Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

Goodness - definitely sounds like you need a rest. I hope Louis makes a full recovery.

I think your advice for Afi is good - if Lilly is scared, then the fewer people crowding around the better. It is hard for people to understand that chasing is not a good idea with any scared animal.
When I just started building the Chicken Palace I had lots of Tradies around - some to help with the Palace construction, but we had a gutter issue on the house, and a guy to see about a downed tree, and lord knows who else - even I felt stressed by all the people milling around and I understood they were there to help!
In the middle of all that, Maggie's sister Scary (RIP Scary) managed to get out of the pen and set off across the meadow.
The scene that followed is seared into my brain with the Benny Hill music as an accompaniment. Imagine many large guys with tool belts and some in hard hats running back and forth across a large field trying to catch a little chicken who effectively zig zagged her way across the open ground and evaded them all. If I hadn't intervened I am sure they would have all ended up in the next county!
I managed to persuade them all to stop chasing her and to get on with their work. Meanwhile, I went the long way around to be the other side of her and wielded the most effective weapon I have as a chicken keeper - an ear of corn (I always keep some in the freezer for emergency chicken retrievals).
She took one look at the corn and practically flew at me with a look on her face that said "well there was no need for all that fuss, why didn't you just tell me treats were available in the first place?".

You’re such a good storyteller RC!

 

[LozzyR]

We started with three birds and could not ever really settle on who was the top hen. It seemed they each took turns. However, after Ginger died a couple of weeks ago, a new order has definitely arrived, and it's not what I ever would have guessed. Honestly, it's been a bit unnerving for me to watch. Mrs. Howell has become an evil dictator. The most obvious behaviors are displayed when eating treats. A very menacing glare, sometimes along with a stern warning cluck to back off, which if not heeded results in pecking. They used to all get along so well.

RIP lovely Ginger.

 

[MaryJanet]

You’re such a good storyteller RC!

She really is!

 

[Shadrach]

Hey Everyone. It's been a while since I've last been here I'm slowly getting caught up with everyones posts.

Do y'all remember the two chicks I rescued? The first in May and the second in July? They're all grown up now!

Kiko (Rescued in May)
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Gizmo (Rescued in July)
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Kiko & Gizmo
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Clearly Gizmo is a rooster. He started crowing a few weeks ago and makes a GREAT alarm clock!

Okay, going to continue catching up on this thread!

Not only are they a handsome pair but they look like chickens.

 

[Shadrach]

I am sorry to bore everyone with the figs, but I found this really interesting from a chicken behavior perspective.
Maggie jackhammered her way into the unripe fig while Minnie watched closely. Closely enough that she managed to get at least one bite of the inside of Maggie's fig.
Not 5 mins later I heard this banging and it was little Minnie trying it out for herself on another unripe fig. I really think she watched and learned from Maggie!
Amazing.

It's incredible not only what they learn from each other but how fast they learn.

 

[RoyalChick]

You’re such a good storyteller RC!

You are too kind - this one told itself. It still makes me laugh out loud remembering it and I am glad that I have such a happy memory of poor Scary whose sense of adventure was her ultimate undoing.

 

[Shadrach]

That was kinda where my mind was going on it too. The same ones who express opinions on behavior based upon 30 min of observation at coop open/close time. So do I contact the hatchery when Jessica is a year old (covers all the seasons) and ask them to modify their breed characteristics being as mine contradict what they're saying? (Hoping to spread better info?) Do I contact sooner and ask about the discrepancy between the "breeds" (color variants)? or Do I just let it go and enjoy the chickens? (I do the 2nd half of that Q anyway)

Enjoy the chickens is my vote. The hatcheries are not the slightest bit interested in chiken behaviour, or what you may have observed I dare say.

 

[RoyalChick]

It's incredible not only what they learn from each other but how fast they learn.

Now all four of them know how to break into an unripe fig. Clever little chickens are now having a wonderful feast!

 

[Scrambles83]

We started with three birds and could not ever really settle on who was the top hen. It seemed they each took turns. However, after Ginger died a couple of weeks ago, a new order has definitely arrived, and it's not what I ever would have guessed. Honestly, it's been a bit unnerving for me to watch. Mrs. Howell has become an evil dictator. The most obvious behaviors are displayed when eating treats. A very menacing glare, sometimes along with a stern warning cluck to back off, which if not heeded results in pecking. They used to all get along so well.

I must have missed that Ginger passed, I’m sorry to hear

 

[Shadrach]

Sorry I haven’t answer this; I had to think about it! With my first four, I was not sure who was the alpha for a long time. I think it was Margo, BUT Bagheera pecked her lower back feathers and Margo submitted.

I think it was subtle and came down to who had their pick of roosting spot, who backed down to whom with treats, etc.

Now it’s clearly Bridge, but she’s the oldest, meaning, she has been there from day 1 for all the others. She rarely pecks anyone. She just lifts her head in a certain way with a stern voice.

The others squabble for position. I see Flo as an alpha in the making. She is VERY assertive (and has her head plucked almost bare to prove it! ) She will challenge anyone, including Bridge, bit then gets put in her place.

Buttercup seems to be the #2 (enforcer) and is a bit of a jerk to the others.

So, here is an interesting observation. I’m curious as to what @Shadrach thinks, since he’s not as much into the cuddly lap pet thing for his birds. ALL of my highest ranked birds gave been affectionate lap sitters. I’m not sure what to make of that.

I think, at least from what I've observed that age has a major infuence. In the tribes the eldest was the senior hen in all respects. I never saw a senior hen lose her spot. The struggle was often for second most senior and while age was a factor, temperament was also a factor.