Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Did someone else already share this? I can’t recall if I saw it here or if it popped up on my own youtube, but it’s great!

Great job ladies taking care of each other.

When I was growing up that cat would no longer be with us. My Dad would have taken care of it.

I wonder though if since neither hen was hurt, was the cat trying to play wrestle with them? It seems like it could have killed either chicken at one point. I've seen my cats do the initial face off complete with vocalization before rumbling across my house.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh, and we were talking in our 1/2 class today about what you do to relax or calm yourself inside. When it got to me I said I watch my chickens.
Well, now there’s this group of grade 1 boys running with the idea but drawing different types of chickens in their mindfulness time
I’ll share a few…View attachment 2866385View attachment 2866386View attachment 2866387

I love them. You have a creative bunch there.

 

[BY Bob]

Just remember when she is awake she bites me!

I don't know why I find that so funny................I just do!

 

[BY Bob]

That looks more like an egg crash to me.
It happens like this. The hens makes an egg but doesn't lay it or get it down the production line fast enough (temporary egg binding) She makes another egg and tries to deliver that. The second egg lodges against the first stuck egg and pushes against the first egg. This is what gives the dent in the end of the egg.

This I have not heard of before. Interesting!

 

[rural mouse]

Too early to chickeneer yet. Trees over the west side of the coop....before the snow...

We actually got color this year.
And a bird funny (coworker shared yesterday)

 

[BY Bob]

Routine

It seems the littles have entered into a routine that does not align with leaving their coop and run complex to hang out with the big ladies.

Once again yesterday, I opened the big run to provide them some access to the outside world to free range. And again they stayed in their coop. The big girls wandered through the run but no one stayed long. The Phyllistines did make use of their porch several times but they never descended to the run to come out. I also opened the doors much earlier yesterday. Their was just no interest in their part.

Equally interesting to me is that none of the big girls has shown interest in the coop since I caught Aurora trying to fly in the side door one day. Before the littles were in The Hut both Hattie and Sydney had been in it with Sydney even laying eggs in the nest box a couple of times.

By opening things up in the evening I also thought that Phyllis might go into the coop to roost but that is not happening as she has used the Main Coop to sleep the last two nights.

I am not going to force anything. They can be friends with who they want and live where they want. I am interested to see how things progress from here.

 

[BY Bob]

Melting Clucks

There was a lot of sunbathing yesterday.

Best Friends........

 

[RoyalChick]

Routine

It seems the littles have entered into a routine that does not align with leaving their coop and run complex to hang out with the big ladies.

Once again yesterday, I opened the big run to provide them some access to the outside world to free range. And again they stayed in their coop. The big girls wandered through the run but no one stayed long. The Phyllistines did make use of their porch several times but they never descended to the run to come out. I also opened the doors much earlier yesterday. Their was just no interest in their part.

Equally interesting to me is that none of the big girls has shown interest in the coop since I caught Aurora trying to fly in the side door one day. Before the littles were in The Hut both Hattie and Sydney had been in it with Sydney even laying eggs in the nest box a couple of times.

By opening things up in the evening I also thought that Phyllis might go into the coop to roost but that is not happening as she has used the Main Coop to sleep the last two nights.

I am not going to force anything. They can be friends with who they want and live where they want. I am interested to see how things progress from here.

The only risk I see is if Phyllis ends up not being loved by either group. I certainly wouldn't force anything, but I probably would try and make sure that Phyllis and her Phyllistines are comfortable with each other. Phyllis can roost where she chooses but it would be good if she felt comfortable to go in to the Cluckle Hut by getting used to it while the Phyllistines are still relatively small.
Just my thoughts based on no experience of course.

 

[BY Bob]

Gambling Chickens!

Mrs BY Bob loves the slots. I can't understand the fascination but it makes her happy. So every so often I take her to the nearby casino. They removed her favorite machines, The Wizard of Oz and so she had been trying to find other favorite, wandering the casino floor everytime we go.

I took her again on Wednesday night. I think she may have finally found a new favorite.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Well, Branch and Bubba have hit the teenage phase and hormones are starting to rage at almost 4 1/2 months old. Basil is paying no attention to either of them so he is going to be no help. Bubba has yet to crow, but 3 days in a row he's caught Basil not looking and bred the 1 blue cochin girl that is still laying. He's showing no aggression so that is a plus for him at the moment. If I walk up to him he just lays down and waits for me to pick him up or pet him. Now Branch, me and Branch are going to have to have a few conversations after the little stunt he pulled out of the blue last night. I was sitting out back like normal waiting on it to get dark enough for everyone to be ready to go to bed. Branch walks up and gets in my lap for some nighttime cuddles. Stays about 5 minutes and hops down, I don't pay him any attention as I was talking to dad when I feel him start nibbling on my sweatshirt sleeve. This is not odd as when he preens himself a lot of the time he'll also try to preen my shirt sleeves. Then out of nowhere he grabs ahold of my sweatshirt sleeve and tried to do the deed on my hand. Nope Nope Nope, I don't think so little man. I jerked my hand away and he had the nerve to look offended. I've never had a boy pull that stunt so this is a new one on me, but will NOT be tolerated. Basil saw this, and did absolutely nothing. I don't want Basil to be mean to the boys, but I do wish he would step up and not let them get out of line like Drumstick would have. I know it's asking a lot out of Basil as he's still technically a teenager himself at almost 7 months old and still learning the ropes of being head rooster. If Basil does not step up I'm really going to miss Drumstick for the next few months as I wrangle two horny boys and turn them into gentlemen.
The 2 newest troublemakers. I took these yesterday afternoon.