Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

New Group Photo

With the coop redecorated, I had the ladies repose in front of it. I got almost everyone's butt in the photo. It is hard to get all of them to point the same way!

View attachment 2125019

What a great picture Bob. The coop and the hens look lovely.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm right there with you! I wish for many years of good health and no deaths! I've lost four in less than three years, I'm starting to think I'm a terrible chook-mum!

You do not want to be thinking that!
Losses are unfortunately inevitable.

 

[LozzyR]

You do not want to be thinking that!
Losses are unfortunately inevitable.

Three out of four of them were ISA Browns, but the fourth was my Barred Rock pullet. I was devastated when she died.

 

[Shadrach]

Tribe 1 round for supper. Cillin and the others have been in and eaten. Tackle is almost done but Fat Bird still wants to eat. Tap and Moon are hovering around the edges picking up the spillage. They won't go for the tray while two seniors are eating, especially not with Fat Bird there.

Tap takes a grab and got told off by Fat bird. Moon isn't so brave and heads out to wait.

Moon went and got Treacle and Treacle come in and hustled Fat Bird away from the food.
Moon and Tap are pretty much his hens now and he is making sure they get to eat.

Cillin is just outside with the others.

Fat Bird is hovering by the door. She won't come in until Treacle leaves. Bossing the hens about is one thing; bossing Treacle about is no longer possible now he has his own hens.
He will tell Fat Bird off if she tries to drive Moon and Tap away from the food.
Treacle has finally got status. Cillin will still chase Treacle away when everyone is feeding but once he has fed and his hens have fed (Fat Bird is an exception) he will let Treacle dictate who feeds next; very roughly.

 

[Ribh]

Tribe 1 round for supper. Cillin and the others have been in and eaten. Tackle is almost done but Fat Bird still wants to eat. Tap and Moon are hovering around the edges picking up the spillage. They won't go for the tray while two seniors are eating, especially not with Fat Bird there.

View attachment 2125995
Tap takes a grab and got told off by Fat bird. Moon isn't so brave and heads out to wait.
View attachment 2125997

Moon went and got Treacle and Treacle come in and hustled Fat Bird away from the food.
Moon and Tap are pretty much his hens now and he is making sure they get to eat.
View attachment 2125999

Cillin is just outside with the others.
View attachment 2126000

Fat Bird is hovering by the door. She won't come in until Treacle leaves. Bossing the hens about is one thing; bossing Treacle about is no longer possible now he has his own hens.
He will tell Fat Bird off if she tries to drive Moon and Tap away from the food.
Treacle has finally got status. Cillin will still chase Treacle away when everyone is feeding but once he has fed and his hens have fed (Fat Bird is an exception) he will let Treacle dictate who feeds next; very roughly.
View attachment 2126001

The feeding status is fascinating. Here my Aracaunas usually eat last, although generally middle order girls. This is because I have always made a point of ensuring my lowest girls get to eat. The Campines are all pushy & will move in to hustle the littliest away from the food. Mostly the Aracaunas are content to wait till the first rush is over but only Beatha will approach me if she's feeling particularly peckish. She also bites so I don't generally encourage her. Not sure what's with that as no`one else feels the need to run a taste test on me!

 

[LozzyR]

Tribe 1 round for supper. Cillin and the others have been in and eaten. Tackle is almost done but Fat Bird still wants to eat. Tap and Moon are hovering around the edges picking up the spillage. They won't go for the tray while two seniors are eating, especially not with Fat Bird there.

View attachment 2125995
Tap takes a grab and got told off by Fat bird. Moon isn't so brave and heads out to wait.
View attachment 2125997

Moon went and got Treacle and Treacle come in and hustled Fat Bird away from the food.
Moon and Tap are pretty much his hens now and he is making sure they get to eat.
View attachment 2125999

Cillin is just outside with the others.
View attachment 2126000

Fat Bird is hovering by the door. She won't come in until Treacle leaves. Bossing the hens about is one thing; bossing Treacle about is no longer possible now he has his own hens.
He will tell Fat Bird off if she tries to drive Moon and Tap away from the food.
Treacle has finally got status. Cillin will still chase Treacle away when everyone is feeding but once he has fed and his hens have fed (Fat Bird is an exception) he will let Treacle dictate who feeds next; very roughly.
View attachment 2126001

That would be fascinating to watch!

 

[MaryJanet]

New Group Photo

With the coop redecorated, I had the ladies repose in front of it. I got almost everyone's butt in the photo. It is hard to get all of them to point the same way!

View attachment 2125019

I tried one of your old tricks last night Bob. I tried to entice a chicken selfie by setting up the phone, putting it on the ground and placing nibbles on the shutter press. Much curiosity was forthcoming but no chicken selfies.

So I've only got a photo I took to share. It was a lucky photo because Ivy was out of view a moment later.

 

[BY Bob]

You do not want to be thinking that!
Losses are unfortunately inevitable.

I agree with @Shadrach but I understand how you feel. I've felt that way myself recently. When you are in the middle of everything, it is easy to blame yourself. You re no more a terrible chook Mum than I am a terrible chook Dad.

 

[BY Bob]

Three out of four of them were ISA Browns, but the fourth was my Barred Rock pullet. I was devastated when she died.

It can be quite devastating to lose the special ones. The good news is another special one will come along. I have faith in that now.

 

[BY Bob]

Tribe 1 round for supper. Cillin and the others have been in and eaten. Tackle is almost done but Fat Bird still wants to eat. Tap and Moon are hovering around the edges picking up the spillage. They won't go for the tray while two seniors are eating, especially not with Fat Bird there.

View attachment 2125995
Tap takes a grab and got told off by Fat bird. Moon isn't so brave and heads out to wait.
View attachment 2125997

Moon went and got Treacle and Treacle come in and hustled Fat Bird away from the food.
Moon and Tap are pretty much his hens now and he is making sure they get to eat.
View attachment 2125999

Cillin is just outside with the others.
View attachment 2126000

Fat Bird is hovering by the door. She won't come in until Treacle leaves. Bossing the hens about is one thing; bossing Treacle about is no longer possible now he has his own hens.
He will tell Fat Bird off if she tries to drive Moon and Tap away from the food.
Treacle has finally got status. Cillin will still chase Treacle away when everyone is feeding but once he has fed and his hens have fed (Fat Bird is an exception) he will let Treacle dictate who feeds next; very roughly.
View attachment 2126001

This has been just amazing to watch. Thank you for sharing the story with us. I'm so happy for the romantically inept Treacle. Moon and Tap are lucky as well. It's heartwarming.