Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

An Intruder Returns
It has been at least a year since Amy squirrels dated to enter my yard. Not since Lilly tried to kill the one she had cornered by the run. This morning I spotted this guy on the deck, no hens to be seen anywhere.

Not 30 seconds later

I do not know where she came from but somehow she knew.

 

[RoyalChick]

I suspect that is nest building activity. Usually while sitting on the nest location a hen will pick up bits of what is around and drop it on their back. The material slides down their back and builds up around them. This builds the round nest for them.

Some hens, like my Aurora, will nest build while walking around after having laid the egg. Go figure.

Oh interesting. Mine are all in the Aurora school of nest building. That is exactly what they do and it is right after they have laid the egg. As you say: go figure!

 

[micstrachan]

Quiche on Sunday morning! Thanks girls!

 

[BY Bob]

Quiche on Sunday morning! Thanks girls!
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Yummy

 

[BY Bob]

All 6 Hens Together

Bathing and Grooming. You have to look close. Here they are by number.

1. Aurora
2. Hattie
3. Sydney
4. Sansa
5. Phyllis
6. Lilly

 

[starri33]

Our other two residents came to us in April as chicks. My wife raised them until they moved outside and then they became my responsibility.

Hattie is our lavender orpington hen. She has not starting laying yet but i expect she will once the days turn longer.
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Jabberwockie, Jabber for short, was supposed to be an Easter Egger hen, however, he is clearly not a hen.
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He and Hattie are inseperable.

He is beautiful.. Patsy looks like my Black Sexlinks, the gold feathers in the neck area.

 

[LozzyR]

I do not know where she came from but somehow she knew.

So did the squirrel!

 

[LozzyR]

Do your hens try and cover up their newly laid eggs?
Now I have the ladies in the Chicken Palace and can get in there with them I have noticed that once they lay their egg they go around throwing leaves over their back like they want to hide the nest.
This is not scratching - they select a leaf and pick it with their beak and toss it over their shoulder.
I never saw that before, but that could be because I couldn’t see in the temporary quarters. Or maybe they are concerned about my presence and feel the need to hide the egg. It doesn’t seem that they are scared of me because they come running out to chat as soon as they are done. But maybe I am disturbing them by hanging out.
Any wisdom from my more experienced chicken-ey friends?

I’ve seen Charlie do this too. I agree with Bob; she’s nest-building, although I hadn’t seen how until Charlie built her garden nest.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-22055967

 

[LozzyR]

They Say Don't let your Children put Plastic Bags on their Heads

This is not a toy.....

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Someone is very spoilt!

 

[LozzyR]

Quiche on Sunday morning! Thanks girls!
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That looks really nice!