Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Thanks ACM! I did it once; I can do it again.

Confidence. I like that.

 

[BY Bob]

I was waiting for Diana to step over Maggie!

Or fly for crying out loud. they are racing down the run but she can't make that flight.

 

[BY Bob]

Well she clearly had that in mind! But then Maggie calmly reminds her how big she is!
I am intrigued to see if the favorite spot moves to the window end in July/August when it gets really hot.

If they are anything like mine, it will not. No matter what, that is the favorite spot.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm absurdly excited about it and it's not even mine!!

Me too!

 

[BY Bob]

Oh I have spent years on that one too! I do have a set up that seems to work which is a low lying floating platform - my most enduring has been a bunch of wine corks stuffed into one foot (and part way up the leg) of a pair of panty-hose/tights (but there are many variants). Then have one end in the pool and drape it up and over the edge and anchor it on the side with a rock or a landscape staple. It looks weird but it seems to provide enough traction for at least some critters to climb out.
Last year I noticed that there is now a commercial product available for this. I haven't tried it, but it is really just a more elegant solution than my corks - maybe I should have filed for a patent!
https://www.amazon.com/Qrose-Critte...al+to+climb+out+of+pool&qid=1583673847&sr=8-1

I am going to get one of those!

 

[RoyalChick]

I am going to get one of those!

Let me know if it works. Maybe I should upgrade from my home made version.

 

[RoyalChick]

That is a pretty peaceful roosting. What a fabulous roost with a view. You have done amazing with that.

Here the alpha hen tends to roost first. Essentially indicating to everyone that it is time for bed.

Ooooh - so maybe Maggie is Alpha hen!
The only issue with that theory is that until they moved into the Chicken Palace (and indeed also the first night in the Palace) she was always last to bed.
But with that big roost and the ladder on only one end that resulted in her being stuck away from the wall. So she changed her habits and goes up to bed first. She doesn't go to the corner - she sits and looks out of the window but as you saw in the video effectively blocks access to the wall. Then when it is time to sleep she walks to the end and snuggled up to the wall.
I concluded she 'learned the trick' of getting her favorite spot rather than it being a sign of hierarchy. I will continue to watch and learn from them.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Who layed the egg I circled?View attachment 2044400

My EE Kelly...

 

[BY Bob]

Maturity

Based upon comb color and physical size of the New Girls I figured they were not quite mature. Probably several weeks to go. I mean look at Sydney's comb. It's not exactly red and she is still smaller than Lilly.

This is despite the fact that she is nearly 25 weeks old.

Yesterday, Sansa squatted for me. A sure sign she is getting older. (They are the same age). No one had inspected nesting sites that I have seen. I had no heads up so what happened this morning shocked me.

What happened when Farmer Bob let them out at 0 dark thirty this morning? Only 5 hens emerged to free range.

Sydney was missing.

A search immediately ensued. Let ne zoom out on the above photo.

So thought, OK, she's getting warmed up. I need to get the prefab out of the run today anyway. Isn't that cute. So I let her be and started catching up on all of the posts here from overnight.

While I was still doing that, you all were very busy last night, I hear the escort call.

I am still thinking how cute. She is practicing.

It was no practice!

I actually took a photo of her nest assuming it was empty. It was only when I looked at the photo that I realized she had laid a tiny egg.

I am stunned!

They grow up so fast!

But woohoo! More eggs!

 

[BY Bob]

My EE Kelly... View attachment 2045616View attachment 2045616

I am swooning. She is beautiful!