Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

Evidence of a Switch in the Order

I have stated previously that there has clearly been a change in the pecking order. When hanging with the ladies this morning I managed to catch a piece of evidence thatdemonstrates the change. In the video below Hattie and Lilly are eating corn from my hand when Aurora comes over. All 3 eat together for a bit and then Aurora pulls back and growls. Hattie backs out and walks away. Aurora then resumes eating with Lilly.

Hattie was not done eating corn. She would come back for more as soon as Aurora left.

What I do with the tribes and Ex Batts.
When I open my hand I let the roosters eat first. Then I close my hand and move it away and open it again infront of a hen. I do this as many times as it takes to ensure that everyone gets something. The hens are used to the rooster giving food to his favourites and don't even expect to get any sometimes.
If I prevent the favourites from eating and offer some to the more junior they grab waht they can until the seior hens move round to where my hand is and then thhe juniors will back off again.

 

[featherhead007]

It finally arrived. An early Christmas present from my brother in Washington. The movie “Cry Macho”. He said that me and Jaffar would like to watch it together! So tonight it’s movie night

Cry Macho, comes out in theaters tomorrow.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Peanut seems to be taking that hard molt like a champ! I need to get one of those coop warmers next year.

The coop warmer gives her a place to warm up yet be out and about with everybody. That end of the coop run also gets the low southern sun coming in too, so today they had a sunbathing cuddle party back there.

Side note: checked the coop this evening before the auto door closed - Peanut The Naked was sitting on the covered heating pad, two others were near her but on the roost bars, and somebody was in the nestbox. All good!

 

[BY Bob]

She must be feeling much better with that extra weight.

Yes, her personality is much more normal right now.

 

[BY Bob]

Your girls are a scream. I also think you were meant to get Wrold. She'd fit in nicely!

I would gladly accept her.

Perhaps that is my problem.

 

[BY Bob]

What I do with the tribes and Ex Batts.
When I open my hand I let the roosters eat first. Then I close my hand and move it away and open it again infront of a hen. I do this as many times as it takes to ensure that everyone gets something. The hens are used to the rooster giving food to his favourites and don't even expect to get any sometimes.
If I prevent the favourites from eating and offer some to the more junior they grab waht they can until the seior hens move round to where my hand is and then thhe juniors will back off again.

I do much the same thing. I will frequently use both hands. This covers most of the tribe. Aurora will follow the hand but Lilly and Hattie will usually allow me to feed the others some. Phyllis gets special treatment up on the Cluckle Hut porch these days.

 

[bgmathteach]

Cry Macho, comes out in theaters tomorrow.

Looked at the trailers. Sounds like a good movie! (I'm a bit partial to Clint Eastwood, too!) Hope you & Jaffar enjoy - there's a handsome rooster named 'Macho' in it!

 

[featherhead007]

Looked at the trailers. Sounds like a good movie! (I'm a bit partial to Clint Eastwood, too!) Hope you & Jaffar enjoy - there's a handsome rooster named 'Macho' in it!

We just finished with the movie. I thought it was good. Jaffar liked a few scenes, but liked the meally worms I served, more than the movie I think. Macho turned out to be a tough little rooster! Jaffar was impressed I think.

 

[BY Bob]

Change in Decision on the Feed

I have posted this on MJs thread but thought I should share here as well.

I think I have decided to put the tribe back onto layer feed including Sansa. It is likely the best way to get higher calcium into her. I may still choose to supplement as well to give her a big boost. I'm going to do this for a month while I keep good watch on her weight. Then we will recheck her labs and see how we have done. I can then adjust as needed.

I'm headed to go get some layer now. I'll do some calculations then to see how much she would be getting. What I can't understand is why I don't see her eating any of the oyster shell. If she was calcium deficient and there was calcium available, why not ingest some?

The concern that the entire tribe might be a little low on calcium is another reason why I'm going to switch to layer.

 

[micstrachan]

you know,,,,,, I have heard a lot of talk on how hard of a molt many hens are having this fall / winter,,,, I believe animals are in tune / sync with nature and the weather. Many years ago we care took a 200 acre ranch that had African Watusi, well we noticed them turning their heads left and right whacking their longhorns at the ground and then they went and laid down,,,, then,, 10 minutes later we had an earth quake, a mild one but still,,,,,,,,,They knew before it happened
So, this hard molt hens are having may very well be atmosphere / weather related . There is "never seen before" weather things going on right now all over. We also may be in for a hard January and February.

But,,,,maybe not

That is quite a story about the Watusi!