Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LaFemmeKatia]

I got a few pictures tonight while the chooks were out.

Father and Son
View attachment 2357876

I got a new roosting picture as well. The boys are on either end of the roost. Lucky is over with Goldie the lead hen.
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Pretty chickens!

 

[RoyalChick]

Now I have never witnessed mine eating a mouse but I have seen plenty of pictures of it occurring on BYC. Was it as slick as people say it is? I have a morbid curiosity on this topic.

This time I caught some of it on the coop cam while I was working but didn't catch the actual eating. I think I posted video of their first mouse a while back which happened while I was in the Palace visiting.
I am not sure slick is how I would describe it.
*** WARNING gruesome description to follow ***
This is what I observed. First there is a lot of mad chasing to catch the mouse (they are fast!). Then there is the mad chasing to try and take the mouse from whoever has it. This can result in body parts of the mouse being pulled apart and more than one chicken having a portion of mouse.
Then the chicken finds a corner so she can control her catch and she stabs it to death with her beak (actually the one I observed was by that time in two parts and most definitely already dead but it still got stabbed).
The stabbing is definitely over-kill and seriel-killer-terrifying. She stabbed it over and over and over again!
Then it got eaten like anything else which is in a combo of little pieces and big chunks but surprisingly quickly.
RIP mouse!
I am really trying to exclude the mice from the Palace because they eat the chicken food but I seem to be failing!
This is very fuzzy but you can see Elizabeth managed to keep the whole mouse to herself this time - and it is really quite big - I don't know if this time she swallowed it whole!

 

[RoyalChick]

Ned has had that stance since he hatched. Isn't he a handsome fellow!

I am so glad he is growing up with his Dad. I just know he is going to be a great rooster because of it.

I know I am not a rooster expert but it does seem like a distinctive stance - very 'solid' as well as tall.
I love them both!

 

[BY Bob]

Another Journey into the Past

I have decided to try and save any journeys into the way-back machine for Saturdays here in the states. They take a while to pull together and I think they might make for nice reading when we all have a little more time.

Because of this, the dates might not be exactly in alignment but I do not believe anyone will mind.

Settle in, grab some coffee, or tea, this is a long one!

With that in mind, Mr. Peabody, set the way-back for September 19, 2014 and the Great Tomato Raid of 2014!

Now the rule at Fluffy Butt Acres is if you can reach it, you can have it. In general this enables the flock to grab a tomato or two. For whatever reason, on this day Elphie and Trisha decided that tomatoes would be their sole focus and the went after them with a vengeance. I was not yet into chicken photography but this was something I had to record.

That day, no tomato was safe.

Mr. Peabody let's bounce ahead to September 23, 2018, someone was raiding the garden then as well.

In September of 2018 I was working to integrate Hattie and Jabberwocky with the rest of the flock. Hattie and Lilly of all hens went into the open garden together.

Of course Jabberwocky was worth her as well.

Look at the two of them, so cute.

Look at his green legs.

Can you believe I still though he was a pullet at this time? Self-delusion is a powerful thing.

Patsy and Lilly wanted nothing to do with the newcomers most of the time.

Check out how small the brush pile used to be!

Let's go further back now. Mr. Peabody let's set the way-back to September 22, 2016 and check in on the greatest hen ever.

From the pictures I have it looks like all Daisy, the greatest hen ever, did on this day was eat leftovers! We must have cleaned out the fridge. Check it out.

She started with a nutritious breakfast of donuts. Patsy might have been more excited by them.

Then she had a delicious dinner of one of her favorites, PASTA!

Somewhere in between all this eating, I caught Lilly coming out of the coop having laid her egg.

It's always fun to drop in on the Big 3. Let's finish up with something more recent. Mr Peabody, set the way-back machine for September 24, 2019.

Here we get to visit some newer friends. I must start with my bestie, Maleficent. She was so quick sometimes she ruined a perfect photo.

I did not realize it at the time, but she was giving off signals that hatching was on her mind.

How about her sister looking so regal on the footstool.

I was replacing worn out deck boards that day and everyone wanted to help!

Interesting, that looks like Hattie was getting ready to start her molt. She also enjoyed some early fall sun.

And climbing brush with friends.

Finally, even Mr. Bunny stopped by for chat!

I hope you all have enjoyed the latest installment of the way- back machine. Mr. Peabody please take us home.

 

[BY Bob]

This time I caught some of it on the coop cam while I was working but didn't catch the actual eating. I think I posted video of their first mouse a while back which happened while I was in the Palace visiting.
I am not sure slick is how I would describe it.
*** WARNING gruesome description to follow ***
This is what I observed. First there is a lot of mad chasing to catch the mouse (they are fast!). Then there is the mad chasing to try and take the mouse from whoever has it. This can result in body parts of the mouse being pulled apart and more than one chicken having a portion of mouse.
Then the chicken finds a corner so she can control her catch and she stabs it to death with her beak (actually the one I observed was by that time in two parts and most definitely already dead but it still got stabbed).
The stabbing is definitely over-kill and seriel-killer-terrifying. She stabbed it over and over and over again!
Then it got eaten like anything else which is in a combo of little pieces and big chunks but surprisingly quickly.
RIP mouse!
I am really trying to exclude the mice from the Palace because they eat the chicken food but I seem to be failing!
This is very fuzzy but you can see Elizabeth managed to keep the whole mouse to herself this time - and it is really quite big - I don't know if this time she swallowed it whole!View attachment 2358188

Thanks for posting this. I have heard that they will swallow them whole. That's what I was wondering. It sounds like the competing for food in your run keeps that from happening. It is nice that they are their own form of rodent control.

