Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

Patsy takes Jabber Down!

@MaryJanet asks and so she gets. This video takes place just after Patsy had knocked Jabberwocky off of Hattie. Jabber was angry and thought he would challenge Patsy. This video contains Patsy's response to that challenge.

I like how he stops to say "pardon me, ma'am" on his way out the door!

 

[BY Bob]

I like how he stops to say "pardon me, ma'am" on his way out the door!

He got schooled.

 

[LozzyR]

We bury as well. It's the least we can do for all they have done for us.

I buried Emily as she died suddenly, but I left Penny and Bessie at the vet's to be part of the general cremation. For some reason, I just couldn't bring them home again and bury them, I think I was too sad. And I think I may also have been worried about them being accidentally dug up, I've got a big rock over Emily so I can remember where she is. I'm not 100% sure what my reluctance is, but I think this comes close.

 

[BY Bob]

I buried Emily as she died suddenly, but I left Penny and Bessie at the vet's to be part of the general cremation. For some reason, I just couldn't bring them home again and bury them, I think I was too sad. And I think I may also have been worried about them being accidentally dug up, I've got a big rock over Emily so I can remember where she is. I'm not 100% sure what my reluctance is, but I think this comes close.

I can understand that as well. The grief and pain are all real and cause us to react differently.

 

[Shadrach]

I bury all the ones ive had for over a year. Anything thats for eating doesnt last that long and anything thats for sale is gone by then too.

Hello @mixedUPturk .
You're a bit more livestock than pets if my memory serves me. It's getting harder and harder here to find a thread that concentrates on chickens here.
I'm an admirer of @BY Bob 's video clips and behaviour observations.

 

[Shadrach]

This is exactly the situation we had last year when Hattie and Jabberwocky joined the flock. I had an established pecking order that Jabber stood outside of. Hattie was his "sister" and his favorite. That didn't matter, she was last in the pecking order. Frankly he spent more time trying to win over the other two hens than he did with Hattie.

Most entertaining was how Patsy, the alpha hen, would knock him off the other hens as he tried to mate with them. She even knocked him down once. There is video of it here somewhere. If anyone would like to see it who missed it the first time I can repost.

I see the same behaviour here.

 

[Shadrach]

Patsy takes Jabber Down!

@MaryJanet asks and so she gets. This video takes place just after Patsy had knocked Jabberwocky off of Hattie. Jabber was angry and thought he would challenge Patsy. This video contains Patsy's response to that challenge.

Great clip. I've mentioned on BYC before that I have/had hens that will take on their rooster. I had a couple, Harold and Blue Spot, that fought daily for a while. Harold would wake up ready for action it seems while Blue Spot was not interested in anyone bossing her about in the mornings and certainly not interested in sex. Harold always gave way and and usually ended up bossily clucking along side BlueSpot as they headed up the rockery to eat.

 

[Shadrach]

Late to Bed

I have always noticed this in deer and my flock exhibited the same behavior today. They day before a big storm, deer will be out during the day (instead of just at night) eating in anticipation of a day huddled up.

We are due to have a nasty day of weather tomorrow. So tonight the girls stayed out extra late eating, all of them. They stayed out so late that Hattie and Lilly had just gotten into the coup when the automated coop door closed. They are always comfortably on the roost long before the door closes.

The door beeps to warn them when it closing. Maleficent and Aurora were out in the yard when it beeped. They turned at the same time to watch the door close, locked in place. Then Maleficent walked over to the coop and looked at the closed door and they looked back at me. I went over and reopened the door for her. In she went. A few moments later in went Aurora. Here they are looking at me to come open the door.

View attachment 1948166

@Shadrach this is not the best example but Maleficent did not patrol the door tonight. I will keep watching though add tonight was not normal.

I was just curios. I've had a couple of hens that did the door guarding bit at roost time. It took a roost bar rearrangement to put a stop to it.

 

[Shadrach]

I buried Emily as she died suddenly, but I left Penny and Bessie at the vet's to be part of the general cremation. For some reason, I just couldn't bring them home again and bury them, I think I was too sad. And I think I may also have been worried about them being accidentally dug up, I've got a big rock over Emily so I can remember where she is. I'm not 100% sure what my reluctance is, but I think this comes close.

I dig deep graves. I've got the kit for deep holes and I make them 600mm deep minimum so digging them up would be very difficult. I don't mark the graves in anyway but I do keep notes on who is buried where.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

No worries. My wife collects witches hats (at least that is what she tells me. Could it be something else? )

She loved it. It is very cool, nice job.

Glad you both liked it.