Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

But I’ve already got one! Actually, Tegan had settled down a bit yesterday; when I got home, River and Nyssa were outdoors! And they put themselves to bed with her, so we seem to be getting somewhere.

And on another note, Chickie is eating again! When we came back on Sunday I gave them some wheat and she started tucking into it! So I made them some oats and yoghurt, with some mealy worms and baby food stirred through it, just so she’d eat some more.

Yay Chickie!

I really hope she comes good for you Loz and has many more years of companionship with you.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Most here are like that. Strangely Moon isn't at all bothered if I touch her while her sister Tap will let me stroke her beak and that's it. Major melt down if she even thinks you might try to pick her up.

It was the notion that chickens may feel some sort of contentment and/or be emotionally effected by their environment that I like about the article.

I've grown up with dogs and it's easy to see "play" behaviour with them. But I never really thought about chickens "playing".

Being social animals, playing would make sense. I'll be watching my girls for play behaviour now!

 

[Shadrach]

That's amazing. Until now I didn't really know that hens stand up to lay an egg.

There seems to be a bit of a knack to it. Crouch too low and pressure from eggs laid before can place pressure on the hens vent while the egg is being laid and the egg breaks; too high and the drop can break the egg. I've got some better pictures somewhere. I'll try and find them.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I've got a lot better at carrying my camera but often it's all over by the time me and the camera are ready.
I need one of those on all the time video cameras strapped to my head.

Me too, but what a sight we would be!
Can you imagine? An epidemic of Chicken keepers all over the world with video camera's stuck to their heads?

And all we have in common is chickens and these threads.

 

[Ribh]

Is this a winter or mid year moult?

@Aussie-Chookmum Lavender looks like she is pretty much plucked & ready for the oven. There is a storm of feathers in the pen but I can see lots of new ones spiking through so I am hopeful it won't be as bad as it looks right now.

 

[Shadrach]

Tonight's Roosting

Lots of happenings tonight. Let's start with the roosting.

Phyllis and Sydney on the high roost, Sansa down on main roost. Sansa immediately jumped down. I left her to it. Here is the video of her finally finding a spot to sleep.

I see Phyllis keeps well out of it.
Tribe 1 and 2 bunch together like sardines. It doesn't matter how much space they have.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Thanks Shad! I love talking about my girls and showing them off, and the support here when a chook is sick or has died is amazing. I also love reading your stories and seeing your pictures; I feel I get to travel to Spain just for a little while and spend time with your tribes. Thanks for hanging out with us.

Absolutely ditto here @Shadrach. Thanks for the positive reinforcement!

You took the words right out of my keyboard Lozzy. Usually Ribh says just what I want to say. We must be reading each others minds!

 

[Shadrach]

I have to hold my hand up to not being all that great at the supportive bit. Sorry and all that. Many years of a solitary life may be partly to blame.
My hearts in the right place but sometimes it just doesn't beat that loudly.

 

[Ribh]

Absolutely ditto here @Shadrach. Thanks for the positive reinforcement!

You took the words right out of my keyboard Lozzy. Usually Ribh says just what I want to say. We must be reading each others minds!

That's because we all play in the same sand pit! Great minds & all that...

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I know I owe everyone a Chicken Palace tour but somehow I always get swamped with chores. But I can’t resist sharing this because little part as I have the pictures.
Part of the Chicken Palace design is that I have a small storage area so I can keep my chicken stuff. In the storage area I have salvaged an old kitchen cabinet (just 12” deep).

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The doors are on the people side and the chickens can enter through cut-out arches in the back of the cabinet. The idea was they would lay their eggs in the cabinet and I can collect eggs from the people side.
Of course I had no idea how the Princesses would view this arrangement. So on their first morning sleeping in the Palace I was anxious to check it out ....
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Diana and Elizabeth each picked a separate cubby in the cabinet to lay their egg - looks like it is a huge success!

That's a brilliant idea RoyalChick! Love it.

Are you going to put latches on the cupboard doors to deter night time marauders?