Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[fuentemoon]

100% Hatch Rate

Hey there, @CrazyChookChookLady , Stanley fought his way past Goldie's defense. The third egg hatched! Sydney has them out and about. Watch the video closely and you can see the third chick staying under her. Oh my gosh I can't stand it! So special!

Whew, I think I can go to bed now

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Coop entry order last night: Butters, Hazel, Queenie! Peanut, Popcorn

I got some nice video and did create a channel on YouTube but that's as far as I've gotten.

Yesterday morning Queenie got right in next to three Buckeyes at one food dish with a few bites before being driven off by somebody.

After eating their Wheaties breakfast they started bullying Queenie, but the intensity was way lower. No driving her head to the ground. It was more body blocking and general pecking. They went after Queenie in tag teams, in pairs generally: Peanut and Hazel, Peanut and Popcorn, Hazel and Popcorn. Notice Butters is not named. Peanut and Popcorn seemed to have the biggest axe to grind. I saw Hazel give Queenie a look once - and I could hear a short low raspy Bok - and Queenie immediately tipped her head down and stepped away.

Very interestingly, Butters did not peck Queenie at all that I saw yesterday. She was never in a pestering pair. She sometimes joined a run in a group chasing Queenie, but didn't participate beyond that. Keeping track of where each was, I noticed that in getting away from a bullying pair Queenie ran down to under the coop where Butters had been hanging out and stood by her on her far side. The bullying hadn't pursued her down there. Butters made no move toward her, and they both stood still with heads up.

It was damp and cold here yesterday, low 20's. Queenie seemed cold after breakfast. She got halfway up the coop ladder as if she wanted to go back in. She stood there and fluffed her feathers and tucked her neck in some. That lasted a couple of minutes, then she got down and acted normally. A possible problem?

She may have gone in at some point, because I left to get myself breakfast, and when I turned around to look out the window I saw Queenie come flying down the coop ladder with a Buckeye after her.

Queenie sorted through the oyster shell bowl for a little while yesterday too. The Buckeyes investigate it now and then, but hardly do that. I couldn't tell if she was eating any, but she was certainly testing them - chomping them in her beak. She might have eaten the little pieces. She also definitely ate some granite grit of all sizes from the bowl next to it.

Today they got some treats about an hour before roosting time, and Queenie had absolutely no interest. Another potential problem? She hung out preening under the coop while there was a feeding frenzy in the tall run, Popcorn jumping onto my lap as I doled out peanut pieces one by one. Queenie also sat down for a couple of minutes too, pecking a bit around her and fixing her neck and chest feathers. I was concerned a bit. Then I wondered if she was nesting there. It was so late in the day though. Then she stood up and whatever it was passed.

I saw Hazel and Queenie standing next to each other very peacefully prior to roosting, and then a bit later Queenie was standing next to Peanut on the log. Or given how they roosted, Peanut standing next to Queenie? All peace on the pecking front at that time. Generally preening.

I set up my stool at the entrance to the low run, then later moved to the halfway point so I could see who was who (due to Queenie's human face rock climbing incident I am now using my old single-vision and now computer glasses which don't work too well for distance or very close).

Butters went to roost first, and she was first to make the roosting wail. Hazel followed her. I think they both went to the back right side (the pop door is on the left front) as they were not visible in there. Butters came out once or twice, then went back in. I never saw Hazel after she went in, she stayed.

Peanut left the log to go roost, and Butters followed her as soon as she got to the area below the coop. Peanut jumped up on the perch near the pop door. Popcorn drummed on the bucket, then stood at the bottom of the ladder but kind of dithered there, standing sideways to it.

Queenie went over next to the ladder and "yawned" three times (or adjusted her crop? A potential problem? I am going to check her crop this morning). She tried to step up on the ladder but she was facing the side tube at chest height; she wasn't close enough to the bottom. It looked like she was trying not to disturb Popcorn who was facing away but not budging from her spot at the foot.

Queenie lifted one leg and then the other, but she couldn't lift them high enough and was just getting her feet on the slippery side tube. I could hear a toe scraping off the textured step cover. Then she abruptly stepped in and rotated enough to jump and beat her wings once to get up midway. Popcorn took a few steps away, and walked over to the bucket to drum on it a little.

