Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

My problem with sending pics or videos is, my antiquated Iphone doesn't agree with my lap top. Wish I could send some though.

 

[BY Bob]

My problem with sending pics or videos is, my antiquated Iphone doesn't agree with my lap top. Wish I could send some though.

Well you have to at least tell us the story then.

 

[featherhead007]

My problem with sending pics or videos is, my antiquated Iphone doesn't agree with my lap top. Wish I could send some though.

He's just a cute little Cochin roo, has a short crow, and is a little frightened at the moment, being in his new digs.

 

[featherhead007]

He's not a fluffy butt per say, but he does have a fluffy butt, like my Buff O does.

 

[RoyalChick]

I'm not sure how effective any masks are outside of a hospital environment. However, it is now a point of consideration as far as I'm concerned to wear a mask. At least this one being cotton can be washed and sanitized.

Effective or not they are being required to go out in public in many places so I plan to sew myself a couple of cotton ones and throw them in with the rest of the laundry. No rush as I don’t feel a huge desire to go out in public and my part of the US isn’t opening any time soon I don’t think.

 

[micstrachan]

That is an excellent dirt bath they got going there. Looks like great dirt.

Thanks, Bob! I have spent a fair bit of time sifting through it for them and raking stuff away from the edges (plus adding rocks to the down slope side).

Mine pretty much all nap if it is sunny. They have a morning routine:
- yell at me to let them out into the run
- rush down ladder like the coop is on fire
- drink from muddy puddle in run and complain if it is dry (because it’s not like there isn’t clean fresh water in the coop)
- do morning chores - dig a few holes, chase a few bugs, catch up on gossip, maybe lay an egg
- jump up on tree branch and preen
And then they all settle into a sunny patch and nap. It seems peaceful and normal to me. They all seem healthy and they don’t do it if there is no sun. They just seem to like the feeling of a nap in the sun. Me too!

Sounds splendid!

 

[RoyalChick]

You know I can't be certain but I believe they chose company over being alone.
I know Lilly used to spend a lot of time alone when she was hen #3 out of three and Aurora did as well after Mal left us. When we got to four in the flock Lilly was rarely alone; she was always with Patsy. She could have chosen to be alone but did not.

Since we have gone to six, it is clear that they have their favorites, Hattie and Lilly are always together, Sydney and Sansa as well. But there are also interesting mix ups. Phyllis and Aurora were together a lot yesterday for example. What I don't see much of when they are free ranging is lone hens.

Because of what I have observed, I will try to keep even numbers in my flock if at all possible. It seems to me that they prefer to pair up at a minimum and I believe a lone hen is more susceptible to predators as well.

While they are social animals, they have their own personalities. I don't believe that you can rule out that someone isn't happier alone sometimes.

@Shadrach may have more to say on this as well but I doubt the roosters let anyone wander off on their own too much.
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My three are almost always together and always talking to each other. Who knew there was so much to talk about?! But every now and then Maggie, and it is only ever Maggie, decides to do something different.
Last night instead of rushing for the apple core i brought out to them with the others she decided to rush the door and go out of the Palace and go for a walk.
So there I am stuck following her around to protect her from foxes while she took a leisurely stroll.
It really felt like she wanted some alone time. And after about 10 mins she was happy to return to the palace.

 

[micstrachan]

A Little Help

@GrandmaDeKorte10 posted on her thread last night asking for my help and I'm a little stumped. Maybe all of you can help.

She has 2 leghorns that laid eggs yesterday while roosted on an outside roost. Each time the flock then enjoyed eating the broken eggs off of the ground. This happened around 6:00 pm, still daylight for almost 2 more hours.

Why would a chicken lay while on a roost, that is not the sleeping roost, when there is plenty of open nest boxes and even ground space? Anyone have any ideas?

Sorry I missed this. I would ask how thick the shells are and if she’s sure they came from two different Leghorns. In my experience, the oddly timed eggs can come when the repro system is starting to go a little haywire (or not). Buttercup used to lay back to back soft eggs each time she was coming into her lay cycle. Margo once laid a normal egg out in the field like it came on suddenly. She seemed healthy at the time. Dorothy drops eggs in weird places (like maybe from the roost) when her egg shells are getting thin. Treating her with calcium for s few days when this happens seems to be working. Not sure how helpful that was!

 

[micstrachan]

My three are almost always together and always talking to each other. Who knew there was so much to talk about?! But every now and then Maggie, and it is only ever Maggie, decides to do something different.
Last night instead of rushing for the apple core i brought out to them with the others she decided to rush the door and go out of the Palace and go for a walk.
So there I am stuck following her around to protect her from foxes while she took a leisurely stroll.
It really felt like she wanted some alone time. And after about 10 mins she was happy to return to the palace.

Chicken behavior is fascinating, isn’t it?

 

[BY Bob]

My three are almost always together and always talking to each other. Who knew there was so much to talk about?! But every now and then Maggie, and it is only ever Maggie, decides to do something different.
Last night instead of rushing for the apple core i brought out to them with the others she decided to rush the door and go out of the Palace and go for a walk.
So there I am stuck following her around to protect her from foxes while she took a leisurely stroll.
It really felt like she wanted some alone time. And after about 10 mins she was happy to return to the palace.

That does feel like a desire for alone time. I'm glad you let her have it and did not chase her back in.