Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Sydney's wing looks a little put out, is one of the babies under it?

Nope. It was hot!

 

[BY Bob]

I've been to see about a feed change for the chickens today.
Currently I drive 40 minutes each way to get chicken feed. Recently the mill dates on the bag have been older than I'm happy with and the feed consistency very variable.
My game fowl friend who makes his own feed recommended a small local comerecial feed supplier that I didn't even know existed 10 minutes drive away. The feed is certified organic and apparently lots of the local chicken enthusiasts buy their feed from these people. They even do a 22% protein, 1% Calcium feed. Even better, although it's considerable more expensive is a fish based feed they have brough in specially for the game fowl keepers. I might try a bag even though it's close on twice the price per kilo.

That exciting. I hope they like it.

 

[BY Bob]

That is an interesting observation, Bob. I seem to have a very loose flock when it comes to hierarchy. There is structure. They are organised about how they leave the coop, go to roost & who feeds from my hand but it all seems very fluid to my mind. It's not always the same hens in the same order ~ & they do cross intakes.

I am wondering if the keeper influences the flock structure. I dislike rigidity & my flock is very flexible. It is also quite a bit larger than yours ~ & I have Campines. They seem to think rules are for breaking.

Are you saying I am rigid and unbending? That hurts.

 

[BY Bob]

I realise that with only four hens, my observations are not admissable as data, but I'm going to chime in nonetheless. Age is the key. Everyone respects the oldest, Mary. Everyone. I've seen her assert authority four times in total and only to educate youngsters. Janet is next oldest and she asserts authority daily, mostly over Ivy, but sometimes Peggy gets a dose too. Peggy's next oldest and her primary flock role is watchfulness, but as a bantam that might be instictive rather than social. Then Ivy who demonstrates frustration with Janet once or twice a month, her primary flock role is tagging along behind everyone else.

I'm looking forward to providing Ivy with a couple of youngsters in 2022. I think she'll be very happy to no longer be the youngest and most harrassed.

If my theory is correct, your flock of 6 will establish a hierarchy much like mine has. I will be interested to see

 

[BY Bob]

I realise that with only four hens, my observations are not admissable as data, but I'm going to chime in nonetheless. Age is the key. Everyone respects the oldest, Mary. Everyone. I've seen her assert authority four times in total and only to educate youngsters. Janet is next oldest and she asserts authority daily, mostly over Ivy, but sometimes Peggy gets a dose too. Peggy's next oldest and her primary flock role is watchfulness, but as a bantam that might be instictive rather than social. Then Ivy who demonstrates frustration with Janet once or twice a month, her primary flock role is tagging along behind everyone else.

I'm looking forward to providing Ivy with a couple of youngsters in 2022. I think she'll be very happy to no longer be the youngest and most harrassed.

Oh, and your observations are totally valid. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes, i can!

Well no one else could. Why don't you tell everyone who they are.

 

[LozzyR]

With Tribe 1 for example, Fat Bird is the most senior hen. It's not that she struts about bullying the others; they give way out of respect more then fear. She's an old lady now and has never been much of a scrapper.
What I see is a cooperative structure where each hen has a role.

So what's the role of a hen that will occasionally rip someone's feathers out?

 

[LozzyR]

Since then each time I added to the flock they joined at the bottom. That would seem to be logical and respectful.

Charlie went from bottom to Beta hen. And boy, does she throw her considerable weight around!

 

[Ribh]

Are you saying I am rigid and unbending? That hurts.

Nope. Not @ all. I'm saying I like a really loose structure with lots of flexibility.

 

[LozzyR]

Quiz Time

There are 4 hens on this roost, can you name them?
View attachment 2254710

Sydney, Aurora, Lilly & Hattie? You've said there's no Phyllis or babies up there.