Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

You are such a lovely chicken mama

Aww, that is sweet of you to say. Thank you.

 

[micstrachan]

If the vinyl starts pulling, run a strip of duct tape (or gorilla tape) along where you're putting the staples, then run the staples through the duct tape. It's almost impossible for the duct tape to pull through the staples and it helps stabilize the wind pulling on the clear stuff.

Fantastic advice! Thank you! I ran clear packing tape in some areas, but as you know, that can tear easily. I just ordered some brown duct tape, thanks to you!

 

[MaryJanet]

I have been evicted from my chair by Diana. It is OK. I have my down vest on and she has lost most of hers. I guess she needs the sun’s warmth more than I do right now.

View attachment 2926771View attachment 2926772

Do you need a second chair?

 

[micstrachan]

Flockservations

I spent a lot of time with the tribe yesterday. I even let them out to free range. They had an armed guard standing among them the whole time and there was no sign of the hawk. Let's start with those videos.

We can come out?

This helps to demonstrate the fear they still have. As you watch you can see Hattie scare herself and some of the others.

Let's hang out under the apple trees

A New Leader
There has been a definitive change in the pecking order as well. I cannot tell you what happened but Aurora is now clearly number 2. Hattie has given way. I've seen Aurora growl Hattie off a hand full of food and I watched push Hattie off of a patch of leaves yesterday. The entire tribe followed her lead yesterday as to where they went. It is absolutely clear that she was in charge.

I have still seen Lilly push Aurora off of food and Aurora still defers to her elsewhere. So Lilly remains Alpha.

Watching Aurora yesterday I have to say that I am pretty much please with the way she is running things. I think much like Lilly, she has called down now that she is in charge, per se. This will be very interesting to watch.

The question at Fluffy Butt Acres being debated is did Hattie lose her spot because she was on sentinel duty when the hawk caught caught Sylvie and the tribe has asked for a change?

It is so great to see them out and about. I just LOVE watching chickens stretch their wings; makes me smile every time.

As far as the change in the #2 spot, I have no idea why. I think there is more going on socially than we human servants can pick up on.

 

[MaryJanet]

When you catch up to last year's fight you will see Hattie fight like crazy for position 2. Something else happened this year. No one is wounded in any way.

Also, she's another year older (a decade in human terms) so maybe she simply can't be bothered to make the effort.

 

[micstrachan]

It's very strange, we are all getting this across the world

I have a few finishing up molt right now, but nothing major (some wing flight feathers and neck feathers on Roxy and some hackle feathers on Minnie). However, last year Ester had a HARD molt after Christmas!

 

[Marie2020]

I have a few finishing up molt right now, but nothing major (some wing flight feathers and neck feathers on Roxy and some hackle feathers on Minnie). However, last year Ester had a HARD molt after Christmas!

I've never had mine go through this at this time of year.

 

[Marie2020]

Can someone link my too the emergency and diseases please. I was leaving but found someone that rescued ducks and one has a bad case of bumble foot. @micstrachan and everyone

 

[Marie2020]

Someone trying to save abandoned ducks need help
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...central-kentucky.1503606/page-3#post-25194973

 

[featherhead007]

I have used something like that. The trick is to put the peanut butter on a tiny bit of cracker. For folk in the US the Goldfish crackers are perfect. Then you can slide the cracker down to the end. That stops the peanut butter smearing everywhere.
One year I put a dab of paint on each mouse I released in the woods. I caught 100 in total and only about 10 were repeat offenders.
After 100 I changed strategy.

100 mice? (I would be changing my strategy too)