Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

They are a legit charity, there is a Aust. government website where you can look up whether they are allowed to receive charitable gifts or not, and they are.

Good. I feel better giving.

 

[BY Bob]

View attachment 2525369View attachment 2525398
Edited to compare the images better, Daisy, the Greatest Hen Ever, was a beauty! She looks so fetching!

I wasn't sure what you were going after but Mrs BY Bob got it right away!

The likeness is striking!

 

[BY Bob]

Roosting mystery solved
I think I have figured out why Minnie and at least once, Dotty, roosted all alone.
Apologies in advance for the long videos.
It all starts with Dotty stuck on the end and Minnie not giving up her spot. Until she realizes what being next to Maggie means in practice and she escapes. Dotty is not content just to win the spot she was looking for, but feels the need to drive Minnie away entirely.

But Minnie returns

Now roles are reversed and Minnie drives Dotty off the roost.

Rinse and repeat. This happened multiple times like shuffling cards in a deck. Either Minnie or Dotty would drive the other off based on who was on the end.

And then for no reason ... ...

Awwww.View attachment 2525531

Roosting time is never simple. I thought a longer view of roosting might give you some insights. Your ladies are working out their own little pecking order. It's not as vicious as mine but thats what is going on. It does not look like either wants to give in to the other. This will be fun for some time I bet.

 

[BY Bob]

Ummm... did everyone see that @Aussie-Chookmum ’s Alice won the molting contest??? Congratulations!!!

My Ester tied for third, too!

I did not notice. That is just awesome! We are surely well represented! Way to go team!

 

[BY Bob]

They’re all just so cute, Bob.

Their hatred of snow is real. Their no other way to say it.

 

[BY Bob]

Caught up! Now I have to share that I am worried about Ester. She dropped one shell-less egg from the roost and has only laid a couple eggs since. I did find one broken, thin shelled egg, so I’m hoping someone is just eating them. However, I know I’m probably fooling myself. I’ve been supplementing calcium here and there. As you know, Ester is fresh out of molt. That combined with rapidly increasing daylight hours makes a cease in laying all the more worrisome.

I just snuck into the coop with a headlamp and offered baby bird formula with crushed calcium citrate. The three 1.75-year-olds were all roosting together and shared in the treat. This worked well, since Dorothy also has egg shell issues at times and Minnie, who has been laying lots without a break, may also have depleted calcium stores. They are all on half layer, half finisher with oyster shell on the side. They’ve been having fermented feed for over a month, and we’re taking a break from that effective tomorrow in case that’s causing any issues.

In happy news, Flash laid another blue egg today (in the sun room). Sunny was investigating egg boxes this morning, but still has not laid. It would be neat if her eggs turn out to be green!

This is another dual post. Concerned and happy at the same time. Hopefully Esther just needs to recover from her trials growing new feathers. I know hope is no strategy but it is all I can do from here.

 

[BY Bob]

Try this shop mate

https://www.liltreasures.com.au/royal-worcester-wrendale-curious-hen-mug.html

Maybe we could make this the official mug of our group?

You don't mind us all having the same do you?

 

[BY Bob]

I love this! I’m going to buy a little hoop this weekend, Belle is so food orientated that I think it will work
If not, my daughter (also a Violet like you chicken ) has a new hula hoop

Videos will be required now!

 

[BY Bob]

Hahaha, yep. I’m finally up to where I joined back in early Jan
Next will be MJ’s thread where I originally was and found this thread via that!

Great job! That took some dedication!

 

[BY Bob]

SHRA


View attachment 2525796

Wonderful photo!