Queenie ended up a little below and next to Peanut who was still on the perch left side, looking in the pop door. She paused a bit; Peanut didn't bother her, she even moved her left foot in some like making room. Queenie then flew/jumped right to the top step! Paused again bobbing her head looking, then stepped onto the threshold, and kept going. She went to the back left corner. Peanut immediately went right in after her, and then Popcorn jumped up and went in. They were waiting on Queenie. Wowee.

Yesterday morning I saw Queenie's head right near the door opening as it opened, but then somebody else pushed by her, then another, and another, then Queenie came out, then the last Buckeye. I couldn't tell who came out in what order except Queenie. This morning it was again Queenie third but I got the order: Peanut, Hazel, Popcorn, Queenie, and Butters last.

They are very detailed and interesting observations Chicory. ❤

Queenie seems to be fitting in really well. Congratulations!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I missed Monday here, but better late than never!

Mugshot (Tuesday)

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I remembered...
Monday mug:
Olivia.
View attachment 2475679​

You had me going for a moment there!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Roostie update:

Well, I feel like a complete failure. It has now been a month, and no pigeon medications have been received in the mail. I just finished my tele-health appointment and I couldn’t get a prescription to save my life. I probably got bad luck of the draw, and I could understand if I was angling for narcotics, ADHD meds, or sleep aids. The Dr wanted me to attach a photo of my abscess, which would be fine if it was flaring up or actually there. My friend is going to give it a go for me maybe tomorrow.

At this rate I can honestly say I’ve spent more than I would have at a Vet, if only I could get one. Roostie has been more active lately, and even got some mating in yesterday, but getting the Baytril into him is a real struggle. I have never hoped for getting a bacterial infection myself before, or for that annoying abscess to flare up. I’m afraid I may need to cull him if his quality of life goes down or the infection continues to worsen.

It's so frustrating when a much wanted package doesn't arrive.

When did you order it Kris? A package from Europe that was mailed at the end of October just arrived at my door step today, so perhaps there is still hope.

Hugs to you and Roostie.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I originally chose for them a nice big area in a corner of the run and dug it out, and put in diatomaceous earth, wood ashes from the campfire, sand, pine mulch and of course dirt.
Well, the girls turned their beaks up at my dust bath and proceeded to dig out two or three areas of their own choosing.
In fact, at this point, they have dug areas out all over the run.

Except for that one corner right?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

We just need to tag team sometimes! Sometimes it just takes multiple perspectives to transfer the information.

It's funny, I have been so sick that I have not even seen the ladies for days. It got warm today and I am finally feeling a little better so I went out with some walnuts and sat on the deck. 4 of them gathered around me. Hattie stood off and Phyllis waited to jump in. Once I brought out the walnuts it was pandemonium. I actually think that Sydney got more than Aurora. I had a terrible time getting any of them to Phyllis.

After the frenzy was over, I was wistful. This time last year I had my crew trained to take turns with treats. The 4 would arrange themselves and as I called their name they would each take their piece. That group included Aurora!

I have to take some blame that I have not trained them but 6 just seems to be a lot more to handle than 4.

I'm glad you are feeling a little better Bob. (socially distanced hugs )

I'm sure you could train 6 once you are feeling up to it. I have faith in you!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I am also *this* close to looking one up, booking an appointment for my “cockatoo” And showing up. Any decent vet should care enough about animals to treat one that is in pain... regardless of species discrimination. Avian vets? Sure... see my chicken? Hard no!

I can see you turning up at the vet clinic.

Vet: " Where's the cockatoo?"

Kris: "Cockatoo? I said cockerel!"

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

You might want to consider changing that number to 4. @BY Bob believes in keeping numbers even. For myself I prefer if every new hen I get starts out with a running partner no matter what friendships emerge later.

..... I smell enabling.....

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Tsuki is doing her Gandalf impersonation again. She has been at the coop door repelling all boarders for the last hour.

It's quieted down now as it's getting darker. Hopefully the younger girls managed to sneak in under cover of darkness.