Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

OK, so I love understanding some of the chicken vocalizations. I was sitting under a tree catching up on this thread on my phone, and suddenly one of the birds was doing the aerial predator call. Of course, they all stand still like statues when this happens. I got up from my chair and looked around and around and around and could not see anything. But the girls were all still standing there like statues… Sure enough, there was a hawk! We have a pair that’s nesting nearby. I’m not sure what type they are. The ones that look like this that live around here are Sharpshinned, Cooper’s and Red Shouldered. I’m not great great at hawk identification, but they are definitely not Red Tailed hawks, that live here too. This particular nesting pair has a lot of red on them and a barred tail. Anyway, you should’ve seen me! I was running around flailing my arms attempting the aerial predator call over and over again. I also threw the ball where the hawk could definitely see the dog. The hawk moved on, I told the girls it was OK, and they resumed their business. Phew!

I'm constantly amazed by what they can spot. I see similar all the time and my eyesight while not great isn't too bad at long distances. The Muscovy ducks are even more impressive. The strange thing is, the chickens do not seem to worry, or maybe not even recognize the buzzard call here but as soon as they see it the warning call gets given.

 

[Kris5902]

Awww, sweet Hobby. I didn’t know she was having issues. She actually looks pretty good to me! Clearly not totally well, but not at death’s door, either.

she was not looking at all well when I brought her in on Tuesday. This is the first long term house chicken situation DH has been ok with. But she is one of my special girls...

 

[LozzyR]

My seven year old son named the girls after the Velociraptors in Jurassic World!
Delta - who is the alpha - Light Sussex
Echo - second hen, - Marans hybrid
Blue - third hen - Blue Rhode/Bluebell
Charlie - fourth hen - Heritage Skyline

Blue just needs to be Bravo and they’re all named after the phonetic alphabet! I thought India, Juliet and Sierra would also be good hen names and Mike, Oscar and Romeo would be the roosters.

 

[Kris5902]

I'm constantly amazed by what they can spot. I see similar all the time and my eyesight while not great isn't too bad at long distances. The Muscovy ducks are even more impressive. The strange thing is, the chickens do not seem to worry, or maybe not even recognize the buzzard call here but as soon as they see it the warning call gets given.

Silly chickens... I just had to shoo away a turkey vulture. The alarms today have been nearly cons between the geese, vulture, and ravens

 

[LozzyR]

Well, I was going to post this over on my own thread but since you asked...

Hoppy is doing much better, though I think I may need to look up Those chicken diaper sewing patterns at the rate she is soiling the chicken towels. We are fairly certain she had a stroke of some sort now. She is still having vision problems, mostly depth perception and near her head. And she is quite wobbly when she tries to move about. Great news is she is standing up on her own (mostly when she wants food or to poop) and starting to attempt to walk.

I’m sorry to hear she isn’t well.

 

[LozzyR]

OK, so I love understanding some of the chicken vocalizations. I was sitting under a tree catching up on this thread on my phone, and suddenly one of the birds was doing the aerial predator call. Of course, they all stand still like statues when this happens. I got up from my chair and looked around and around and around and could not see anything. But the girls were all still standing there like statues… Sure enough, there was a hawk! We have a pair that’s nesting nearby. I’m not sure what type they are. The ones that look like this that live around here are Sharpshinned, Cooper’s and Red Shouldered. I’m not great great at hawk identification, but they are definitely not Red Tailed hawks, that live here too. This particular nesting pair has a lot of red on them and a barred tail. Anyway, you should’ve seen me! I was running around flailing my arms attempting the aerial predator call over and over again. I also threw the ball where the hawk could definitely see the dog. The hawk moved on, I told the girls it was OK, and they resumed their business. Phew!

That’s scary! Well done you for moving it along!

 

[featherhead007]

@featherhead007 where are you in California? I’m here, too, in the Santa Cruz Mountains (San Francisco Bay Area).

I'm in Tulare County Central Valley (Where all the citrus and nut growers have their fields) South of you.

 

[BY Bob]

she was not looking at all well when I brought her in on Tuesday. This is the first long term house chicken situation DH has been ok with. But she is one of my special girls...

 

[MaryJanet]

Sorry to hear that Bob, I know how it goes. Get some balance back soon.

Me too. Good luck Bob. I think your attentiveness to byc is amazing given the volume and significance of the work you do.

 

[BY Bob]

Me too. Good luck Bob. I think your attentiveness to byc is amazing given the volume and significance of the work you do.

Actually. Taking 5 minutes to read BY Chickens has helped to break the tension throughout the day. I missed the ladies. We had a good day together today.

Phyllis followed me all day. Everytime I turned around, there she was. Even into the house. I almost closed the door on her a couple of times. She was like that much younger sibling you can't shake on a summer day.