cover.

As I said, they enjoyed their day playing on the deck, grooming under the table, eating exotic foods from foreign countries (taco meat), and in general, enjoying a day out. Sansa seemed to enjoy it as much as everyone else, especially the Killer Corn!

I did not see everyone else leave and go back to the coop so I have no idea how long Sansa was left behind but I came out and found her alone on the little fence. I could tell right away she was measuring for flight and before I could even get my phone out of my pocket, she was airborne. Over the pool she sailed. Sadly, just like Sydney, she did not make it. About a foot short of the other side she hit the ice, slid, and was up on solid ground like she planned it. Into the complex she went.

Everyone roosted as usual and I sit here wondering what to do next. Aside from her new found fears of me and the pool cover, she seemed fairly normal today. What to do?

Well if this behavior holds as @RoyalChick advises - keeping watch with the camera -and she keeps eating but only when you're not around - then at least it's probably not medical, which is a great relief, and maybe some consolation.

I agree continue with the bribes. Did you get a haircut, or have a different hat on? Could oncoming broodiness cause this behavior? You being the Big Coop Rooster and all...

 

[Scrambles83]

Sansa Update

Since I believe that I may be the cause of Sansa's anxiety, I have been trying to think of how I can examine the situation better without effecting it with my presence. The solution came to me this morning, the cameras. I observed Sansa for over an hour this morning via the cameras and the hen I was watching seemed to behave as she should and normally does. She was eating, scratching, hanging out with Lilly. She just really seemed normal.

Then the sun came out and I released everyone from the complex. As you saw in an earlier post, everyone came to the deck except Sansa. She would not come. So I took her over her own bowl of chopped up cheese omelet and fried potatoes. She ate them. After that initial visit, everyone went back to the coop to hang out with her.

Later in the afternoon I look out the door and I see Sansa standing alone in the 1 yard square grass patch looking at the deck. That is when I realized everyone except her and Sydney are on the deck. Well everyone that braved the killer pool cover deserve snacks and so I provide them. In this case some leftover Taco meat and walnuts. Sydney must have been laying an egg and before you know it a Barred Rock hen is sailing over the pool. Flying for all she is worth. Well she did not quite make it but the pool is solid ice. She hit, skidded, and would up on the deck like she planned it that way.

Feeling bad for Sansa, I grabbed a couple of walnuts and went over to the coop to share them with her. She is very much anxious being around me but she did take one from my hand. I went to put the rest on the pavers and we wound up switching positions with her now between me and the deck. I went to go back and in order to stay away from me, she went first. So Sansa wound up on the deck with everyone else this afternoon. I learned that apparently I am scarier than the pool cover.

As I said, they enjoyed their day playing on the deck, grooming under the table, eating exotic foods from foreign countries (taco meat), and in general, enjoying a day out. Sansa seemed to enjoy it as much as everyone else, especially the Killer Corn!

I did not see everyone else leave and go back to the coop so I have no idea how long Sansa was left behind but I came out and found her alone on the little fence. I could tell right away she was measuring for flight and before I could even get my phone out of my pocket, she was airborne. Over the pool she sailed. Sadly, just like Sydney, she did not make it. About a foot short of the other side she hit the ice, slid, and was up on solid ground like she planned it. Into the complex she went.

Everyone roosted as usual and I sit here wondering what to do next. Aside from her new found fears of me and the pool cover, she seemed fairly normal today. What to do?

I’m not sure. I’m nowhere near as good at suggestions and observations yet as the rest of you.
Would it help to sit in the run with them (I know it’s cold!) and just hangout for a bit, chatting with them and just be present while they go about their business?
Treats seem to work in most situations as you point out, I know you talked of blueberries? The fact she took the walnut from you is great!

Also, did you ever end up getting live crickets and letting them go in the run? Just read in a past post of yours you were thinking about it.
After the moth chase here I’ve got it on my list of things to do for fun

 

[LozzyR]

Bok has to decided to have a bit of a reminisce in the nest this morning after I scooped the nightly poop from the coop
View attachment 2532706
At least I hope that’s all it is, don’t want an egg from the old girl

Lucy used to do that from time to time after she stopped laying, and have a little sit on an egg if she happened across one.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Karen and her siblings have a complaint, and they will go to the housing authority if they have to to get their grievances resolved. What is their problem? They had visitors, 6 of them to be exact for about 30 minutes this evening. Those visitors *they refuse to believe they are their baby sisters and brothers, they are only children after all*, destroyed their freshly cleaned cage. Now no they had nothing to do with the food scattered all over, it was all the little ones fault. The little ones also had the audacity to use their sawdust bowl. Pecking was not permitted, even if they started it by pecking you first, and they wanted to be always underfoot. The final straw was that their log had to be removed for the littles safety. It is frowned upon to hop up and down off the log when you might stumble over someone. Did you know chicks can stomp like a angry 2 year old? When I removed the log Karen stopped off and put herself in a corner and turned her back on the whole mess. Don't worry, their log was returned after the littles went back to their own brooder, but Karen is still unhappy. She overheard a conversation about how when they were a little bigger they could share a brooder with them. Now for some pictures.
Introducing the 6 newest fluffbutts.

and them annoying their big siblings.

Get them out of my sawdust bowl.

"What ya doing" Eating now go away Pipsqeak.

They are not staying are they? ARE THEY?

 

[fuentemoon]

I think it is probably you
This has happened here more than once. We know for sure that ours are terrified of one of Bill's hats, even if he isn't wearing it, all because of a day they came inside and got "stuck" by the couch and he tried to help while wearing said hat. Other similar hats are fine, just not that one. They are just starting to trust me again after the great mite baths of 2020