Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[WhoDatChick]

Roosting Chaos

Complete chaos at roosting time tonight starting with poor Sydney being knocked down and thrown out. Then it was Phyllis turn. I was working on the front of the coop and Phyllis knew it.

It breaks my heart. She ran right over to me squawking.

I scooped her up and put her on her new high roost.
View attachment 2404561

She stayed there.
View attachment 2404562

I am going to try and lower it a little tomorrow.

I love how she runs to you to save her ❤ ❤ ❤ .... maybe you can have Aurora sleep in a crate for awhile...

 

[Ribh]

Roosting Chaos

Complete chaos at roosting time tonight starting with poor Sydney being knocked down and thrown out. Then it was Phyllis turn. I was working on the front of the coop and Phyllis knew it.

It breaks my heart. She ran right over to me squawking.

I scooped her up and put her on her new high roost.
View attachment 2404561

She stayed there.
View attachment 2404562

I am going to try and lower it a little tomorrow.

Bob, I've been doing some research because I know this is terribly worrying ~ besides being detrimental to the flock as a whole. The 2 things that keep coming up are stress & boredom. Knowing how you manage your flock this seems incredibly unlikely. On the other hand I'm wondering how Aurora has coped with all the changes: losing Mal, then 3 new hens, one of which is decidedly odd looking & one who was allowed to raise chicks. She might just be a high stress lady & finding it difficult to cope so is acting out.

I'm not sure how you can go about reassuring her that her place in the flock & your affections is secure. Obviously you know your girls waaay better than I do but perhaps some calming herbs in their bedding, new toys to amuse them...just throwing ideas out there. I really don't know. I know how concerning it is when there is any ongoing upset in the flock & it does need to be resolved before someone gets really hurt. Do let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

 

[BY Bob]

I love how she runs to you to save her ❤ ❤ ❤ .... maybe you can have Aurora sleep in a crate for awhile...

It's not that I haven't considered that. I just worry about making her even madder.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Bob, I've been doing some research because I know this is terribly worrying ~ besides being detrimental to the flock as a whole. The 2 things that keep coming up are stress & boredom. Knowing how you manage your flock this seems incredibly unlikely. On the other hand I'm wondering how Aurora has coped with all the changes: losing Mal, then 3 new hens, one of which is decidedly odd looking & one who was allowed to raise chicks. She might just be a high stress lady & finding it difficult to cope so is acting out.

I'm not sure how you can go about reassuring her that her place in the flock & your affections is secure. Obviously you know your girls waaay better than I do but perhaps some calming herbs in their bedding, new toys to amuse them...just throwing ideas out there. I really don't know. I know how concerning it is when there is any ongoing upset in the flock & it does need to be resolved before someone gets really hurt. Do let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

I was wondering the same thing... did she start acting out more when Mal died...?

 

[BY Bob]

Bob, I've been doing some research because I know this is terribly worrying ~ besides being detrimental to the flock as a whole. The 2 things that keep coming up are stress & boredom. Knowing how you manage your flock this seems incredibly unlikely. On the other hand I'm wondering how Aurora has coped with all the changes: losing Mal, then 3 new hens, one of which is decidedly odd looking & one who was allowed to raise chicks. She might just be a high stress lady & finding it difficult to cope so is acting out.

I'm not sure how you can go about reassuring her that her place in the flock & your affections is secure. Obviously you know your girls waaay better than I do but perhaps some calming herbs in their bedding, new toys to amuse them...just throwing ideas out there. I really don't know. I know how concerning it is when there is any ongoing upset in the flock & it does need to be resolved before someone gets really hurt. Do let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

What are these calming herbs for the bedding of which you speak? Maybe that could help.

 

[BY Bob]

I was wondering the same thing... did she start acting out more when Mal died...?

Aurora has always acted out. From when she was 6 weeks old her behavior has been similar. The difference was when Mal was above her in the pecking order she would not permit her to be this bad. Mal kept her in line.

I always said that Maleficent would be an excellent Alfa hen some day. She cared. Hattie is sweet but she doesn't care to keep everyone in line. I don't know if the hole Mal left in the flock will ever be filled. I fear I will have to do it somehow and I'm at a bit of a loss. I really try not to interfere in how they organize their society so I am really not prepared to do so right now.

Gone but forever missed.

 

[Ribh]

What are these calming herbs for the bedding of which you speak? Maybe that could help.

Chamomile, Valerian, Lavender, Passionflower, lemon balm...
Pampered chicken mama sells a herbal blend

This lady has whole articles on using herbs with chickens.

I've had trouble growing herbs anywhere near my chickens. They love them & mow them down pronto. I have mint & nasturtium growing in hanging baskets on the coop they haven't found yet.

 

[LozzyR]

This reminds me of the “gravy” vs “sauce” debate.
Growing up in my world (Bethlehem, PA), in a Catholic-ITALIAN family, GRAVY was the brown to off-white (various shades) dressing that we made from pan drippings, butter, corn-starch or flour.
SAUCE was the dressing we put on pasta mostly, and was made from tomatoes and various spices, and may or may not include ground meat.
You will hear people hotly argue that the tomato preparation is gravy, and it is not!

That sounds about right!

 

[LozzyR]

Frankly it has been getting worse every election since I took over.

I could say something facetious like “So it’s your fault!” but it might be a sore point, so I won’t.

 

[LozzyR]

Is that a duvet they are lying on, or a comforter?

Have we included bedspreads yet?