Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

Barking mad Bracket. You can just about see in the picture she has a fine pair of legs. Not a sign of any sort of mite problem. The problem is in her head!

Rivit, recently evicted from a nest where she was sitting. Her legs were like Brackets before she sat. After just three days they're a bit of a mess.

 

[LozzyR]

Whilst the chickens aren’t allowed in the house, their feathers certainly make it in!

That’s not by the back door, either.

 

[MaryJanet]

Barking mad Bracket. You can just about see in the picture she has a fine pair of legs. Not a sign of any sort of mite problem. The problem is in her head!
View attachment 2172145
Rivit, recently evicted from a nest where she was sitting. Her legs were like Brackets before she sat. After just three days they're a bit of a mess.
View attachment 2172146

Shad, when I had a red mite problem I used coopex and it got rid of them first time. I'm not sure if it's practical in a free range context with hidden nests though.

 

[WhoDatChick]

How yall like my new coop!

 

[GhislaineDel]

I have a tarp on my girls' run, covering 50% of it so they have choice of sun or shade. At first they were a bit startled when it rustled in the wind but they soon got used to it. With a tarp you can always take it off, but with metal, it would be more of a permanent fixture. What is the weather like where you are? Are they likely to overheat under a metal roof?

In our case the metal roof panels will be easier to unscrew and move to another property versus having to deal with all the hardware cloth that would be needed to have a tarp as a roof. We have just about every predator here and snow. That reminds me I need to source 12ft lumber to support all the weight. I have everything else I need for the walls.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Hi Bob!
And all of you my little girls are learning to perch. We raised it up even higher today when we did our good animal husbandry chores and cleaned out the good ole chick poop. They were so happy to munch away on some dried meal and worms while I held them captive in a plastic storage tote. I thought I would include some pics for you of them at three weeks. They are growing so fast and I can’t get over how attached I have become to some chickens. I would never have thought but I do love all animals I just have never experienced birds before for myself as ownership. I love them. I believe this is Thelma and Louise on the perch. These are two of the Swedish Flower Hens
I hope you all have a great start to your week!
Take care!
Pam

 

[MaryJanet]

Hi Bob!
And all of you my little girls are learning to perch. We raised it up even higher today when we did our good animal husbandry chores and cleaned out the good ole chick poop. They were so happy to munch away on some dried meal and worms while I held them captive in a plastic storage tote. I thought I would include some pics for you of them at three weeks. They are growing so fast and I can’t get over how attached I have become to some chickens. I would never have thought but I do love all animals I just have never experienced birds before for myself as ownership. I love them. I believe this is Thelma and Louise on the perch. These are two of the Swedish Flower Hens
I hope you all have a great start to your week!
Take care!
PamView attachment 2172614

Sweet little babies

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Wait! I wonder if she has been communicating with Phyllis on beakbook?

Noooo! It's a cabal!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

How yall like my new coop! View attachment 2172320

Need pics of the other 3 sides WhoDat. And a chicken for scale!

It looks nice and airy. A bit splintery though. Will they be using those ladders for perches?

 

[MaryJanet]

The Sentinel

There she stands like a Sentinel. Guardian of a flock that is not hers to rule. Yet she does it gladly with no recompense. The lives of her fellow flock-mates subject to her wariness, her keen eyes and ears. Let trouble arrive and she will sound the alarm. All will speed to safety.
View attachment 1910208

Have you ever noticed in your all hen flocks that one lady always seems a little more vigilant than the others? In flocks without roosters one hen will assume the position of Sentinel for the flock. It is never the Alpha hen and typically is #2 in the pecking order. In my flock Hattie (my #2) has the job, as you can see from above photo.

I dont know if it is an elected position, appointed by the Alpha hen, or if she just decides to take on the role. I do love the mental picture of hens campaigning for the job, debates and all.

It is much easier to see when they are free ranging in the open. For years in my flock of 3 I just thought Patsy was more wary than the others but she was their Sentinel. While Jabber was running the flock that was his job and the hens concentrated on foraging when they were out. When he left and Patsy took over again, Hattie was Sentinel even though she was #3 hen. I guess Lilly did not want the job.

Watch your flocks and tell me who your sentinels are. Post pictures of them on duty if you can. They deserve some special attention for all the work they do for the others.

I've been thinking about this old post of Mr Bob's.

I've noticed Mary has taken up sentinel duty since Janet's eye troubles started. Sometimes Mary deputises Peggy, but Ivy is not considered a good candidate for sentinal duty.

Is it still Hattie's role at Fluffy Butt Acres?