Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Too cute! The more house chickens the merrier? I would try to keep the room she overnights in as cool as possible. To avoid too drastic a temperature change.

Good point. I had previoudly closed the central air vent in that bathroom and the window is open a couple inches. Did you mean the tempersture change when I let her out in the morning or from her usual nights to this one?

 

[micstrachan]

Thank you, I would love your help with a plan. I'm thinking about it already, what she would need in equipment, and placement of everything.

But I do have one Queenie behavior concern, and a concern about why I haven't heard anything from the people that have part of her flock and what I should do about it.

There are times when it sounds like Queenie is snapping her beak a little with each motion of her head. This is when she is looking this way and that, up and down, side to side, etc. I think I recognize her really quick motions as a bit of a show of stress or excitement. She once made these motions when I was dancing to some music and it seemed to me she thought I was acting odd and it maybe was stressing her out a bit. So I stopped. But of course I was listening to the music and didn't hear if she was snapping her beak.

She doesn't do it when she is calmly hanging out and preening and fluffing, while standing on the edge of the brooder. At those times she also looks around before diving back into her feathers, but her beak is silent. It is at other times I hear it, mostly when she again on the edge of the brooder in a break from scratching, in-between eating, or - usually when expecting attention or treats from me, but it's not been consistent. Of course it's always when I'm there, that I'm going to hear it. I wonder if it is a bit stress related, or excitement related, or if it actually means something that is not right with her. It doesn't worry me too much, but the Buckeyes don't make this sound with their beaks at all. Is this a normal healthy chicken behavior?

After thinking about it I wondered if I ought to try to contact again the go-between person with the family that has part of Queenie's flock and try to find out why no one has called me. I've been waiting to hear something, have heard nothing at all, and maybe it would be better to be proactive and try to find out what's what. This person is only reachable on Fridays & Saturdays.

My DH/partner says I ought to keep her and put her out with the Buckeyes and just go with it, she needs to be with chickens soon. I ask him if it's best for her to keep her, because it could be hard on her, she might be odd man out so to speak, and he doesn't have an answer. Though I hate to part with her now, and I would love to integrate Queenie with my flock if it can work out, I would give her up if that's what's best for her. I'm quite torn about this.

I do think that I will begin putting her out in a divided part of the run, whatever happens with the go-between person, so she can see other chickens at least. She seemed quite happy about it that day she was out briefly.

One factor is that the Buckeyes and Queenie might be pretty close in age, getting to POL. Queenie would be earlier to POL if they are the same age (the Buckeyes hatched July 6), but it is likely she was hatched earlier and is older, since most people get their chicks from Spring hatches. Will the age factor help in integration?

Do you all think it is important enough to try to get her a buddy somehow, from somewhere, if I keep her? We don't mean any random Buff Orpington would be better than no buddy at all, or do we? What about THAT poor hen's separation from her own flock, if I can get one?

Maybe because I'm tired now, I do feel quite insanely juvenile with all this. Thank you for listening!

Here’s a thought. If she’s a little ahead of the Buckeyes with regard to POL, maybe Queenie will earn some respect? She’ll start pit at the bottom for sure, but maybe this could help.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Hi folks. Sorry I keep posting about Ester. I opted to bring her in. She has a carrier to sleep in, but I thought I’d let her cruise around the kitchen a bit. I scattered wheat berries, which she is finding. She has not yet found her yummy mash, dry feed nor water. Once she eats, I’ll gently nudge her into the carrier and put it in my bathroom in the dark so she can rest. She doesn’t seem too stressed. I did have to handle her to get her into the carrier, poor thing. I think the warmth of the house will be good for her. The only issue is that she’s one that Cashew raised and has never been inside the house.

I normally vote to keep flocks together, but I'd make an exception for her.

Yikes that molt is something else!! I'm glad you're there to bring her in.

 

[Kris5902]

Thank you, I would love your help with a plan. I'm thinking about it already, what she would need in equipment, and placement of everything.

But I do have one Queenie behavior concern, and a concern about why I haven't heard anything from the people that have part of her flock and what I should do about it.

There are times when it sounds like Queenie is snapping her beak a little with each motion of her head. This is when she is looking this way and that, up and down, side to side, etc. I think I recognize her really quick motions as a bit of a show of stress or excitement. She once made these motions when I was dancing to some music and it seemed to me she thought I was acting odd and it maybe was stressing her out a bit. So I stopped. But of course I was listening to the music and didn't hear if she was snapping her beak.

She doesn't do it when she is calmly hanging out and preening and fluffing, while standing on the edge of the brooder. At those times she also looks around before diving back into her feathers, but her beak is silent. It is at other times I hear it, mostly when she again on the edge of the brooder in a break from scratching, in-between eating, or - usually when expecting attention or treats from me, but it's not been consistent. Of course it's always when I'm there, that I'm going to hear it. I wonder if it is a bit stress related, or excitement related, or if it actually means something that is not right with her. It doesn't worry me too much, but the Buckeyes don't make this sound with their beaks at all. Is this a normal healthy chicken behavior?

