Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Hmmm. I will have to watch more closely - and now I have cameras on them I can do that all the time. Honestly very little pecking and what there is seems to be pretty evenly given and received. But I am obviously not being observant enough so this is my homework assignment!
The reason I guess it might be Diana is not because of any pecking, but she seems to be the one with the most initiative. So she is the one who decides that it is time to go to the back run with all the leaves (they have to go through a little corridor to get there at the moment) and the other two follow her. And she is the one who decides when it is time to go back to the little run area in front of the temporary coop.
On the other hand, Maggie doesn't always follow her lead because she LOVES people - so if there is any human around she will opt to ignore Diana in order to greet the human (all sorts of random delivery guys are her best friends!).
It is a puzzle but I will solve it somehow!

It should be a lot of fun and you will get to know them better at the same time.

 

[micstrachan]

Hello

Aurora met Sansa and more particularly Sydney through the wire today. Something transpired between Sydney and Aurora but I could not devine what it was.

I did however get some video.

Maybe someone else, @Shadrach , could help decipher the body language, etc.

Here it is.

I don’t see any drama there. Awesome!

 

[micstrachan]

Got them Eating out of my Hand

It took a little trial error but I have identified a food the are will to risk contact with me over, BLUBERRIES.

Forget those mealy worms, their price is higher, fruit.

Odd thing, I can touch Phyllis but she won't eat out of my hand yet. No worries, I will wear her down.

Love, love, love this!

 

[micstrachan]

Just got back from the vet with Ruby. She has sequestered fluid in her upper abdomen. She is also fat. The doctor does not suspect cancer, because of her good condition and feathering. She does, however suspect advanced oviductal disease. So we’re treating for that, since she did so well last year. If she does well, she may need a second implant later in the season, since it’s earlier in the year this time.

 

[Shadrach]

Hello

Aurora met Sansa and more particularly Sydney through the wire today. Something transpired between Sydney and Aurora but I could not devine what it was.

I did however get some video.

Maybe someone else, @Shadrach , could help decipher the body language, etc.

Here it is.

The great problem with video clips is while they show the subjects the important observation is often what everybody else is doing.
The peck at the ground and then lift head and peck at each other is fence fighting.
Nobody I've read or spoken to knows why chickens fence fight and more interesting, why some do and some don't.
What is also interesting is once the fence is removed in the majority of cases no fighting ensues.

 

[Ribh]

I bow before the superior intellect.

I should always listen to you.

You are right thought. She's been a real sweetheart so far. Representing the land down under quite well.

Funny that. They're an American breed. All mine have been sweethearts.

And of course you should listen to me. I will lead you into trouble every time....

 

[ValerieJ]

Hmmm. I will have to watch more closely - and now I have cameras on them I can do that all the time. Honestly very little pecking and what there is seems to be pretty evenly given and received. But I am obviously not being observant enough so this is my homework assignment!
The reason I guess it might be Diana is not because of any pecking, but she seems to be the one with the most initiative. So she is the one who decides that it is time to go to the back run with all the leaves (they have to go through a little corridor to get there at the moment) and the other two follow her. And she is the one who decides when it is time to go back to the little run area in front of the temporary coop.
On the other hand, Maggie doesn't always follow her lead because she LOVES people - so if there is any human around she will opt to ignore Diana in order to greet the human (all sorts of random delivery guys are her best friends!).
It is a puzzle but I will solve it somehow!

I only have a general idea of pecking order in my flock of 10. Obviously, the two 6 mo pullets are on the bottom, but yesterday I saw one of them go after an aussie and send her running. The aussie's hang together and sometimes will get bossy as a group. I have one BO, Surly, who is clearly the top hen, but Lucy would take her on in a heartbeat. Lucy used to be the top hen until she lost the last 3 of her original flock mates last summer to the eagle attack. She is pretty subdued now, but wont let anyone mess with her. My previous RIRs were pretty aggressive, but the two I have now were raised with these hens and they are pretty peaceful, but will peck in a heartbeat if someone invades their space.
I'm always amazed at folks that know their chickens pecking order from the top to the bottom. Mine will change when I bring in the cockerels. My current plan is to give each one 5 hens/pullets, but not yet. They are not ready yet.

 

[Shadrach]

@BY Bob how can you tell? I have been trying to learn from you and everyone on this thread but I still can’t figure out the order since I lost Scary.
She was definitely last. Biggest but kind of ‘slow’ and just followed everyone else. Since I am down to three they roost in a different order most nights. They throw the odd peck but only when getting in each other’s space ( eg sharing a cucumber). If I had to guess I would say Diana is top hen. But I am really not sure.

It can be difficult to tell who is the most senior hen. I watch them eat. The top hen here gets first dibs on the food. Some senior hens are more tolerant of transgressions than others. It's not so much the treats that give it away. If you been fair in the past those that expect a bit get a bit. Pullets for example and cockerels definitely don't expect to get treats while the seniors are there. It's the regular feed. This may not work very well for you if you have feed available all the time. Because I feed and and pick up once they've all eaten, I see enough feeding to work it out.

 

[ValerieJ]

Just got back from the vet with Ruby. She has sequestered fluid in her upper abdomen. She is also fat. The doctor does not suspect cancer, because of her good condition and feathering. She does, however suspect advanced oviductal disease. So we’re treating for that, since she did so well last year. If she does well, she may need a second implant later in the season, since it’s earlier in the year this time.

That's good news! I hope the treatment has her feeling better soon!

 

[MaryJanet]

The great problem with video clips is while they show the subjects the important observation is often what everybody else is doing.
The peck at the ground and then lift head and peck at each other is fence fighting.
Nobody I've read or spoken to knows why chickens fence fight and more interesting, why some do and some don't.
What is also interesting is once the fence is removed in the majority of cases no fighting ensues.

Shad! Thank you for helping me see this. You may not recall but on my thread, there's a photo of Janet and Mary fence fighting the pullets but they've has left them alone ever since. Whereas Sandy kept well away at first and now she's the pullets' enforcer.