Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Gaaah I just about figured out how to get pics from my phone to the PC quickly (my charger cord is USB and that connects to the PC, yay So much better than through our wifi). I just loaded pics from this morning. I'd use the BYC app on my phone but it really is quirky and annoying, my cursor jumps back and forth and I'm editing more than writing

Yes I would like to figure out how to put video up here but haven't yet. Create YouTube channel, load it to there, link here to there, yes? I DID figure out how to edit them down to short lengths on my PC though, once I figured out the transfer issue.

I am on the expanding horizon of tech learning. Ex: I would post a pic of my face but it would need a spoiler and I haven't figured that out either! Baby steps here (loved that movie, what is the name? haha).

This morning they all ate together, the waterers are also together on the right side. After they ate enough for a first meal there was a little face-off. Then lots of scratching around where the treats were yesterday, in search of more, followed by more looking and mirroring, mostly by Popcorn and Peanut. At one point Queenie held quite still in a firm pointy-face low-head stance while the Buckeye kept her head high and stretched-out, but moving it. Here they were beak-to-beak. Later Queenie was standing up against the fence and let herself be touched (it seemed) through the fence on her side feathers by a curious Buckeye beak.

View attachment 2469813

I am a tech ignoramus. One thing I have discovered is the BYC App is actually really easy to use to add photos direct from my phone (I never even upload them to the PC). Video is a different kettle of fish and requires something like a You Tube account. But photos are as easy as clicking 'add file' in the app on the phone. Generally the BYC App I find better than the website (though I use both).
And as for the chicken integration -

 

[featherhead007]

Could be another kind of bird? It is near the water so a wild duck or goose? I have loads of rabbits hopping around in the snow and that is for sure not a rabbit. The snow has melted now or I could send a picture of the bunnies.

Maybe it's a Blonde Highland Coo print?

(From the coopage thread)

 

[micstrachan]

Thank you for the encouragement, suggestions & tips! My DH/partner is suggesting full body armor, helmet and face shield for any further encounters....

But this morning I was playing with Big Boy the cat, lifting a rug corner and zooming a furry tail toy on a stick in and out under there, and he was diving and reaching and grabbing and kicking, all four paws and claws of death in action. I knew how his body would move, and how to keep myself safe. So this will come with chickens. Hopefully. Gotta stay safe as I learn though!

I too wonder about Queenie's take on this. She seems quite eager to get in there and "mix it up" and I actually have a little worry for the Buckeyes. These guys have known nothing else except their little 4-hen community plus me and my DH since they were day-olds. Queenie's been among 8 other B.O. hens plus a young rooster. I don't know if she and her sisters and the roo were thrown together as pullets and a lone cockerel, or grew up together as chicks. So maybe she's been around the block at least once before. Maybe she wants to be boss and kick everyone else's little fluffy butt!

Haha! She might want that, but I highly doubt she’ll start out on top. This will be so interesting to watch.

As far as protecting yourself from friendly chickens, here’s a hint: If a chicken on your shoulder suddenly has renewed interest in your face, close your eyes. Your eyelashes or eyebrows might be quite tempting.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks for the tip!
I must try that. Feels like it would be good for both chickens and cats so having some on hand cooked and frozen would be a good idea.

I had read it before as a chicken treat, but never got it until Roxy was extremely anemic earlier this year. She had black poop, pale comb, and was weak. She had an x-ray, which ruled out hardware disease. Her intestines were bloated with gas and bleeding for an unknown reason. She was treated with amoxicillin and barium sulfate (to coat and sooth). I started giving her beef liver to boost her iron and it did wonders. She eventually recovered, but neither the vet nor I know the cause of the inflammation. I think she may have been sensitive to an all-flock pellet I was trying on them. Just in case, they will never have that again. It seems I need to stick to Modesto Milling, which is fine with me since my feed store stocks it. It’d expensive, but worth it for my feathered babies!

 

[Shadrach]

Little red is quite the looker. Thank you chicken tax!

