Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Good Morning All.

 

[RoyalChick]

Good Morning All.

Thank you for a morning fix of fun!

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you for a morning fix of fun!

I'm trying to do more fun videos just for you. So glad you liked it.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Good Morning All.

They are getting big quickly. Why when they find a treat can't they keep it to themselves instead of announcing it to the whole world. Multiple times a tug of war has ensued over a caterpillar with Bunnie's chicks. I almost feel sorry for the poor things.

 

[BY Bob]

They are getting big quickly. Why when they find a treat can't they keep it to themselves instead of announcing it to the whole world. Multiple times a tug of war has ensued over a caterpillar with Bunnie's chicks. I almost feel sorry for the poor things.

I have never understood this. It does not seem smart. They need to learn from Sydney.

I watched yesterday as Sydney snuck away with the best food again. We had a picnic yesterday with the family. There was a leftover piece of a hamburger. While everyone fought over the bun, Sydney quietly pulled out the burger and moved off on her own to eat it. Brilliant move.

Now Hattie is an eagle eye and she saw what Sydney was doing and and followed her. The two of them wound up quietly eating the burger. No one else got any.

Miss Smarty Pants, silent food assassin

 

[ChicoryBlue]

They have a supply of chick grit. I will need to check their cups now. Thanks for the warning. I did drop some meal worms in that spot yesterday for them. I figured that's what they were eating but now you have me worried.

Mealworm bits and dust = a regular meal for the Tiny Two!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Flockservations

Today we make the switch to feather fixer feed. I was finally able to find some. I have 3 molting hens at the moment.

• Hattie
• Phyllis
• Sansa

This will be Sansa's first big molt as she did not have one last year.

For three days Hattie has had me concerned and she was about to go to the vet. (I love being able to say that) She has been standoffish, not partaking in snacks, etc. This is despite having a deep red comb. Then I saw the feathers drop from her and knew the reason. Hattie really changes her diet when she is molting. Her normal favorite, corn, holds no charm for her. She eats more chicken feed. As Hattie molts are usually pretty severe, I am pleased that she is starting early this year so it will be done long before cold weather arrives.

I noticed Sansa feathers dropping before I noticed her keeping her distance as well. She has also lowered her snack intake. I need to learn more about her molt behavior this year so I better understand next year.

Phyllis has increased her snack intake. Mostly because of the lessor competition for snacks. She is throwing herself into the middle of snack time again and even reentered the house yesterday looking for personal snacks. Things are a little better for her right now with Sansa molting. Sansa has lost the desire to terrorize her I am guessing due to her molt.

However, roosting time has clearly gotten more difficult. There has been a significant change in positioning and I think that Aurora has started the problems. Aurora no longer gets up on the high roost and has started using the main roost or even the Maleficent extension on the main roost. I believe that this has caused Hattie to reclaim Daisy’s, the greatest hen ever, spot on the roost. This puts Hattie far away from Aurora. Frankly I don't think she likes Aurora. Well that spot had been Phyllis' spot. So now Phyllis has been wandering. Roosting in the run, on the Phyllis roost, even next to Aurora once! If Aurora uses the Maleficent extension, I think that makes things easier because the other end of the Main roost is open for Phyllis. No, I do not know why Aurora has changed her habits, but she clearly has and it is not good for Phyllis.

Aurora on the Maleficent extension and Hattie in Daisy's spot.
View attachment 2824358

We got more rain yesterday morning but the rest of the day was relatively rain free. The tribe took a moment to relax after breakfast yesterday and they did it together. This is proof that Sansa is not feeling up to chasing Phyllis.

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Did you make the Phyllis roost last Fall? I mean the one over the window. That's my guess.

 

[BY Bob]

Did you make the Phyllis roost last Fall? I mean the one over the window. That's my guess.

That could be correct. I just can't remember.

 

[BY Bob]

Sansa's Feathers

This is Sansa's first big molt. Out of respect I will not show her naked butt. But this is the first time I am really getting a look at her big feathers. Check out how her wing feather is not laced but rather is 50/50.

 

[Lexicon]

Is Dr. Demento still on?!

Chicken tax
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I really love her "eye liner." It really sets her eyes off! Very nice looking hen!