Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

Like this?

I live that bit at the end when the guy grabs a gun because, yeh, that'll work! It's such a comedic moment!!

 

[micstrachan]

That is very similar to what I've observed. The point where mum stops mothering them I've always found heart rending. There hasn't seemed to be any particular chick age, it's just when mum decides.
Ruffles cared for and protected her chicks for over two months, Blue Spot averaged around five weeks.
What has been ntereesting is all the mums have at some point taken their chicks back to their tribe coop with them shortly before they stop being mum.
So, the chicks get introduced to the tribe by mum, unless they were hatched in the tribe coop then the chicks already know who not to piss off.
Also, all the mums, usually very early on introduce their chicks to their father/tribe rooster.

Yes, it hurts watching mom stop mothering. Minnie was SO SAD and wanted to be around Cashew 24/7. She’s about 2 1/2 and still likes to roost beside Cashew.

 

[micstrachan]

My main laying girl stopped a long time ago and is still the lead hen

Same with Bridge.

 

[micstrachan]

I am totally behind now. I haven’t been on the internet for awhile. I need a whole day just to read!
The best I can do is at least catch up on YESTERDAY and TODAY.

This is Rose
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Hi, beautiful Rose. That’s an impressive comb ya got there and your mahogany feathers are stunning!

 

[micstrachan]

But she is most senior, age wise, yes (or at least is in the oldest group if you have more than one the same age?)

I think if they age out of laying, it doesn't decrease their status...I just think STARING to lay (like having a sweet-sixteen /quincenera/etc...coming of age stage) improves their status as they move into official 'adulthood' instead of being adolescents....imho.
Again, only based on my few years with chickens and observational/anecdotal info...so @Shadrach, feel free to correct me

I have a similar observation with regard to laying and its effect on status.

 

[micstrachan]

Well, I see no update on Volt. I hope she had at least a little comfort today. I imagine she had the comfort of sunshine and friends, along with the loving hand of Shad.

 

[Scrambles83]

It's Friday Night and the Feeling's Right

Well it's not actually night time but it is Fluffy Bum time!

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Oh my, Hattie

 

[micstrachan]

It’s been a FANTASTIC day! I’ll be rambling on a bit here with free flowing, unorganized thoughts, so bear with me. I let the girls out after they had a chance to eat commercial feed in the run. They were a bit nervous and stayed close to home, but everyone got in a good dust bath and lots of foraging. Bridge voluntarily got in my lap twice.. YAY! She’s usually a big lap sitter, but not during molt, and she is the longest, slowest molter of all time. I’ve been missing her in my lap, and sang her little song.

Both Bridge and Buttercup let me help them groom their 2-inch long pin feathers on their back ends (I pinch the pin feathers between my thumbnail and the pad of my index feather… they seem to love it). I also put a nustock/bag balm/petroleum jelly mix on Roxy’s and Lucky’s feet. They were not impressed. Not sure why my Wyandottes have really bad scaly leg mites and nobody else does, but it’s the way it is. Feeling guilty for not treating more often, but at least I did it today.

Today was sunny and warm. I love seeing them bask in the sun. They were also active most of the day! They stayed close all day, but at least foraged on the little pasture I grew for them (green patch in the video below) and in the leaves under the walnut tree. They even foraged a bit in the wild greens out front. It’s very exposed there, so that only lasted a short while.

This about sums it up. This is only a few of them, but still!

Every time a Red Shouldered Hawk calls, even if it’s in the distance, they run for cover. Well, a hawk did visit later in the day. It perched in a tree nearby WITHOUT announcing itself. Then it started circling DIRECTLY overhead. I did a low key alarm call and they mostly went for cover. Then I hand carried most of them from their hiding spots into the run. The last couple went as I semi chased them, since they were too nervous to be caught. Once back in the run, they seemed pretty relaxed. I love it when they free range, but it also warms my heart that they seem to feel secure in their home.

 

[featherhead007]

Eleven hens, and I am only treated to these? I think I’m being cheated. (Or there’s a big clutch somewhere in the yard?)

 

[bgmathteach]

Happy Friday! Geez, I thought we’d never get here! I will catch up on the thread this weekend, but have two things to share. First, I saved a woodpecker out of our Jacuzzi today. It’s an old Jacuzzi that is not functioning and has all kinds of larvae growing in it, so I think maybe that woodpecker was going for something in there. Anyway, it was weak and shivering, so I warmed it up in my hands and in the sun over warm rocks and eventually it went on its way. it feels good to save a life! And here’s the other thing. I’ve been letting the grass around the new chicken bath grow long so that they use it more, feeling more protected. I was sitting on a rock right beside some of them bathing and got lucky enough To capture this cute video.

Another blast from the past:

Wow, Bridge was really going after those seed-heads on the grass!!!

It is really fun to watch her ! Thank you for sharing.