Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

The past couple of weeks have seen a major change in the tribe dynamics here. Cillin has, with Fat Birds encouragement, established himself as most senior rooster here. What is more remarkable is the has been accomplished without any fighting and minimum friction.


Until recently, Cillin would venture to the side of the house and make use of the bamboo clump, occasionally escort Fat Bird and some of the other hens to the damp dust baths surrounding the grape vines at the front of the house, but not venture down the steps towards the vegetable garden which is very much the territory of Tribe 2.


I’ve been watching Cillin with Tribe 1 as they’ve explored the new territory. Cillin for example has never to my knowledge visited the compost heaps, or been in the vegetable garden. These area have been the sole territory of Tribe 2 and 3.


At first, Punch, Mag and the new cockerel would come out from under the bushes to intercept Cillin and Tribe 1. I was expecting major problems; particularity from Mag. However, not once that I’ve seen has Cillin shown any aggressive behaviour and has when approached, gathered his hens together and settled down in some shady spot on the rockery. Over the days it became apparent to me and the males in Tribe 2, that Cillin wasn’t remotely interested in the bantam hens, or in driving the bantams out of their territory. He may as well have had a sing around his neck say ‘no trouble man, just passing through and making use of the amenities.’


As time has gone by Tribe 2 males don’t even bother trying to intercept Tribe 1. I’ve gone around the front to check on how things were going to find both tribes contentedly dosing in the shade just a few metres apart.


Today Moon investigated Tribe 2’s coop. Bracket did drive her off, but there was no fighting between the males.


This has delighted Fat Bird who when Major was alive (her rooster) could go anywhere unmolested in general. Fat Bird likes the front of the main house in the summer, particularly the damp dust baths and if hse doesn’t get thrown out, the front hallway of the main house where she will settle on the tiles just past the entrance. This used to be a favourite spot for Rosehip when she was alive.


Otic, who was Cillins mother who looked like one of the grey Maran crosses I get here, but was in fact half bantam, used to live with the bantams. She was the tribe minder. When she got killed leaving Cillin an orphan was when I took Cillin on so to speak. Cillin is more bantam than anything else and just larger due to the Marans genes inherited from his mother. I’ve often wondered if Cillin remembers that he was hatched in Tribe 2’s coop and for a few weeks, lived with the bantams.


This has meant that Tribe 1 spend a lot less time in and around my house. This will probably change once the weather gets cooler and they are more interested in eating and shelter. A bit sad for me in a way but soooooo much less cleaning up.


Treacle on the other hand visits every day and does almost all the escort duties to and from the house nest box which has remained Tribe 1’s preferred laying site. I haven’t seen much of how Treacle is reacting to the males in tribe 2. Despite being twice the size of Mag (Tribe 2) I can’t see Treacle being interested in taking Mag on. So Treacle does go with the tribe but still spends a great deal of time checking on me and keeping an eye on the laying hens.

It's surprising how slowly chickens work on their differences. I thought once the original squabbling was over, the hens would enter a status quo, but the subtle changes go on and on. Recently Peggy has started telling Mary what to do, which is odd because even Janet leaves Mary be.

 

[MaryJanet]

I looked at this exact same painting yesterday! I was looking to see if something like this existed:

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...and it does! This is by Svetlana Petrova and her website is ihavecat.com. She does FatCat art.

That's hilarious!

 

[BY Bob]

Phyllis has a beautiful purple iridescence

Black chickens are just amazing when they get in the sun. Phyllis was truly lovely today. Thanks for noticing.

 

[BY Bob]

Happy Saturday!

That Flo is pretty brave pecking Roxy's wattles like that.

 

[MaryJanet]

Black chickens are just amazing when they get in the sun. Phyllis was truly lovely today. Thanks for noticing.

Mary comes over all green usually but purple sometimes.

 

[BY Bob]

Mary comes over all green usually but purple sometimes.

Lilly is usually blue or green. I've not seen her purple but Phyllis shows all 3 colors depending on the sun.

 

[BY Bob]

Who wants a Locust?

I found a locust in the pool skimmer. Watch as I try to get someone to eat it. No one seemed to trust me at all. Until......

 

[goldenfingers]

Who wants a Locust?

I found a locust in the pool skimmer. Watch as I try to get someone to eat it. No one seemed to trust me at all. Until......

Nobody wants anything until somebody else has it. Sounds about right...

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

And then this just happened

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Beautiful Bob.

But I always find it a bit alarming when they do this.

The first time I saw one of my hens sunbathing I rushed out to them and chased them around the back yard thinking they'd been injured.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Happy Saturday!

So cute @micstrachan !

That's a clever idea using the 2 dog crates. I'll have to remember it for the next time I get chicks.

I'm surprised the chicks don't squeeze through the bars though.