Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

I put her on my lap when I give her her vitamin drink. For the past few evenings she's stayed there until the rest of the tribe have gone to roost.
She tells me when she's ready to join the rest and I carry her up to the coop.
A week or so ago I put her on a perch in the evenings. Ther past few nights she wanted to pick her own spot and I've left her on the floor of the coop. She can manage to jump to the higher perch and settle even with her balance problems.
Last picture is Cillin coming home. If Fat Bird is on the ground he'll escort her up to the coop.
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The pictures show off her beautiful colors and sheen. Your stories really share the community you have there. She is lucky she has you and that you can do so much for her to help her now. Thank you.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Comb Size

I just read the following sentence in the comb article from 2016 that is featured on the front page. It was kind of a throw away line but it caught my attention. Here it is:

"Usually, birds with the larger combs will be higher in the pecking order rank."

Does anyone believe that comb size has anything to do with pecking order? I am very curious and I am going to try and see if there is any actual research on this when I have a moment (I will add it to my long list of half started projects).

I am seriously asking everyone to look at their tribes and if you know their pecking order, compare it to their comb sizes. I would seriously like to know what you uncover.

Well Queenie then is moving up by that measure, because everyone else has pea combs.

There have been @BY Bob -worthy shenanigans lately at roosting time, and Queenie seems to have a hand in it so maybe it's true, she is fighting her way up? Remember when I went to get pictures of how they roost, and Queenie just sat on the pop door threshold blocking everyone else?

Well three times lately Popcorn and Butters have been either caught out when the auto-door closed - or more likely not been let in, even before it's closed, as I determined last night. I've found them on the perch in front of the pop door.

So last night I saw that Hazel and Queenie were blocking the pop door, which was open. They were both inside, Queenie sitting and Hazel standing, side by side, a good half a chicken's length in, but not far enough for anyone else to easily get in. Popcorn and Butters were waiting outside on the perch. Butters seemed to be resigned to sleeping there and had settled in. Popcorn was ready to go in but was waiting. I don't want them roosting out of the coop in the run, the coop is much more secure.

Poor Peanut had managed to get in only by wedging herself under and between Hazel and Queenie, but that's as far as she could go. I wish I had taken a picture! It was Hazel and Queenie facing out, and Peanut's butt sticking up in the middle.

Had to laugh, but gently pushed everyone back into the coop to make room, which Queenie and Hazel didn't want to do. Poor Peanut couldn't move before they did. I lectured Q & H and told them if they're going to be top birds they have to take care that everyone gets in at night!

Apparently the RRR is going to have to be an enforcer here on this. I'm checking on them right now after this post.

 

[BY Bob]

Well Queenie then is moving up by that measure, because everyone else has pea combs.

There have been @BY Bob -worthy shenanigans lately at roosting time, and Queenie seems to have a hand in it so maybe it's true, she is fighting her way up? Remember when I went to get pictures of how they roost, and Queenie just sat on the pop door threshold blocking everyone else?

Well three times lately Popcorn and Butters have been either caught out when the auto-door closed - or more likely not been let in, even before it's closed, as I determined last night. I've found them on the perch in front of the pop door.

So last night I saw that Hazel and Queenie were blocking the pop door, which was open. They were both inside, Queenie sitting and Hazel standing, side by side, a good half a chicken's length in, but not far enough for anyone else to easily get in. Popcorn and Butters were waiting outside on the perch. Butters seemed to be resigned to sleeping there and had settled in. Popcorn was ready to go in but was waiting. I don't want them roosting out of the coop in the run, the coop is much more secure.

Poor Peanut had managed to get in only by wedging herself under and between Hazel and Queenie, but that's as far as she could go. I wish I had taken a picture! It was Hazel and Queenie facing out, and Peanut's butt sticking up in the middle.

Had to laugh, but gently pushed everyone back into the coop to make room, which Queenie and Hazel didn't want to do. Poor Peanut couldn't move before they did. I lectured Q & H and told them if they're going to be top birds they have to take care that everyone gets in at night!

Apparently the RRR is going to have to be an enforcer here on this. I'm checking on them right now after this post.

I just love these behavior stories. Good luck tonight. I thought Hazel and Queenie did not get along?

 

[RoyalChick]

This remains a constant issue as the experiment itself, in most cases, creates an environment which affects the results.

I do think that on the basis of observation alone the comb theory can be disproved. That is what I am hoping everyone sends me.

Well first define 'size' in a chicken's comb. Height? Length? Surface area? Volume?
I am not being pedantic - Maggie has a tall comb that is quite thin. Definitely the tallest comb. She is not top chicken.
Minnie has her comb all bunched up and sprouting from one spot - but there are many, many, many folds and it is quite fleshy. My guess is it has a greater volume and surface area than even Maggie's. Minnie is also not top chicken.

 

[BY Bob]

A nice fluffy butt from Peanut today.
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I like how the colors in the hackles and back came out in this picture, but I'm not sure who it is! The comb looks like Hazel's. Everybody was coming and going in the parsley garden.
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That sunny butt is something special! Their feathers really are really pretty. We need to see more pictures of them!

 

[featherhead007]

My take on the big comb being the leader, is this: I think that the sharpest beak and most aggressive attitude wins the day. Just my opinion.

 

[Blazinga]

I'm really getting concerned about that one chick. I still have yet to get more opinions, but I heard roo from the beak alone. Tough decisions on whether to choose that one or not. (Roosters are illegal where I live)

 

[micstrachan]

The problem is, where does a person go to get the chickens they want. I admit, I bought mine from TSC, and they are healthy and really pretty chickens. Some of the locals sell chicks on Craig’s List and from the pictures alone their whole operation seems sketchy.

This is my issue. As much joy as my feathered friends bring me, now that I am reminded of it, I know I am as much a part of the problem as those who buy grocery store eggs... the very eggs I myself call “torture eggs.” Are the chicks I get torture chicks? A mama hen is one of my all-time favorite things in the world. I feel terrible realizing those hens who probably live in terrible conditions never get the joy of hatching and raising babies.

 

[featherhead007]

This is my issue. As much joy as my feathered friends bring me, now that I am reminded of it, I know I am a much a part of the problem as those who buy grocery store eggs... the very eggs I myself call “torture eggs.” Are the chicks I get torture chicks? A mama hen is one of my all-time favorite things in the world. I feel terrible realizing those hens who probably live in terrible conditions never get the joy of hatching and raising babies.

I love my chickens, don’t get me wrong. But, chickens have a place in the food chain. I don’t eat chicken, but I do eat non fertile eggs (without guilt) I see chickens as who they are. I don’t humanize them. They are my pets and my responsibility to care for them.

 

[featherhead007]

And I love the fact that they love Simon and Garfunkel as much as I do!
(makes for a relaxing evening) .. right Coco? She peeped “yes”