Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Enjoy your flight. Take care. We expect a full report in the morning! (Kidding. But not about the staying safe part.)

I don't know about you but I want a full report chapter and verse. I'm thinking of posting that man a clock in and out machine so I can keep track on him.

Maybe I'll get that man chipped, it works for my animal's

 

[Marie2020]

Who is this "Chad"?

Typos abounding this morning.

Hahaha @featherhead007

Thanks Bob

 

[Marie2020]

But it was all three of the big ones who attacked. Or did you mean isolate Minnie?
All is now peace and harmony - the soil is damp and there are worms to dig for. So strange that they do this.

I would separate minnie first, a couple of days and if the others persist take it from there, they may not be such aggressors if she's brought down a few pegs

I only did it at night and kept an eye out when they were laying. They are all close now.

That was so bad of her, she's teaching the others bad ways. Was there any damage?

Btw this is only my opinion I'm not telling you how to run your home.

 

[RoyalChick]

It is way too early for it to be this hot right now. Lots of hens Pit Sweating every afternoon, laying in the shade, and drinking tons of water.

I am so grateful for the shade I have over the Chicken Palace and that I oriented it to catch the cross-breeze so it is actually quite nice in there.
I am watering the dirt which cools it further.

 

[BY Bob]

Sorry, RC. Yes, calcium citrate with D3 for a few days might help. The zucchini we already talked about won’t hurt, either. An avian vet did tell me soft shells are usually caused by an infection, so be on the lookout for more soft eggs. Hopefully it’s just s one-off from a startle or something.

So this made me pull out my Veterinary's Guide to Backyard Chickens. Here is what the vet textbook says about softshelled eggs. (paraphrased of course)

Sickness: Certain diseases that affect the oviduct function such as infectious bronchitis or Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Nutrient deficits: Calcium, Phosphorus, or Vitamin D3

Nutrient excesses: Phosphorus or Vitamin D3

Normal increase: Older layers

Things I think we should all take from this:

1. While it can be caused by disease at some point there would likely be respiratory symptoms.
2. A nutritional deficit of not just Calcium or Vitamin D3 but also Phosphorus can be a cause.
3. Too much Phosphorus and/or Vitamin D3 can also cause it. We need to be careful when supllementing that we do not go too far. This just is a healthy reminder that a quality chicken feed is essential.
4. This becomes more prevalent as chickens age and can just be a by-product of an older hen.

 

[RoyalChick]

I would separate minnie first, a couple of days and if the others persist take it from there, they may not be such aggressors if she's brought down a few pegs

I only did it at night and kept an eye out when they were laying. They are all close now.

That was so bad of her, she's teaching the others bad ways. Was there any damage?

Btw this is only my opinion I'm not telling you how to run your home.

Oh I know - I am not taking it badly.
She seemed fine when I checked on them just now - but I didn't yet give her a detailed inspection. I made sure she got her share of sunflower seeds and she and Maggie were companionably chowing down together.
So strange.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm glad Minnie changed her mind and went up to the top nest box where it is harder to be dragged out.

What is it with all these Bully Hens lately?
Sunspots? A change in the magnetic field?

Not worried. Upset.

SPOILER - Feel free not to watch this video. It is deeply upsetting.

Why does Maggie drag her out of the nest box - it isn't even the box Maggie likes to use?
Why does Diana lay into her once she is pinned on the floor?
Why is there such a prolonged and brutal attack?
Why, once she escapes doesn't she run out - there are lots of exits and lots of space?
What did poor little Minnie ever do to offend?

I know there is nothing I can do about this but it is really distressing to me.

