Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

This is Minnie. I am guessing it means that @BY Bob , @MaryJanet and others who suggested she may be starting to molt were right. Just one teeny feather out of placeView attachment 2859391.

Yes, I think so! My Subshine has a few of those now.

 

[micstrachan]

Happy Friday from Hattie

Even molting, Hattie still has a wonderful fluffy bum.
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Yes, she sure does!

 

[micstrachan]

It's fluffy; harder than one might think with this lot.
It's a butt and what's more it's a chicken butt.
It's Friday, or it is where I am. I can't be held responsible for the bad timekeeping of others.
It's on target; okay it's a bit out of focus but she kept moving around!
Can't see how you can fault me really.
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Well done with the FBF post!

 

[micstrachan]

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Fluffy butt squad! (You cant see truffles or rizos bum) izzy has the fluffiest bum ever!

Fantastic!

 

[micstrachan]

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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Bagheera (my old black australorp) only molted once and it was soooo sloooowww, she reminded me of that childrens book Rainbow Fish where the fish had some fancy shiny scales scattered between the dull ones.

 

[micstrachan]

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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I think those are the two I asked about. Poor girls. I’m glad they are in your care, Shad.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh yes, I know that about hawks. Last time I was chasing it, yelling with my hands waving in the air and it still went after the chickens. It was ehen I told Lexi to “get it!” that she bolted for it and the hawk flew off. Hawks can dive bomb their prey in open areas snd stun or injure them, then start eating them alive. Brutal predators!

I have never heard that about bald eagles. I know they are considered fishing birds, but have seen with my own eyes one csrryibg some sort of plump manmal; I thought it must hsve been a rabbit, but could not tell for sure. Why not a chicken?

I find this all very worrying. I am not really a dog person (I like all animals but am definitely more cat than dog person), but I am seriously wondering if I should get a dog.
I like big dogs so that would probably be helpful - I think I am a bit intimidated by the whole training aspect of dog ownership - I would only want to own a very well trained dog but I think I am too inexperienced in dogs to be confident of that.
I think as we go from fall to winter the predators will be more active (or more accurately my chickens will become even more enticing as other prey goes to ground) so the hawk issue is very much on my mind at the moment.

 

[micstrachan]

More Fluffy Bums

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Lovely!

 

[BY Bob]

I LOVE THEM!!! You’re pretty adorable, too, Bob. Just sayin.’

You are too kind.

 

[micstrachan]

New Roost Added

I did add a new lower roost today.

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Yay!