Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

That is amazing. What a character. Imagine her with a fine wine!

She's a crack up! There are three water dispensers in the yard and I put clean water in them every day. Her favourite is the polypipe dispenser, which is where she goes for her water excursions. But she will take a sip from the two bottle and tray dispensers if they happen to be convenient to her location.

 

[BY Bob]

Someone Likes the New Box

Jabber Added

I found Jabber's old silhouette and added it to the memory board. I have decided to do a silhouette for Daisy. She is the only hen that lived in the big coop to not get one. She passed before I had a chance to do one for her.

 

[LozzyR]

Someone Likes the New Box

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Jabber Added

I found Jabber's old silhouette and added it to the memory board. I have decided to do a silhouette for Daisy. She is the only hen that lived in the big coop to not get one. She passed before I had a chance to do one for her.

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That’s lovely. I can’t wait to see Daisy’s!

 

[BY Bob]

Is Sansa Considering Setting a Nest?

I have observed some really interesting behavior over the last few days from not only Sansa but also Lilly. The last several time Sansa has been ready to lay an egg, she has started searching the yard for someplace other than the nesting boxes to lay it. Now if @Shadrach theory is correct, she might be looking for an alternate location in order to gather enough to set because she has decided to raise children.

Every time this has occurred, that I have observed the behavior, both nesting boxes were open (I had not built the third box yet). She would go into the coop, check out those nesting boxes, then come back out and look for alternate sites.

What's more intersting is that on Saturday and Sunday it seemed like Lilly was helping her. That's right, it seemed like Lilly was helping her look. I managed to get some video of them exploring the wood pile together. As I watch the video now there does seem to be some intimidation going on as well. Lilly shoots her "the look" a couple of times. The two of them were all over the wood pile, the brush pile, really the whole yard trying to find a spot.

Check out the video. What do you all think?

 

[Shadrach]

Is Sansa Considering Setting a Nest?

I have observed some really interesting behavior over the last few days from not only Sansa but also Lilly. The last several time Sansa has been ready to lay an egg, she has started searching the yard for someplace other than the nesting boxes to lay it. Now if @Shadrach theory is correct, she might be looking for an alternate location in order to gather enough to set because she has decided to raise children.

Every time this has occurred, that I have observed the behavior, both nesting boxes were open (I had not built the third box yet). She would go into the coop, check out those nesting boxes, then come back out and look for alternate sites.

What's more intersting is that on Saturday and Sunday it seemed like Lilly was helping her. That's right, it seemed like Lilly was helping her look. I managed to get some video of them exploring the wood pile together. As I watch the video now there does seem to be some intimidation going on as well. Lilly shoots her "the look" a couple of times. The two of them were all over the wood pile, the brush pile, really the whole yard trying to find a spot.

Check out the video. What do you all think?

No doubt she's looking for a nest site imo. It would seem possible as you've suggested that Lilly is doing what a rooster would do and suggesting possible sites.

 

[Shadrach]

I've got broody fever rampant here. I evicted Moon yesterday when she showed signs of wanting to sit in the hope that if I caught her early she might change her mind. I felt her underside yesterday and she wasn't very hot.
Moon came to the house quite early today and got in and out of the now empty nest box.
Moon got on to the back of my chair. Her sister Tap will do this if I'm sitting in it. Moon went a step further and got onto my shoulder! I wasn't able to reach my camera easily and disturbed her in the process. The first picture is just after she got off my shoulder.
Moon settled in the empty nest box after a while and had a good rummage about looking for the eggs she had laid I presume. Well, not finding any, she decided to start again.
The next pictures are of Moon laying and egg. A couple of hours after she had laid the egg, Hurry arrived and I watched them drag the single egg back and forth. Eventually Hurry got Moons egg underneath her and laid one of her own which Moon commandeered as soon as Hurry left. Moon now has two eggs.
I'm not left with much choice now. I have to switch Moon's laying cycle off. Guess who is sitting in the nest box in my house this evening.

 

[Kris5902]

I've got broody fever rampant here. I evicted Moon yesterday when she showed signs of wanting to sit in the hope that if I caught her early she might change her mind. I felt her underside yesterday and she wasn't very hot.
Moon came to the house quite early today and got in and out of the now empty nest box.
Moon got on to the back of my chair. Her sister Tap will do this if I'm sitting in it. Moon went a step further and got onto my shoulder! I wasn't able to reach my camera easily and disturbed her in the process. The first picture is just after she got off my shoulder.
Moon settled in the empty nest box after a while and had a good rummage about looking for the eggs she had laid I presume. Well, not finding any, she decided to start again.
The next pictures are of Moon laying and egg. A couple of hours after she had laid the egg, Hurry arrived and I watched them drag the single egg back and forth. Eventually Hurry got Moons egg underneath her and laid one of her own which Moon commandeered as soon as Hurry left. Moon now has two eggs.
I'm not left with much choice now. I have to switch Moon's laying cycle off. Guess who is sitting in the nest box in my house this evening.
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That is awesome! I love that she is so relaxed to let you film her laying, my girls do not like being disturbed while laying at all. “You opened the door on me, nope, don’t have to lay anymore...” attitudes for the most part. I’ve hatched out 20 chicks so far this year, and have two more batches in the incubator, DH has been quite adamant about the no more cockerels being kept. Dean and Cass were accidental keepers (mostly) and I’m struggling to get all my housing built out before Friday when my meat bird chicks come in., just on lunch break now then it’s out to get Meat tractor #3 started, and then I need to arrange alternate housing for both Barney and Sammy’s flocks! I’ve been working on up cycling pallets into little coops...

 

[Shadrach]

That is awesome! I love that she is so relaxed to let you film her laying, my girls do not like being disturbed while laying at all. “You opened the door on me, nope, don’t have to lay anymore...” attitudes for the most part. I’ve hatched out 20 chicks so far this year, and have two more batches in the incubator, DH has been quite adamant about the no more cockerels being kept. Dean and Cass were accidental keepers (mostly) and I’m struggling to get all my housing built out before Friday when my meat bird chicks come in., just on lunch break now then it’s out to get Meat tractor #3 started, and then I need to arrange alternate housing for both Barney and Sammy’s flocks! I’ve been working on up cycling pallets into little coops...

It's quite difficult for many people to fully grasp that I live with the chickens; I don't keep them.
I'm part of a community and the individuals in the community live, die and reproduce around me. I knew so and so's grandmother. I was there when so and so hatched. I buried auntie so and so. The first generation was quite difficult but as the subsequent generations arrived I'm already part of the tribes in some strange way. There aren't many hours in a week when I don't have the company of a chicken, or chickens.
I would be surprised if any of the chickens here took exception ot my presence no matter what they are doing now. They just go about their business around me.

 

[drumstick diva]

Sounds like your flock of chickens is much more welcoming than humans. Animals are by far kinder than most people.

 

[BY Bob]

No doubt she's looking for a nest site imo. It would seem possible as you've suggested that Lilly is doing what a rooster would do and suggesting possible sites.

That is pretty amazing. It's not easy being alpha hen around here. Lots to do.

• Bully the other hens on the roost
• Help hens find new nests
• Stare at other hens and intimidate them
• Dig holes by the gate
• Chase squirrels and doves
• Mutter all day long
• Inspect and approve all new construction

It's no wonder she needs to take a break and meditate in the nest box every day. Lots of responsibilities and stress.