After thinking about it I wondered if I ought to try to contact again the go-between person with the family that has part of Queenie's flock and try to find out why no one has called me. I've been waiting to hear something, have heard nothing at all, and maybe it would be better to be proactive and try to find out what's what. This person is only reachable on Fridays & Saturdays.

My DH/partner says I ought to keep her and put her out with the Buckeyes and just go with it, she needs to be with chickens soon. I ask him if it's best for her to keep her, because it could be hard on her, she might be odd man out so to speak, and he doesn't have an answer. Though I hate to part with her now, and I would love to integrate Queenie with my flock if it can work out, I would give her up if that's what's best for her. I'm quite torn about this.

I do think that I will begin putting her out in a divided part of the run, whatever happens with the go-between person, so she can see other chickens at least. She seemed quite happy about it that day she was out briefly.

One factor is that the Buckeyes and Queenie might be pretty close in age, getting to POL. Queenie would be earlier to POL if they are the same age (the Buckeyes hatched July 6), but it is likely she was hatched earlier and is older, since most people get their chicks from Spring hatches. Will the age factor help in integration?

Do you all think it is important enough to try to get her a buddy somehow, from somewhere, if I keep her? We don't mean any random Buff Orpington would be better than no buddy at all, or do we? What about THAT poor hen's separation from her own flock, if I can get one?

Maybe because I'm tired now, I do feel quite insanely juvenile with all this. Thank you for listening!

I would just go for it at this point, integrate. See how she does... from a couple of my pictures today, you can see that sometimes in mixed flocks very odd birds will pair up. Tailless has nothing at all in common with her Eight Western Rustic and Sasso sisters, yet she would rather be with them than in the flock she was reared in, with Sammy, Two Dot, Starlight, and the red Rock chicks. Queenie could fit right in, or get a few fast friends, you won’t know until you give them a chance.

 

[Kris5902]

What’s a BBB? My Border Collie will “get the little birds” out of the chicken run upon command in the spring & summer when the run gate is wide open for free range time. She is more of a pet than a working dog, but I probably should have given her a proper job, as she thinks her job is chasing the ball.

BBB = “Bad-Big-Bird”... think less Sesame Street fluffy yellow and singing, and a little more razor sharp talons, diving, and nasty curved beaks. And the formidable “who cooks for you” hoot of pure evil (the murderous barred owl)

Ball and stick chasing is a favorite past time here as well, Celti will find and drop pine or fir needles on your knees in hopes of you throwing them. Paperclips are also fair game. I will have a dog once we get the house built. I want a Cane Corso or Pressio Canario, or a rescue Rottweiler, Pit bull, or Mastiff type dog, DH is partial to Irish wolfhounds.

Tax: Mr Marans And Ladies Roosting tonight

 

[Kris5902]

Good point. I had previoudly closed the central air vent in that bathroom and the window is open a couple inches. Did you mean the tempersture chsnge ehen zi let her out in the morning or from her usual nights to this one?

A bit of both, like how Queenie was doing at first indoors, a little panting etc. granted over on the west coast it’s far less of a difference in temperatures. Again, I try not to overthink it, and that you’ve opened a window some and closed the vent, you’re probably fine.

 

[micstrachan]

I normally vote to keep flocks together, but I'd make an exception for her.

Yikes that molt is something else!! I'm glad you're there to bring her in.

I don’t like removing anyone from the flock either, but today she mostly self-isolated hunched up in the coop. I’ll let her out first thing tomorrow.

 

[RoyalChick]

Nothing other than I wanted some more big girls to hang with Hattie. Poor Hattie has to be thinking she lives with tiny hens. I bet they say mean things about her too.

In reality it is about expectations. I expected large ladies. I wanted hens with that mellow large lady attitude. I did not get what I wanted. I love them just the same no matter. Just disappointed.

Got it.
But nobody could say mean things about Hattie. She is beautiful!

 

[BY Bob]

Haven't been on this thread in a while! Here's a belated mugshot Monday photo:

View attachment 2467912

(Our chickens are snowphobic)

I absolutely love this! That is a great use of the word "mug".

 

[BY Bob]

Hi folks. Sorry I keep posting about Ester. I opted to bring her in. She has a carrier to sleep in, but I thought I’d let her cruise around the kitchen a bit. I scattered wheat berries, which she is finding. She has not yet found her yummy mash, dry feed nor water. Once she eats, I’ll gently nudge her into the carrier and put it in my bathroom in the dark so she can rest. She doesn’t seem too stressed. I did have to handle her to get her into the carrier, poor thing. I think the warmth of the house will be good for her. The only issue is that she’s one that Cashew raised and has never been inside the house.

It will not hurt to have brought her in. I have left Aurora out but she had never had bare spots when it was below 40 at night so I let her be. I don't like them naked in the cold.