Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Like the error you have in this post?

Yep, but I fixed it

 

[Shadrach]

I pressganged a chair that was loitering around the allotment.
That's one more thing off the list.

 

[Scrambles83]

Final Roosting on BY Bob

Every night when I bring the girls inside from their little run they roost on my arm. When we get to my office then they hang out on my arm and from themselves, even nap for a while.

Here they are last night. For the first time someone slips off my arm.

Because of that they adjusted their roosting location. I was a little worried about my head. After all there is precidence.

Just beautiful

 

[MaryJanet]

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?

I agree it could've been much worse. As the lowest ranked hen, Phyllis has to assert herself over them. I recall Sandy did the same when Ivy and Peggy were pullets. Another thing I recall is that given enough space and hiding places, the pullets could usually outrun her, however one time Sandy stood on Peggy. And, the other hens left most of the pecking to Sandy.

 

[MaryJanet]

I think that this morning was good. It was a little more time together. I think two things led to it happening, meal worms and the fact that with the fog this morning the automated door on the main coop opened after I opened the Cluckle Hut. Because of that, the rest of the tribe was not out and about so Phyllis wasn't "missing" anything.

My original plan was that once I felt the littles knew their home, I would open the door and provide access to the big run. That is when I plan to provide extended access to Phyllis as there will be tons of space for them to avoid her if needs be. The plan is to use meal worms to start their time together, positive reinforcement and then monitor. My plan is to start that on Monday. I don't believe that anything which occurred this morning indicates that I should change that process.

I do think that I will continue placing meal worms in the coop at night so they all wake up to a treat together. I am also going to add another lower roost this morning for them. The current roost is too high for my little ones.

I like this plan.

 

[MaryJanet]

Hey everyone, some bad news. We’re getting rid of truffles on Monday. We found a great home for him with 16 hens and 0 other roosters, in a nice feild, think about 3-4 acres like ours. I still have lots of photos i’ll be sharing of him, but he wont be in the flock anymore.

What a beautiful home for him! Of course, you'll be sad to say goodbye but he'll be very happy with his new friends and field.

 

[MaryJanet]

Hattie's New Feathers

I was going on about Hattie's new feathers this morning. I got a photo of her just now. Check out the new lavender feathers compared to the old grey ones.
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Quite a stark difference!

 

[MaryJanet]

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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These two are lucky you came along. They have not been thriving, poor hens.

 

[Chicken poppy]

What a beautiful home for him! Of course, you'll be sad to say goodbye but he'll be very happy with his new friends and field.

It is a little sad, im sure he will have a great area to play and roam though!

 

[MaryJanet]

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!

Fascinating. There must be something in the roots they need to eat while moulting.