Almost 40 years ago now my father had his first quadruple heart bi-pass. At that moment my mother, who did not understand any spice other than salt, removed all salt of any kind from her cooking. I did not understand what flavor was until I met Mrs BY Bob, but that is another story. Because my mother removed all salt from our diet as a family, to this day the smallest amounts of salt are immediately recognizable by me and things will taste salty to me with a minimal amount of salt. Mrs BY Bob loves to salt the pasta water and every time she tries to slip it by me, I comment on how it tastes a little salty to me. I tell this story to say that I would have gladly eaten your bland soup for you.

Chicken Tax
View attachment 2467711

I don't use salt in my cooking unless it comes in a stock cube. I've never used much. I don't even notice no salt now and like you, if salt has been added the change in taste is very noticable.

 

[BY Bob]

Gaaah I just about figured out how to get pics from my phone to the PC quickly (my charger cord is USB and that connects to the PC, yay So much better than through our wifi). I just loaded pics from this morning. I'd use the BYC app on my phone but it really is quirky and annoying, my cursor jumps back and forth and I'm editing more than writing

Yes I would like to figure out how to put video up here but haven't yet. Create YouTube channel, load it to there, link here to there, yes? I DID figure out how to edit them down to short lengths on my PC though, once I figured out the transfer issue.

I am on the expanding horizon of tech learning. Ex: I would post a pic of my face but it would need a spoiler and I haven't figured that out either! Baby steps here (loved that movie, what is the name? haha).

This morning they all ate together, the waterers are also together on the right side. After they ate enough for a first meal there was a little face-off. Then lots of scratching around where the treats were yesterday, in search of more, followed by more looking and mirroring, mostly by Popcorn and Peanut. At one point Queenie held quite still in a firm pointy-face low-head stance while the Buckeye kept her head high and stretched-out, but moving it. Here they were beak-to-beak. Later Queenie was standing up against the fence and let herself be touched (it seemed) through the fence on her side feathers by a curious Buckeye beak.

View attachment 2469813

This is the kind of behavior I am interested in. "Queenie held quite still in a firm pointy-face low-head stance while the Buckeye kept her head high and stretched-out, but moving it."

Did it look like this?

What you are seeing exhibited here in the video I posted is called fence fighting.

The peck at the ground and then lift head and peck at each other is the fence fighting. Did you see Queenie peck the ground and then at the fence or Buckeye? If so, she may very well be trying to intimidate the Buckeye in question. I am pretty sure that my resident baddy Aurora was doing so to Sydney.

Now that is my read on the behavior. Others will say they have no idea why chickens fence fight and more interestingly, why some chickens do and some don't. Additionally it is also interesting to note that once the fence is removed in the majority of cases no fighting ensues.

I learned much of this from @Shadrach and I am glad to pass it on.

 

[Shadrach]

Ladylike! And what say you about that, @Shadrach ???

She's planning something.

 

[Shadrach]

I honestly thought that you did not get snow. Amazing!

Most years we get a bit; maybe for a couple of days.

 

[Shadrach]

Poor girl, she really is quite naked. I am glad you are taking her in and that she will have a friend with her.
I am not experienced with molting - how long will the feathers take to come in?
I am watching Maggie and it seems to be taking months - she had naked patches but that was before it got cold. Now it is just the top of her head and in her armpits that it is all spikey.
I am keeping a close eye on Diana and Elizabeth who seem to have just started - so far not that severe and I am taking comfort from the fact that they all squish up together on the big roost.
I really wish they would do this in August when it is too hot to be wearing a down jacket.

Feather control is an amazing thing. Chicken that have a heavy moult when it's hot suffer as badly, if not worse, than they do in the cold. Feather control allows them to organize their feathers when it's hot so that air will cilculate close to the skin while the outer layers prevent heat reachinng the skin. Dogs can do the same apparently.

 

[BY Bob]

Feather control is an amazing thing. Chicken that have a heavy moult when it's hot suffer as badly, if not worse, than they do in the cold. Feather control allows them to organize their feathers when it's hot so that air will cilculate close to the skin while the outer layers prevent heat reachinng the skin. Dogs can do the same apparently.

I never considered that and find it fascinating. Thanks for that nugget!