Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

I did think about tent-pegging a tarp over her. Can I let her out to stretch her legs?

No

I couldn’t do it!! I couldn’t let her sit in her own filth any longer. I gave her a cool bath like the other thread suggested and let her free-range to dry off. I shut off access to the nests, hosed out the crate and fence panels and I will crate her again tonight in the laundry. I didn’t let her out this morning, I just moved her from the laundry to the run. I’ll do the same tomorrow, everyone cross their fingers she’s broken by tomorrow afternoon!

 

[BY Bob]

Conjunction Junction, How does that run join with the coop?

close call indeed.

How does the coop join to the run Bob? I couldn't see any connection between them in that photo...

I'm out sitting with them this morning so I thought I would grab a shot of how the run and coop attach for @Aussie-Chookmum

The coop attaches to the run via the porch leaving access to the courtyard with the birch tree for humans and making a "U". I made a concerted effort when designing things to have access to all areas for humans.

 

[BY Bob]

I couldn’t do it!! I couldn’t let her sit in her own filth any longer. I gave her a cool bath like the other thread suggested and let her free-range to dry off. I shut off access to the nests, hosed out the crate and fence panels and I will crate her again tonight in the laundry. I didn’t let her out this morning, I just moved her from the laundry to the run. I’ll do the same tomorrow, everyone cross their fingers she’s broken by tomorrow afternoon!

I think that should do it. Best of luck. You are being a good chicken guardian. It's hard but it is for the best.

 

[BY Bob]

Changes in Flock Dynamics

After a couple of days of observation here is what I have seen.

Hattie is in full Molt
There is no doubt she is going naked. The poor girl.

This appears to have made her immune from the pecking order shenanigans.

Pecking Order
First let me say, it has not changed.

1. Lilly
2. Hattie
3. Maleficent
4. Aurora

Something is in the air and it all revolves around Maleficent. [Insert sarcastic surprised face here]

Lilly has made a point of reminding Mal whenever possible that she is below her in the pecking order. Mal has not pushed back but accepted the reminder. However this had not been going on to this frequency before.

What is most interesting is what is happening between Mal and Aurora. Maleficent is on a crusade to keep her in her place. I watched her chase Aurora around the magnolia tree twice before she gave up trying to get her. I think Aurora is getting a little fed up. This morning there were neck flares and chest bumping once I let them out to free range. Aurora has been jumping up on foot stools and chairs to get away from Mal. It's all quite mean and I can only assume is a function of Mal being separated while being broody.


The Roost
I had to laugh last night. The roost has been very consistent.

1. Hattie
2. Lilly
3. Aurora

All snuggled together with Mal on the extension.

Last night it changed. Lilly finally got on the roost first and got her special spot on the end. Then she viciously defended it. This resulted in the other three cuddling up together around the extension and Lilly sleeping all alone. Lilly has never looked happier!

 

[LozzyR]

I think that should do it. Best of luck. You are being a good chicken guardian. It's hard but it is for the best.

The perches in the pre-fab henhouses weren’t adequate so the girls didn’t use them to roost. I’m going to make a sturdier one and encourage Charlie to roost; hopefully that will lessen the number of times she goes broody.

Has anyone had bitey broodys? A couple of people on the other thread said their broodys bite and one lady said her girls were good until 2-3 years of age and then got vicious!

 

[BY Bob]

The perches in the pre-fab henhouses weren’t adequate so the girls didn’t use them to roost. I’m going to make a sturdier one and encourage Charlie to roost; hopefully that will lessen the number of times she goes broody.

Has anyone had bitey broodys? A couple of people on the other thread said their broodys bite and one lady said her girls were good until 2-3 years of age and then got vicious!

If you go back to the start of this thread you will see that I had to add a roost to my prefab as well. I appreciate your situation.

 

[Shadrach]

The perches in the pre-fab henhouses weren’t adequate so the girls didn’t use them to roost. I’m going to make a sturdier one and encourage Charlie to roost; hopefully that will lessen the number of times she goes broody.

Has anyone had bitey broodys? A couple of people on the other thread said their broodys bite and one lady said her girls were good until 2-3 years of age and then got vicious!

Some of the most painful pecks I've had have been from broody hens.
I learn't after a while, and a few more bloody indentations in my hand, that if you keep your hand low, lower then the broodies head, and take it slow you can slide your hand underneath her reasonably easily.

 

[MaryJanet]

When Mary was broody last year, I was forced to wear long suede welders gloves to protect myself. Next time, I'll try Shadrach's advice and see how we get on.

Agree about the perches. I replaced flimsy roosting perches with sturdy ones just last weekend. The flimsy ones came with the coop. You'd think people who specialise in producing coops would do better on the perches. But i guess expertise gets lost once folks organise into companies and start cutting costs.

 

[BY Bob]

If you watch this video of Maleficent on the nest again, she wacks the nest divider while trying to get me. That would have drawn blood I bet. I know it would have been painful if she had connected.

 

[MaryJanet]

A lady recently died from being pecked by a hen, because the hen accidentally pecked her on a protruding varicose vein and the lady lived alone and I presume didn't have mobile phone coverage. If I recall correctly, the lady lived in the Adelaide hills (quite rural but not vast open spaces). Every time I go for a haircut my hairdresser brings it up and says I live on the wild side Hilarious because I'm tamer than all my friends!

My apologies it was a rooster.
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...er-pecked-varicose-veins/11469394?pfmredir=sm