Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValerieJ]

And you all can thank AT&T for the delay of my new phone!

We had to leave AT&T when we moved to rural Washington. Only Verizon works here, and even then not everywhere on the property.

 

[featherhead007]

Not so long as you would expect. Fine later that night, next morning for sure. But lost my taste long enough to never want to try it again.

I hear ya on that! I'm suffering right now!

 

[ValerieJ]

I hear ya on that! I'm suffering right now!

Sorry. It's frustrating for sure.

 

[featherhead007]

We had to leave AT&T when we moved to rural Washington. Only Verizon works here, and even then not everywhere on the property.

I loved Verizon's services, but not their prices.

 

[BY Bob]

Yep, feathered feet and all!

He is certainly very handsome then.

 

[Shadrach]

Fascinating, Shad. To my ears, the general alarm call sounds much like the egg song. I have a video of what I think you are calling the warning call. When the warning call is sounded, they all (mostly?) go perfectly still. You could hear a pin drop! I’ll try to find an upload and you can say whether you agree. The aerial call is super obvious and if I attempt it, they run for cover. I’m not sure of the ground predator call, unless it’s continuous deep clucking?

I can't do any of the calls.

 

[Shadrach]

That's helpful Shad. Sometimes I've seen 1/2 my flock shoot for cover while the other 1/2 barely lift their heads ~ but now I think about it it's always the younger birds running for cover. I was thinking my non runners didn't have good survival instincts but if they have made a judgement call on who's given the alarm, that is different.

It seems to be that way here. I think they do make judgements and some are complex.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm finding this conversation fascinating as we have few predators & I rarely hear a warning call. I get the * watch & monitor* call whenever Kirby is about but they don't even bother to note Marlow. Mind you Kirby likes to climb the wire & watch the chicken antics from the roof. The girls don't like it but they are wary rather than alarmed by him. I think he finds it funny to stir them up.

I have the watch and monitor call here. They give it for the dogs. It's not exactly an warning, more of a heads up. They give it when they're under a bush somewhere and I approach. I give my ID call when I get close.

 

[Shadrach]

Oh this is all so wonderful. Are you able to record any of these?

I have lots of recordings but the quality is very poor and as I discovered when I tried to catalogue them; many I don't understand and didn't note who made them.

 

[Ribh]

I have the watch and monitor call here. They give it for the dogs. It's not exactly an warning, more of a heads up. They give it when they're under a bush somewhere and I approach. I give my ID call when I get close.

Yes, I call out when I enter the coop after they've gone to roost ~ though I think they know it's me by my general movements. Just the same they can't see me until I'm right in the coop with them so I talk to them as I'm coming in.