Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

Try a little cooked pork cut into small pieces.

I will pick some up tomorrow. She absolutely scoffed her human food both times today, but seems to have lost interest in the commercial feed.

 

[LozzyR]

I'm always pleased to see a chicken in a tree. It's where they belong.

I’ve posted this before, but here’s Chickie in a tree.

 

[LozzyR]

Yes, chickens get a kind of dandruff. It's what we call dander.
Dust bathing, or rather damp soil bathing often helps with skin conditions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/why-chickens-bath-in-dust-and-not-in-water.74441/

Ok. Again, can’t wait for quarantine to be over! I remember when Bessie first discovered a patch of dirt, she had a good old bathe!

 

[BY Bob]

That is a great picture I think. There is something about pictures of chickens interacting with the human environment that I find fascinating. I am constantly amazed at not just how they adapt, but how quickly they learn. Here the chickens behaviour inside my house is noticeably different from their free range behaviour. They are better behaved than any cat or dog here with regard to where they go and how they treat my coop.
Inside my house they will let me do things that outside they will show some reservation about. It's more a change of attitude that is evident if observed carefully.
They don't go in my bedroom as a rule and on the odd occasions that a younger chicken has, it has got told off by a more senior. Same with the work surfaces. If I see one on these surfaces I take them off and scold them. I leave my front door open all year round whether I'm there or not and I never worry about returning to find the house wrecked. When I first moved in both the hysterical tarts (the two sofa dogs there are here) came into the house on a couple of occasions. They ripped the mosquito net trying to get on the bed, overturned a cair and coffe table playing I assume, and pulled a suacepan off the stove containing some pasta. The other thing is while the chickens get under my feet, they don't invade my space the same way cats and dogs do. The chickens may be demanding regarding food at times; my own fault for feeding them in the house, but otherwise they go about their business and I go about mine. If I do things such as sweep up or anything that involves carrying objects which they seem not to like they leave and may return when I'm done.
The only drawback and difference between cats and dogs and chickens is the chickens crap on the floor. Yup, they drop dander etc but check out what the dogs and cats bring into the house. Chickens are spotless by comparison and, they don't bring in fleas.

This is thre greatest endorsement of house chickens ever. I hope Aurora doesn't find out about this. I'm sure she will use it against me.

 

[BY Bob]

Didn't take her long to undo all that bred to be different stuff then. A more suitable tree and the opportunity and you might find yourself getting them out of the trees at roost time.
I'm always pleased to see a chicken in a tree. It's where they belong.

My leghorns always tried to roost in the trees. I'm pretty sure that is why people call them "flighty" here in the states.

 

[BY Bob]

I’ve posted this before, but here’s Chickie in a tree.

View attachment 2046626

I love that! So cute!

 

[BY Bob]

Integration Update: We are pretty much done

This morning Farmer Bob did not rush out and release everyone ro the yard, but rather with the prefab gone, let them enjoy the coop complex together for an extended time.

There were a couple of times they ran into each other but plenty of space sho no one was cornered. To my great pleasure the Newbies spent a lot of time in the coop.

Sydney and Sansa checked out the nesting boxes (Sansa did that as well yesterday).

Everything is going better than I had hoped. Except for roost time. Her's hoping I can fix that with some roost adjustments.

I am quite pleased with everything so far. I hope it stays this way.

 

[ValerieJ]

Integration Update: We are pretty much done

This morning Farmer Bob did not rush out and release everyone ro the yard, but rather with the prefab gone, let them enjoy the coop complex together for an extended time.

There were a couple of times they ran into each other but plenty of space sho no one was cornered. To my great pleasure the Newbies spent a lot of time in the coop.
View attachment 2046670

Sydney and Sansa checked out the nesting boxes (Sansa did that as well yesterday).

View attachment 2046673

Everything is going better than I had hoped. Except for roost time. Her's hoping I can fix that with some roost adjustments.

I am quite pleased with everything so far. I hope it stays this way.

That's great news! It's one big happy flock now.

 

[Kris5902]

Yes, chickens get a kind of dandruff. It's what we call dander.
Dust bathing, or rather damp soil bathing often helps with skin conditions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/why-chickens-bath-in-dust-and-not-in-water.74441/

What about wallowing in mud? Not so much “damp soil”, but really wet mud... lol I swear it’s an environmental adaptation thing! Sometimes it’s like chicken spa day with a mud wrap here

 

[Kris5902]

Integration Update: We are pretty much done

This morning Farmer Bob did not rush out and release everyone ro the yard, but rather with the prefab gone, let them enjoy the coop complex together for an extended time.

There were a couple of times they ran into each other but plenty of space sho no one was cornered. To my great pleasure the Newbies spent a lot of time in the coop.
View attachment 2046670

Sydney and Sansa checked out the nesting boxes (Sansa did that as well yesterday).

View attachment 2046673

Everything is going better than I had hoped. Except for roost time. Her's hoping I can fix that with some roost adjustments.

I am quite pleased with everything so far. I hope it stays this way.

Awesome work on the integration! I’m glad things are finally getting sorted, and am impressed that you’re so attentive to their needs. You really know your girls individually and it shows in the care and attention you give them.

I’ll admit to roosting drama and being a bad chicken mama again yesterday. I was on my own in the morning thanks to some extra shifts for DH. The tractors still aren’t completely repaired, so moving Bob’s tractor is nearly impossible without two people. I got it done, finally on the second round of chores. Well, it was so difficult to move, I forgot to reopen his ramp to the roosting box. The mud puppies just dropped their late afternoon eggs in the run willy nilly. No biggie, but... I had to drive down to the farm for water and an evening chick check, and there was a lamb that needed euthanized (don’t get us started on that one DH and I were up late ranting at each other over it as it was). I returned to close up the girls well after dark. I had to get all 12 ladies and Bob out from under the roosting box, into it, and up onto the roosts by cellphone light. Of course, several of the top roost girls were the last to comply with my herding attempts, and they had to hop up through the lower girls. Much pecking and shuffling occurred. Bob was a handful as usual, I had to pick him up and put him in the door. He went in last with his classic Barnvelder “she’s murdering me” screams that upset everyone, (including all the happily roosted other flocks!) it was chaos.