Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

I’m a bit worried that my Lucy is “well-insulated, like a seal”. She’s pretty solid. Quarantine isn’t helping; she’s confined to the run and although it’s pretty big, it’s not like free-ranging. I’ve also got a theory that Chickie just isn’t eating the commercial feed anymore and that’s one of the reasons why she is so thin. She’s hungry again through; all human food I put down today she got stuck into. The problem is, Lucy got stuck into it too. I need to find a way to feed Chickie separately.

Can you take Chickie out of the run out of sight of the others for a bit each day?

 

[LozzyR]

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.

My alpha hen is the last to bed. But my girls don't roost; they snuggle up together in the nesting box.

 

[micstrachan]

They are still alive.
With broody hens, there comes a point where the hen stops full time care of the chicks and they are left to fend for themselves. This point often coincides with restarting the egg laying cycle. Both Knock and Bracket have reached this point. Some hens will still keep the chicks warm at night and share food with them, but they stop calling them for food and they stop callinng the chicks to follow. Reaching this stage is a relief in one way because the hens won't die defending the chicks in the event of a predator attack. On the other hand this is the most vulnerable stage for the chicks. I find it quite heartbreaking to watch. One day mum is there for them every minute of the day and night, the next she's gone. For a few days the chicks stick together close to the feed areas and make heartbreaking calls for mum. Next they attempt to follow the tribe. Of course, now they are at the very bottom of the pecking order in every respect. They have to compete for food, get bossed about during the day and are last to be let into the coop to roost. There is some leeway with regard to the now small pullets and cockerels personality as to how they fare at this stage. Brackets chicks and in general all the bantam chicks learn to follow the tribe quite quickly. The mixed breeds can be a bit here and there.

Oh, this is soooo sad! My heart broke when Cashew moved on. HOWEVER, since we have a completely un-natural setting (flock of girls confined to a pen most of the time), she mothered them until they were pretty old... older than most, I think.

 

[micstrachan]

I have definitely been watching roosting on the camera. Maggie always gets the favorite spot up against the wall. And she gets it every night - but not by asserting authority, simply by going to bed earlier than everyone else. She goes quiet early and sits and watches the view through the window.
Here is what happens when Diana clearly wants the end spot. She doesn't have a chance!

And here is how they end up.
View attachment 2045537

I love, love, love watching chicken behavior. Thanks for sharing that! They are so complex and sooooooo precious!

 

[BY Bob]

Speaking of mums and chicks and the different styles of mothering.....
Tribe 2 round for an early supper as they have been for the past few days. The first two pictures show every tribe member bar one and that is Barking Bracket the mother of the chicks.
This is okay if the tribe takes up the slack. I doubt Bracket has had a decent nights sleep for the past seven weeks.
View attachment 2045898View attachment 2045903

This however is far from okay. Tribe 2 will not venture into the house; they just don't.
The chicks just piled in the door when they saw the feed on the floor.

I have never seen this before.
Meanwhile, the rest of Tribe 2 had headed home leaving the chicks behind. Yes, they are as safe in my house as anywhere here but....they have to get home. It's an eighty meter journey of high exposure. Bracket has shown them the safest route but what tens to happen is the chicks make it to a particular bush and stay there until it's dusk. This tens to make me run around desperately looking for a bunch of chicks at roost time in bad light. It's also prime weasel ambush time. The weasel seems to know the chickens eyesight deteriorates quite rapidly in low light.
View attachment 2045910
I ushered them out before I realised that the rest had gone home. The chicks seemed completely uncocerned and proceded to tuck into the feed the adults had been eating.
View attachment 2045922

I escorted them back, or rather ushered them along. Bracket was having a nap up the Magnolia tree when I finally got the chicks back within sight of their tribe.
This is an example of what kills chicks here. Usually this stage doesn't last very long but it's nailbiting while it's going on.

Well it's a good thing they chose your house as their place to separate from the flock. Lordy that seems scary.

 

[BY Bob]

Ready .... Steady ...... and they're OFF!!
First the ladies head up hill to the starting line in the coop.
View attachment 2046110

And then they are off! Well Maggie jumped the gun and decided to run (flying is not really her sport).

At least I now know how they get so much height!

That is just awesome! Thank you so much. I can't stop smiling.

 

[BY Bob]

Dear friends, quick question; do stressed chickens stop laying? It would make sense that they do. I have had one egg from my new girls, the day after we brought them home, then nothing. I am assuming it's just due to stress (and possibly Faverolles aren't the most prolific of layers?), rather than any reproductive issues? Apart from a little cramped, they seem to be doing ok and have settled their differences within the group.

They absolutely stop laying when under stress. Give them some time to settle in. They should pick up soon.

 

[BY Bob]

Hmmm... maybe I spoke too soon? Or maybe her little treat did the trick?

She's looking good there. Maybe not as bad as you thought.

 

[BY Bob]

My alpha hen is the last to bed. But my girls don't roost; they snuggle up together in the nesting box.

Do they not have a roost? Our do they just chose to pile together?

 

[micstrachan]

I’m on a roll!