Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Have you considered ordering in some live meal worms for her? They are pretty easy to keep, and I think if you raise them on non medicated chick starter as well as wheat or oat bran it’s kind of like gut loading crickets for a pet reptile. Any chicken who gains entry into the big coop via human intervention (not counting Cass sneaking his girls in attempting to raid the cat dishes!) gets a little handful. I ordered more than I planned on feeding and reserved about half for breeding. I haven’t really worked on expanding my worm farm because there’s very limited space in the trailer. But so far I’m fairly happy with the results. They literally live under our coffee table in two little plastic desk organizer drawer things.

I request pictures of your meal worm farm set up please Kris!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I Am Furious

I am having trouble writing this as I don't know what I am going to do.

It was a complete rainout today as the remains of hurricane Zeta came through. It rained so much the pool is overflowing. I left the ladies in the run complex all day. No use in them getting soaked when it's this cold outside. The complex is completely roofed. So while they might get some side rain, mostly they can stay dry.

When I checked the camera to check on roosting tonight, this is what I saw.
View attachment 2392122

Now I took this picture because I had to go out and find out if Phyllis was on the high roost. Somehow I knew she wouldn't be. Aurora was in her spot.

She was not.

View attachment 2392124

That is the same roost Maleficent was on when........

This is how it started with Mal when Lilly kept chasing her out of the coop. I thought the multiple roosts would help but now it's not Lilly, it's Aurora or Sansa. There is so much room. Why won't they share?

Why!?

I just can't. I was so afraid tonight. I just can't.

Your heart must have been in your boots Bob.

Maybe remove that roost altogether and put a roost tower in the middle of the run? (Like a cat tower but with roosts instead of platforms). At least then the roosts are away from the potentially dangerous sides of the run and wouldn't have that bad association.

Why do our girls have to be so mean?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Bob! I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. I would try to bump Aurora in the pecking order. If you COMPLETELY remove her from the flock for a good two or three days (meaning the flock cannot see or hear her), and then return her, she may not be Queen Bee. It’s worth a try.

It would also feel like karmic justice!

 

[MaryJanet]

Your heart must have been in your boots Bob.

Maybe remove that roost altogether and put a roost tower in the middle of the run? (Like a cat tower but with roosts instead of platforms). At least then the roosts are away from the potentially dangerous sides of the run and wouldn't have that bad association.

Why do our girls have to be so mean?

That's a good idea. The whole gang will have to readjust their expectations.

 

[LozzyR]

Woohoo! Who lays the small, pinkish egg?

I’ll upload the pic again with some text.

 

[LozzyR]

Aww. That's so sweet.

Perhaps we could all star training our chickens!

Aww, she has lovely girls!

 

[RoyalChick]

Bob! I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. I would try to bump Aurora in the pecking order. If you COMPLETELY remove her from the flock for a good two or three days (meaning the flock cannot see or hear her), and then return her, she may not be Queen Bee. It’s worth a try.

I think she is already not Queen Bee - she is just Mean Bee.

 

[RoyalChick]

OMG, Kris! I can’t stop laughing! The visual of feather dirt getting shaken in one’s face... so true!

You haven't lived until you have dust-bathed with your chickens!

 

[RoyalChick]

Your heart must have been in your boots Bob.

Maybe remove that roost altogether and put a roost tower in the middle of the run? (Like a cat tower but with roosts instead of platforms). At least then the roosts are away from the potentially dangerous sides of the run and wouldn't have that bad association.

Why do our girls have to be so mean?

A roost tower is a very clever idea - and when fully occupied might look like a Christmas Tree of chickens. And there is nothing wrong in that I say!

 

[BY Bob]

Bob! I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. I would try to bump Aurora in the pecking order. If you COMPLETELY remove her from the flock for a good two or three days (meaning the flock cannot see or hear her), and then return her, she may not be Queen Bee. It’s worth a try.

The only hen that would jump her in the order is Sansa. I don't know how much that would help me. Sydney did not care enough to keep 4th from Sansa when she had it she is not going to keep it from Aurora. Frankly I fear that this could induce a reign of terror until Aurora was back to 3 anyway.