 

[RoyalChick]

Maggie a whole week of life
It is now a week since Maggie told the vet (and I concurred) that she was not ready to give up and avail herself of his kind offer to put her to sleep.
She got a whole busy week of chicken life.
I am happy for her.
Here she is welcoming me into the Chicken Palace this morning. I think she is puzzled why I haven’t got blueberries in my hand. Later Maggie. Be patient!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Yesterday, one of those cute little green anoles ran into the run. It didn’t end well for him.

 

[RoyalChick]

Another Journey into the Past

I have decided to try and save any journeys into the way-back machine for Saturdays here in the states. They take a while to pull together and I think they might make for nice reading when we all have a little more time.

Because of this, the dates might not be exactly in alignment but I do not believe anyone will mind.

Settle in, grab some coffee, or tea, this is a long one!

With that in mind, Mr. Peabody, set the way-back for September 19, 2014 and the Great Tomato Raid of 2014!

Now the rule at Fluffy Butt Acres is if you can reach it, you can have it. In general this enables the flock to grab a tomato or two. For whatever reason, on this day Elphie and Trisha decided that tomatoes would be their sole focus and the went after them with a vengeance. I was not yet into chicken photography but this was something I had to record.

That day, no tomato was safe.
View attachment 2358189View attachment 2358190View attachment 2358191

Mr. Peabody let's bounce ahead to September 23, 2018, someone was raising the garden then as well.

In September of 2018 I was working to integrate Hattie and Jabberwocky with the rest of the flock. Hattie and Lilly of all hens went into the open garden together.
View attachment 2358192

Of course Jabberwocky was worth her as well.
View attachment 2358193

Look at the two of them, so cute.
View attachment 2358195
View attachment 2358196View attachment 2358198

Look at his green legs.
View attachment 2358200

Can you believe I still though he was a pullet at this time? Self-delusion is a powerful thing.
View attachment 2358203

Patsy and Lilly wanted nothing to do with the newcomers most of the time.
View attachment 2358204View attachment 2358219
View attachment 2358228

Check out how small the brush pile used to be!

View attachment 2358229

Let's go further back now. Mr. Peabody let's set the way-back to September 22, 2016 and check in on the greatest hen ever.

From the pictures I have it looks like all Daisy, the greatest hen ever, did on this day was eat leftovers! We must have cleaned out the fridge. Check it out.

She started with a nutritious breakfast of donuts. Patsy might have been more excited by them. View attachment 2358233

Then she had a delicious dinner of one of her favorites, PASTA!
View attachment 2358237
View attachment 2358238

Somewhere in between all this eating, I caught Lilly coming out of the coop having laid her egg.
View attachment 2358240

It's always fun to drop in on the Big 3. Let's finish up with something more recent. Mr Peabody, set the way-back machine for September 24, 2019.

Here we get to visit some newer friends. I must start with my bestie, Maleficent. She was so quick sometimes she ruined a perfect photo.
View attachment 2358247
View attachment 2358248View attachment 2358249

I did not realize it at the time, but she was giving off signals that hatching was on her mind.
View attachment 2358250

How about her sister looking so regal on the footstool.

View attachment 2358252

I was replacing worn out deck boards that day and everyone wanted to help!

View attachment 2358253View attachment 2358254View attachment 2358255

Interesting, that looks like Hattie was getting ready to start her molt. She also enjoyed some early fall sun.
View attachment 2358256

And climbing brush with friends.
View attachment 2358258View attachment 2358259

Finally, even Mr. Bunny stopped by for chat!
View attachment 2358261

I hope you all have enjoyed the latest installment of the way- back machine. Mr. Peabody please take us home.

I am still getting my mind around green-legged chickens. I now believe you all that it is a real thing, but I can’t make sense of it for some reason. What kind of chicken was Jabocky?

 

[BY Bob]

Maggie a whole week of life
It is now a week since Maggie told the vet (and I concurred) that she was not ready to give up and avail herself of his kind offer to put her to sleep.
She got a whole busy week of chicken life.
I am happy for her.
Here she is welcoming me into the Chicken Palace this morning. I think she is puzzled why I haven’t got blueberries in my hand. Later Maggie. Be patient!
View attachment 2358304

That is a fabulous photo of her. I think it is wall worthy.

 

[BY Bob]

I am still getting my mind around green-legged chickens. I now believe you all that it is a real thing, but I can’t make sense of it for some reason. What kind of chicken was Jabocky?

He was an Easter Egger. He was supposed to supply me with colored eggs. I consider him my first failure in the colored egg game.