Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

I would clear out an area, and get a bag of sand (It worked for my little ones)

Good idea!

 

[Lady Red]

This baby comes up to me every time I peer over into the brooder. This time, she jumped up on the board I put on the side. A little ..mug.. shot. View attachment 2618210 Got some photos of the bigger littles. I see my legorn is showing off her future fluffy butt..and the Polish is getting friendlier! Her white is disappearing on her body. No long white feather on the side. View attachment 2618215View attachment 2618218View attachment 2618219 Ok..last photo. See the blur of the blue's head? See the grass poking out of the Polish's mouth. Blue got it.

Loving these pictures!

 

[Lady Red]

YesterdayView attachment 2617796View attachment 2617797

It's a good thing I don't have your address...there might be a case of chickidnapping

 

[LozzyR]

Check this Out

Everyone look at what @Aussie-Chookmum made! Especially you @Blazinga

Post in thread 'Ribh's D'Coopage' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ribhs-dcoopage.1295189/post-24296552

That is just gorgeous!

 

[Shadrach]

So my chicken shirt collection is growing, too. I came home to this tonight:
View attachment 2617404

Drunk roosters.

 

[Ribh]

More Flockservations

Hattie
First of all, whatever was bothering Hattie that morning is cleared up. I am going to assume it was egg related and she got the egg out. I have seen no weird eggs of any kind. She is definitely back to her old self. I personally just have this unease now and I am sure that I am staring at her when I'm outside.

My grand lady looking fit
View attachment 2617889

I have noticed two things about Hattie over the last few months.

First: She no longer joins the scrum
If I put out some leftovers or other snacks out for the girls, Hattie no longer joins in the piranha-like feeding frenzy that occurs, with exceptions. She stands back and waits until things calm down or everyone grabs a piece and runs away with it before she approaches the snack. Lilly has exhibited this behavior as well since taking over as Alpha hen. As I said there exceptions to this behavior for certain kinds of food, say pasta. I would say about 90% of the time, she hangs back.

Secondly: She is enforcing her position more vigorously
Hattie used to be very laid back when it came to her relationship with others in the flock. I almost never saw her peck at anyone else. It is not often but it is happening. Now I see her actually pecking at others and even going after others with what seems the sole purpose of reminding them of their position. I have even seen her make Aurora, of all hens, bow down in submission. I cannot recall this ever happening before in all the time Hattie has been with me. In fact only Maleficent had ever made Aurora bow down before. Even after the big fight when Lilly tried, Aurora did not submit to her.

An Odd Pairing
At first blush it makes no sense. They are truly odd when viewed together. I will explain more in a minute.

I have said many times that my tribe tends to pair off as they go about their ranging. This is one of the reason I am a huge proponent of even numbered "hen only" tribes. Roosters change the equation. I tend to watch with interest who is paired up with whom. It used to be that they pretty much matched up in pecking order. As I watch what is going now though I do believe that pairing up in such a fashion wasn't really pecking order but based upon "siblings". Maleficent and Aurora were not hanging out together because they were 3 & 4 in the pecking but rather because they grew up together and thus were friends.

So what is the current odd pairing?

Aurora and Phyllis

That's right. Let me break down why I think this happening.

1. Phyllis is no threat to Aurora's position. This is leading to Aurora really not pecking at her unless Phyllis actually steals something from Aurora. Which Phyllis will do from time to time. No dominance displays are required.
2. Once the newbies arrived and Lilly dumped Hattie for Sansa. Hattie and Aurora had been the frequent pairing. After the big fight, the pairing dissolved. There was a lot of flux for a quite a while. With Hattie enforcing her position more now to the point of making Aurora bow down and submit, I think Aurora decided to look elsewhere for companionship.
3. When looking elsewhere, with Lilly and Sansa paired up, that left Sydney and Phyllis for Aurora to pair with. Aurora and Sydney as a combination might make some sense. They are very similar in their quest for food. They will both steal food from anyone. However, Aurora feels the need to dominate Sydney. Now Sydney is a quick submitter but I am sure that is not a lot of fun for Sydney. Whereas Hattie is not as dominating a hen. I think Sydney may have chosen Hattie herself. This leads me back to point 1.
4. Aurora and Phyllis are the weird looking hens. The odd balls. Between Phyllis' head of feathers and Aurora's beard and muffs, they just don't look like the others. Perhaps this is also playing some role.

The Odd Couple together
View attachment 2617876

Hattie and her new partner just hanging out on the porch.
View attachment 2617881

I haven't figured out what goes on in chickeny heads. My lot don't pair off like yours do. What I do have, as I think you prophesied would happen, is 2 distinct tribes. Each tribe has 10 chickens. Each tribe has one girl who is something of a loner. Each tribe has a lead hen. They tend to move together as a tribe & have divided the garden area between them. The older girls have taken under the verandah, along the hill & the ginger bush. The younger birds like under the palms out the front. They have divided the coop area as well, the older girls deciding which area they want, the younger ones taking what's left over. The infirmary has caused some confusion as the 3 who came with them like to come hang with them. The Vorwerks aren't so sure they belong & Olivia thinks she should be a house chicken. Meanwhile I have 4 smaller ones yet to integrate & they are not as placid as the last lot.

 

[featherhead007]

Better chicks in the grass than a kick in.......... never mind .

Please be careful today. I worry about you.

I didn't fly today, but I did proof the plane for tomorrow. and, (Wash and wax kinda thing)

 

[Marie2020]

@Cynthia12

On the rehydration subject again. I found that fresh squeezed lemon in a glass of water thoroughly quenches my thirst, it tastes similar too the old fashioned lemonade but without the sugar so not sharp in any way. Sometimes I add a pinch of bicarbonate soda to it to give that little extra. I mostly take my lemon water to my bedroom so I can sip when thirsty, if I take a glass i will add a saucer on top to prevent any particles landing in it.

 

[Marie2020]

I didn't fly today, but I did proof the plane for tomorrow. and, (Wash and wax kinda thing)

You are so lucky I'm not your neighbor, you certainly wouldn't be attempting any such thing if I was. @Ladyred Get him, show him what red heads are made of

 

[featherhead007]

@Cynthia12

On the rehydration subject again. I found that fresh squeezed lemon in a glass of water thoroughly quenched my thirst, it tastes similar too the old fashioned lemonade but without the sugar so not sharp in any way. Sometimes I add a pinch of bicarbonate soda to it to give that little extra. I mostly take my lemon water to my bedroom so I can sip when thirsty, if I take a glass i will add a saucer on top to prevent and particles landing in it.

Who doesn't like a fresh glass of lemonaid?