Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

As opposed to the neutron?

Lord. Spell check.

 

[Shadrach]

Day 2: Encounter with Phyllis

This morning Phyllis did not wish to leave the coop. I am partly to blame. If you remember that mug of mealworms from last night, o spread some in the coop so that when Phyllis woke up there would be a treat for her and the chicks to enjoy together.

So they had all been up some time before I opened the door to let Phyllis out. Even so, Phyllis did not want to go. She did come out on the porch several times and then went back into the coop. She ate their food, drank some their water and just did not fish to leave.

Eventually the chicks wanted out into the coop so we had a meeting this morning. I filmed with the coop camera and my phone. Here is the phone first. It is Sylvie that you see. First, she was not harmed. Second, Phyllis does "go after her".

I turned the coop cam to record before I went out. Because it is up higher, it captured much more than I did. First Legertha is actually the first to come out but she goes back when Phyllis looks at her. Then you can see detail of what happened with Sylvie.

I did some stop frame photos of two of Phyllis's pecks to see where she was aiming. As you can see in both instances it was Sylvie's back. To me these indicate dominance pecks and not an intent to injure. Something which has to be expected as hopefully they come together to form their own tribe or subgroup.

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Not a pleasant thing for Sylvie but overall not an awful first encounter.

What does everyone else think? Am I reading this correct?

So far that's not to bad. Even chicks introduced to tribes with mums get pecked to be put in their place so to speak. Didn't we used to do that with children once upon a time?

 

[BY Bob]

At the other extreme this butt is not fluffy at all. To add to her moulting problems, her sister, or at least close relative, has been pecking lumps out of this ones rear end. Yesterday evening I watched as a couple of other hens had a peck as well. Her bum was a bit bloody and sore when she went off to roost. I went back to the allotment at about 9pm when it was dark and quiet, dissinfected her bum and one of the others who had also had blood drawn, slapped a cream I brought with me from Spain on her bum.
I also got Henry's missis off her perch and cleaned her vent up a bit. It was a bit of a mess under the feathers.

In the second picture is the hen who I've been very worried about, but who despite having an eye problem, which I'm trying to help with atm, is very fiesty and one of the first to come to greet me when I arrive. I sat her on my lap to give her the eye drops and she was very well behaved. I do hope she makes it through the winter at least.
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Poor babies. You can do it. I have faith in you.

 

[BY Bob]

I am fascinated by my Princesses’ change in foraging habit. I don’t know if it is molting or just change in season or both, but they are all digging up stuff much more than they were, and nibbling leaves much less.
The long grass which has survived in tact all season (which I put down to the large amount of space) is now being systematically dug up. Another couple of days and only the shrubs and the areas I protected with netting will survive.
They definitely have strong views on what they want to eat and when they set themselves to total destruction they are very focused!

The molting diet is very different. @Shadrach has said it before and my observations back him up. They need different nutrients and they know how to find them.

 

[BY Bob]

Well maybe drab in comparison but I think she looks pretty special even with the grey.

I told her you said that and she smiled.

 

[BY Bob]

Yeah, I've got some ideas but they're not printable.

I expected that would be your response.

 

[featherhead007]

Lord. Spell check.

Watch it Bob, I have tallied a list of your spelling errors (I just keep my mouth shut about errors anymore ) anybody’s errors!…

 

[BY Bob]

So far that's not to bad. Even chicks introduced to tribes with mums get pecked to be put in their place so to speak. Didn't we used to do that with children once upon a time?

This is very similar to what Lucky and Ned experienced from Phyllis. Despite everyone's concern I did not panic and intervene in any way. I was sort of pleased that it went down like that. They have to learn and Phyllis went for the back and not the head. I do hope that there is not a lot of this but I have to expect some.

 

[featherhead007]

So far that's not to bad. Even chicks introduced to tribes with mums get pecked to be put in their place so to speak. Didn't we used to do that with children once upon a time?

We did, up until the children learned how to call 911

 

[BY Bob]

Watch it Bob, I have tallied a list of your spelling errors (I just keep my mouth shut about errors anymore ) anybody’s errors!…

Like the error you have in this post?