Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Last Night's Roosting

Things went smoother last night. Moving Hattie's step helped as she went to bed late again.

Phyllis was first to roost, right in the middle of the main bar. Just asking for trouble.

Lilly was next and she left Phyllis alone. Sansa came next and Phyllis moved down by her with Phyllis on the outside by the door and Sansa on the inside.

So far so good.

Hattie came in for a stroll and pecked at both Sansa and Phyllis from the ground. She then figured out her step was not where it should be and came back outside to complain.

Sydney took advantage of the break to hop up onto the high roost. Here she is making her jumps up.

I wish Phyllis would follow her lead.

Then Hattie came back in. She eventually found the step and got up. Lilly chose this moment to remind Hattie she number 2 and Hattie got some pecks.

That left my little T Rex, Aurora to roost. She came in, ate, drank, hopped up on her roost and I thought we'r were good. Then she decided to walk down the roost to peck at Sansa and Phyllis.

Unfortunately it was an assault.

I did not want to but I intervened at this point and opened the far door. I called her name and she stopped. She went back to her roost spot and we were done for the night.

Overall a better night. But we still have a ways to go.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

For years I have tried to think of something I could rig up to save small animals that fall in the pool. It hasn't come to me yet.

I think you need something that slopes into the water like a boat ramp or the ramp on a chicken coop.

I have a log with a long branch in my bath tub pond for just this purpose.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

Congratulations Bob!

And Hey! It's not brown! Is that a pinkish tinge I see?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Teenager. You just can't tell them anything...

 

[BY Bob]

I think you need something that slopes into the water like a boat ramp or the ramp on a chicken coop.

I have a log with a long branch in my bath tub pond for just this purpose.


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That is a great solution! I always thought something along that line would work. Of course doing this will remove a lot of easy chicken food. The emptying of the skimmer was always a high point of their day. Tons of food in it.

 

[BY Bob]

Congratulations Bob!

And Hey! It's not brown! Is that a pinkish tinge I see?

We can dream. We can dream.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

When I was little, I really loved my nana. She was our care giver. Her face was so deeply lined, it was like railway tracks and I still love that face more than any others, ever. I hope I get lots and lots of wrinkles too!

When I was about 7 I told my Grandma.
"I like your wrinkles. I hope I have wrinkles like you when I grow up"

I didn't understand why she seemed so pleased. It was just an observation.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

My views on makeup are a bit extreme and I value all you folks, so I'm exercising a little social intelligence and keeping my trap shut!

Of course now I am dying to know what your extreme views are! Given that everyone who responded basically said they don't wear make-up, it is hard to imagine what could possibly be a problem. Maybe you believe that nobody should leave the house without a full face on? Somehow, although I don't know you in person, that seems like a highly improbable view for you to hold!

Camouflage? So no-one can recognize her?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

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

Is she limping a bit there Micstrachan?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Eggs from the last two days. Ester has always laid light, light pinkish beige eggs. They’ve been fading and are almost as white as Dorothy’s now. Should I be worried?
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Edwina originally laid quite dark brown eggs. They got lighter before she started moulting.

Weirdly enough the colour can be scratched off. I've no idea if that's normal or not.