I've written about this so much now....
There are some basic problems to do with observation and other problems due to perception.
Observation
Most people do not spend enough time with their chickens to make valid observations on their behaviour. This is a simple fact. It seems from the various polls and posts that the average may be as little as half an hour a day and this seems to usually be when feeding and cleaning. A great deal of normal behaviour just isn't shown when feeding and cleaning; the important stuff goes on when either your not looking or when you are looking so much that the chickens no longer associate you with a limited range of activities and pretty much go about their business as if you were not there.
Coop cams have helped change the keepers ability to watch normal behaviour and people get to see stuff they otherwise would not. This is what has happened with Royal Chick and By Bob just on this thread; maybe others as well.
So, it is reasonably safe to assume that these behaviours have gone on and go on day to day. The problems Phyllis has at roosting and in the coop would probably not be known about without the aid of a coop cam.
I believe it's safe to assume that such behaviours have not suddenly developed; the suddenness is in the keepers ability to observe and recognise.
For those who go to work, be that at home or away from home, their working day does not allow for lengthy observation; an hour or two free range time at the weekend is not going to show much of the chickens natural behaviour.
It drives me to distraction when people post stating their chickens don't behave in a certain way or contradict species specific behaviours when it is apparent that the time they spend watching their chickens is minimal and their interpretation of what is going on is biased. See perception section below.
Yes, chickens are individuals, but they do have species specific behaviour and have more in common between breeds and keeping circumstances than some people want to acknowledge.
Perception
If we could address the following we would all have a better understanding of the species and consequently be able to provide better care.
1) Chickens are not cute and cuddly. From what I've seen they're pretty savage, don't like people much, don't like being picked up, will rip a mouse, or other creature to shreds with any sign or remorse and bully outsiders to death. That cute exception you've got on your lap that you're about to post about to prove me wrong will behave just like the rest given the right circumstances.
2) Chickens do not make good pets and they don't make you breakfast either. They don't lay their eggs for you and no matter how much you may thank them and make silly noises at them the simple fact is you are stealing their potential offspring. Chickens lay eggs to further their genes. You are not even in the equation.
3) Chickens are stupid. Not from what I've seen and not according to the studies I've read either. We haven't quite managed to reduce out ego far enough to recognise they are as smart as we are but with a different skill set yet...
Treat them with some respect for what they are and you'll get a better response from them. If some are more reluctant to engage with humans then let them be.
4) Chickens are not suitable creatures for close confinement. No, they don't like their coops and runs. They know they are imprisoned and as many of you have seen, are just dying to get out at every opportunity. They are not standing at the gate because they are waiting with baited breath for a word or treat from their magnanimous keeper; they want out!
5) Chickens are tribal creatures and not flock creatures. They don't like other chickens that look different to the majority, or are not related.
Chicken don't like strangers. All new comers will be treated with suspicion and often violence. Now comers have to earn their place in the group and no amount of careful integration is going to make the slightest difference in the long run.

My belief is Ribh and some others have fewer social problems because the range of breeds and looks kept is so great that tribal pairing, or grouping is difficult to sustain. If there is a fairly regular influx of new inmates then social bonds are constantly being readjusted. Short term prison management works on a similar principle, no one group gets the time to establish control.
For many chicken keepers this isn't the case and the group is relatively stable over longer periods of time and relationships are formed and held over time.

The solution to most of the behaviour problems is essentially simple. Keep one breed, preferably related and let the chickens choose when to add to the tribe and who hangs with who. Even then, should a stray gene pop up in offspring you can expect that chicken to be picked on. Time and stability and in tribe breeding will often raise the oddball in the hierarchy, but importing company is not a certain route to peace.
The ideal chicken relationship is much like humans. One rooster to one hen with offspring attached until a certain age. Some roosters will mate and breed and move on to another hen, others it seems will stay with one hen for life. Children are tolerated until they become competition.

 

[RoyalChick]

So this made me pull out my Veterinary's Guide to Backyard Chickens. Here is what the vet textbook says about softshelled eggs. (paraphrased of course)

Sickness: Certain diseases that affect the oviduct function such as infectious bronchitis or Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Nutrient deficits: Calcium, Phosphorus, or Vitamin D3

Nutrient excesses: Phosphorus or Vitamin D3

Normal increase: Older layers

Things I think we should all take from this:

1. While it can be caused by disease at some point there would likely be respiratory symptoms.
2. A nutritional deficit of not just Calcium or Vitamin D3 but also Phosphorus can be a cause.
3. Too much Phosphorus and/or Vitamin D3 can also cause it. We need to be careful when supllementing that we do not go too far. This just is a healthy reminder that a quality chicken feed is essential.
4. This becomes more prevalent as chickens age and can just be a by-product of an older hen.

Nobody seems ill so I think it is likely age.
The excess phosphorus and D3 is a bit worrying (vs. the deficits which I can supplement to overcome).
Hmmm.
I guess I can supplement and see if it get better or worse.
By the way, sunflower seeds have lots of phosphorus. magnesium and manganese.

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks again for helping - researching and making that recommendation, Bob!

I am glad that I could help. I love your tribe.

 

[BY Bob]

Well it's only my ideas but salt prevents pests and vinegar also, I didn't bath them just washed them with a flannel in the areas I mentioned. The sun was hot yesterday so the vinegar would soothe their cute wattle and ears then the coconut oil is very soothing plus discourages pests.

On today's menu we have beetroot leaves, hung up in the coop and beet cuttings and shard with what ever else I find in my kitchen for their main meal . They love their main meal a few hours before bed and while we are having our tea. Basically we all eat at the same time.

Yes, I'm a weird one but very happy with my family

What a lovely mental picture, communal meal time.