Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

But we don't. Have a look at the broad dictonary definitions. Many, not all, seperate humans from animals.
If you dig into the science then yes, humans get classified as an animal but in common usage the word animal does not include humans.

Ah, I see your point.
I am tempted to make a joke about 'common' usage (as someone who is the servant to a bunch of chicken-Princesses), but I won't go there.
Instead I will settle for quoting Midsummer Night's Dream: Lord what fools these mortals be

 

[Shadrach]

It has been our ascribing of special qualities for want of a better expression, or our ability to separate ourselves from the other species that are in part responsible for our atrocious treatment of them.


The justification, or excuse is often, although not usually explicit, “they’re just animals.”



If we accepted that in all probability we are an animal too without any special qualities then perhaps we might treat the other species differently. Of course, when confronted with the science some people, not all people by any means consciously accept we are animals then completely forget, dismiss, this at some other level of consciousness and carry on treating and believing that humans are in some way superior and have some kind of right to abuse the rest of the species and the environment they inhabit.

I cannot think of one skill the human race is so proud of that is not replicated to a higher standard in other species except perhaps language but already studies are suggesting that even this may not be true.

I’m going to pass my soap box over to Treacle now. I think he has a word or two (or should that be vocalisation. We wouldn’t want him talking now would we) to say on the subject.


Spose I better get some pics for tax now.

 

[BY Bob]

You are a great person Bob, don’t ever think otherwise! And understanding our own limitations is both precious, and hard earned. And the way we all find that point is hitting the “I could never do that again” point. Finding your own limits breaks you a little bit. Hopefully only a little bit. But they are things we need to find out on our own. (Or I might have been a Vet, myself)

But you were still there for them, and that difference was everything to them, I’m sure. That’s what really matters in the end.

Kris, thank you for saying this. You are very kind to do so. The knowledge is hard earned. I am certain that @LozzyR would agree.

 

[BY Bob]

I know this is an old post but did you put the cardboard in at night so the young hens can’t sleep in the nesting box and are kinda forced to roost?
I just put an extra roost in my prefab coop yesterday because Bok has decided to take up the whole original one now she is roosting again which meant the little ones spent the the night in the nesting boxes where she normally would be
Can you go out after dark and move them to the roost instead of blocking it off or will that not get them to learn what to do because I am doing it for them?

Bok and Lilly seem to have the same roost attitude. Lilly only does it randomly now but it used to be a regular thing. It was why I added the high roost. I thought the newbies would use it but Lilly took it over. That did leave the main roost for others.

 

[BY Bob]

I did see that later post, yes. I’m up to page 210 of nearly 3000 been lots of interesting stories, info and beautiful photos though, I’m enjoying reading it all.
Thanks so much for answering always good to know that it’s not only your chooks that act the way they do, that you’re doing anything ‘wrong’, it’s just their individual preferences

I'm glad you are enjoying our diary of our chicken lives. We are now over 2 years old!

 

[BY Bob]

Honestly that, and @Grammy60 wishing us a good day (and naming the day), is increasingly the only way I know what day of the week it actually is!

She has a real responsibility these days!

 

[BY Bob]

Would you apply the word flock to a group of humans?
The studies I would like to link to are on another hard drive which I can’t access at the moment. I will dig them up though when I’ve got the hard drive back.

However, if you do a search on the internet you can find a few studies of jungle fowl behaviour and domestic chickens that have since become feral populations.
https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/28/3/760/3057961

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_junglefowl

In brief, jungle fowl and feral chickens create a social structure much like humans. There is usually a senior male and a hen, sometimes two and up to a certain age, their offspring.

They live in small related family groups. In the jungles, each group has a defined territory which the cocks defend from other males. This is not flock creature behaviour.

There are a number of people here on BYC that have seen feral flocks, sourland who is observant has mentioned seeing small groups or tribes when visiting Hawaii. Others have mentioned the same including my daughter.

It’s a matter of reading what studies there are and making comparisons.

There is a vast amount of misinformation about chickens that gets repeated over and over again until it becomes an incorrect fact.

Let me illustrate this with a few examples.

The egg song which you have written about. People still call the escort call the egg song.
Chickens bath in dust to remove parasites. Even the wiki puts this one to rest
Hens stop laying eggs because they’re moulting. An old wives tale that still rattles around this forums and others as fact.
The correct ratio of roosters to hens is ten to one. It’s complete nonsense and the chickens ancestors usually had a one to one relationship.
Chickens can’t see in the dark. This isn’t true; they can see, but like many creatures they don’t see as well in the dark as they do in daylight.
Aggressive roosters produce aggressive cockerels. There is so much evidence that this isn’t true just on these forums that no more is needed.
Giving chicken cold water helps keep them cool. Basic biology shows this is wrong. It may help with a water based sweat system by providing moisture for the sweat glands to excrete but chickens don’t have sweat glands.

I could go on for quite a while…..


From my observations here, and all the various picture and posts I’ve made it should be apparent that I have groups, mainly related, each having their own territory. This is born out by a very few others here on BYC who keep free range chickens. Even with some of the more observant back yard keepers it is apparent that similar looking chickens, or related chickens tend to group together, much like humans.

It is true you can force every race and type into an enclosed space and in general everyone will rub along. Give chickens and humans the freedom to choose who they live with and where and you get groups with common cultural, common looks, or common family joining together.

It may well be an unpopular view but the evidence is there.

None of the above means these groups or tribes cannot and do not cooperate for the common good.
What it does mean is chickens left to their own devises are tribal creatures and not flock creatures.

So the term I have used my whole life, the one I was taught to use, is incorrect. This is not the first time this has happened.

I will attempt to alter my language and use the proper term. Please feel free to remind me if I do not.

Let's confirm the premise of my original post. It was my point, however unartfully stated, that chickens are social animals and do better with companions as compared to alone. Where you might find the odd instance of a chicken bonding with another creature the best situation is for there to be more than one chicken. (Even if that "friend" chicken is Aurora )

 

[BY Bob]

I wouldn't argue with you if you include all creatures, including humans under the broad banner of animals. Unfortunatley we don't.

I always have. 3 Categories: Animals, Plants, and Protozoa

 

[BY Bob]

So the term I have used my whole life, the one I was taught to use, is incorrect. This is not the first time this has happened.

I will attempt to alter my language and use the proper term. Please feel free to remind me if I do not.

Let's confirm the premise of my original post. It was my point, however unartfully stated, that chickens are social animals and do better with companions as compared to alone. Where you might find the odd instance of a chicken bonding with another creature the best situation is for there to be more than one chicken. (Even if that "friend" chicken is Aurora )

Chicken tax (who else)

 

[BY Bob]

Ok, so on MJ's thread, Bob asked to see a picture of me in mediaeval garb. This post is rather long so I've plonked it on Bob's thread, as he asked (plus I got myself confused as to which thread I should be on!) Anyway, mediaeval SCA photos from eons ago (ACM may be willing to share a couple too!). One of them is rather obviously "buxom"; I will hide it under a spoiler. I've included some general ones so that you get the idea. (I've scanned them in so the quality isn't necessarily that great). I sewed most of my costumes myself.

Some of (a very young) me:

Spoiler: Warning - buxomness ahead! :)

View attachment 2485987

And of course, the obligatory chicken tax.

First, thanks for being willing to share these. Sadly only the spoiler showed up here. It looks like you had a great costume. I can only imagine how much you enjoyed it. Did you act in school plays? I would assume that there is a bit of an actor inside you.

Chicken tax