Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

So probably a stick or something instead an infection. That is great news. You're right its very good that it bled. Good job catching and helping her out!

Give her a hug from me when you carry her next time.

Lilly is glad to hear she is doing better.
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That is Lilly's happy face.

Lilly looks very content!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I'm pretty sure I counted your's first time around but not in my reply to Ribh, which was maybe a day later? My first count was careful but my re-telling was careless it was chilly and I wanted to finish my chicken chores and go inside.

You are forgiven.

 

[micstrachan]

With all the Phyllis photo-bombing I always forget how much I appreciate Lilly. I think she is one fine looking hen.

Isn’t she?

 

[micstrachan]

They Grow Up so Fast

I will probably keep using that headline a lot. Tonight's lesson was just amazing. Mrs BY Bob both had tears in our eyes. It was so precious.

Somehow when Sydney took them to bed tonight, while Ned/Nanette made it with Sydney, Lucky got separated. She was all alone in the courtyard. Oddly she was not peeping in distress. She scratched around a little. Did not seemed panicked. Sydney kept calling her from in the coop.

For 10 minutes Lucky was on her own.

After a few minutes on her own she peeped but never that distress peep like when she was separated from Sydney before.

Lucky started in the courtyard between the coop and the big run by the birch tree.
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Eventually she would work her way around the corner and under the coop.
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From there she made her way back to the ramp.

Unfortunately, she passed the ramp and went into the big run, turned around, saw the ramp, and up she went.

Sydney never came out to get her and there was no panicking by anyone.

It was wonderful to see little Lucky puzzle it all out and Sydney let her. A few days ago Sydney would have never have left her out alone that long. I guess now she expects Lucky to figure it out.

Just amazing.

Awww! Sniff, sniff!

 

[micstrachan]

It's a very rough figure. I don't really know how many are in Shad's tribes, your flock (is it 12?), micstrachans flock, whodats flock, feathers or CCCLs flock. Ali and I have 4. RC has 5. Bob has 8. The other Bob, I guessed 10-15 (likely very low estimate). The total is probably higher than my first rough count.

YOU are so adorable for counting everyone’s birds! I have 10.

 

[micstrachan]

Are there a lot of opportunities for studying closets?

Good one! As Bob would say, well played!

 

[micstrachan]

Teaching the baby Princesses
I am trying something new. When I put my arm in their brooder home they panic and that was freaking me out because I don't want to traumatize them. But they seem generally rather robust so I have become braver.
I noticed that if I ignore all the panic and actually manage to grab one, she calms down in my hands and stops shrieking. Then she perks up and looks around interested in the big wide world. I am counting this as a huge victory.
Now I have started using it to teach them about the big long stairway they have to navigate to get home (an essential lesson I think for them to be allowed to wander unsupervised around the Palace). So we now have a routine which is at least twice a day, ideally more often, I grab a baby Princess and take her for a short walk holding her in my hands to show her the sights (of course while cooing gently at her) and then I place her on the top of the ladder facing home.
They are definitely getting the hang of it. Minnie even paused on the doorstep to investigate something before walking casually back inside. When I am confident they have figured it out I will start them a rung lower. Admittedly they are still only going in from the top rung but it is a start!
Wish me luck people.

Aw, well done! Yes, having them used to your handling may serve you and them well someday. Roxy used to be my most skittish hen. I made a point of handling her anyway, just in case she got sick someday, and here we are. More on that after I catch up.

 

[micstrachan]

well played!

HA! You DID say “well played!” I called that before reading your reply.

 

[micstrachan]

It Had to Happen

I am surprised I was able to hold off as long as I could. Yes, @Shadrach I know they should not eat junk. I could not help myself nor wait any longer. I promise to not do it again, for maybe a week?

I could listen to mama hen and baby chick sounds all day long.

 

[micstrachan]

There's an awful lot of white on those baby wings. Perhaps Ned is indeed Ned...by the end of this week we should know for sure.

Lucky will be a little longer.

Wow, really? By the end of this week? Exciting!