Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

The rain won’t quit here! They are locked up and not happy about it!View attachment 2617709View attachment 2617708

Wow. That is a lot of rain.

 

[Ribh]

Note: that I think (is oxymoron funny). I raise chickens, but fly a Cessna SkyHawk? go figure.

Love the irony.

 

[Shadrach]

More Flockservations

Hattie
First of all, whatever was bothering Hattie that morning is cleared up. I am going to assume it was egg related and she got the egg out. I have seen no weird eggs of any kind. She is definitely back to her old self. I personally just have this unease now and I am sure that I am staring at her when I'm outside.

My grand lady looking fit
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I have noticed two things about Hattie over the last few months.

First: She no longer joins the scrum
If I put out some leftovers or other snacks out for the girls, Hattie no longer joins in the piranha-like feeding frenzy that occurs, with exceptions. She stands back and waits until things calm down or everyone grabs a piece and runs away with it before she approaches the snack. Lilly has exhibited this behavior as well since taking over as Alpha hen. As I said there exceptions to this behavior for certain kinds of food, say pasta. I would say about 90% of the time, she hangs back.

Secondly: She is enforcing her position more vigorously
Hattie used to be very laid back when it came to her relationship with others in the flock. I almost never saw her peck at anyone else. It is not often but it is happening. Now I see her actually pecking at others and even going after others with what seems the sole purpose of reminding them of their position. I have even seen her make Aurora, of all hens, bow down in submission. I cannot recall this ever happening before in all the time Hattie has been with me. In fact only Maleficent had ever made Aurora bow down before. Even after the big fight when Lilly tried, Aurora did not submit to her.

An Odd Pairing
At first blush it makes no sense. They are truly odd when viewed together. I will explain more in a minute.

I have said many times that my tribe tends to pair off as they go about their ranging. This is one of the reason I am a huge proponent of even numbered "hen only" tribes. Roosters change the equation. I tend to watch with interest who is paired up with whom. It used to be that they pretty much matched up in pecking order. As I watch what is going now though I do believe that pairing up in such a fashion wasn't really pecking order but based upon "siblings". Maleficent and Aurora were not hanging out together because they were 3 & 4 in the pecking but rather because they grew up together and thus were friends.

So what is the current odd pairing?

Aurora and Phyllis

That's right. Let me break down why I think this happening.

1. Phyllis is no threat to Aurora's position. This is leading to Aurora really not pecking at her unless Phyllis actually steals something from Aurora. Which Phyllis will do from time to time. No dominance displays are required.
2. Once the newbies arrived and Lilly dumped Hattie for Sansa. Hattie and Aurora had been the frequent pairing. After the big fight, the pairing dissolved. There was a lot of flux for a quite a while. With Hattie enforcing her position more now to the point of making Aurora bow down and submit, I think Aurora decided to look elsewhere for companionship.
3. When looking elsewhere, with Lilly and Sansa paired up, that left Sydney and Phyllis for Aurora to pair with. Aurora and Sydney as a combination might make some sense. They are very similar in their quest for food. They will both steal food from anyone. However, Aurora feels the need to dominate Sydney. Now Sydney is a quick submitter but I am sure that is not a lot of fun for Sydney. Whereas Hattie is not as dominating a hen. I think Sydney may have chosen Hattie herself. This leads me back to point 1.
4. Aurora and Phyllis are the weird looking hens. The odd balls. Between Phyllis' head of feathers and Aurora's beard and muffs, they just don't look like the others. Perhaps this is also playing some role.

The Odd Couple together
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Hattie and her new partner just hanging out on the porch.
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I've never seen any hen try to take on Fat Bird. I have seen competition for overall second in most tribe set ups I've had here.
Here it seems that seniority doesn't apply in all circumstances. I've seen Tackle try to usurp her mother Fudge; that was a bit of a scrap!
Nolia is the most senior now in Tribe 2, but for some reason Bracket takes an almost equal position except when it comes to treats.

 

[Shadrach]

Here comes trouble! Don't they look like they are up to nefarious plans?
This shot was from yesterday. And Naughty Girl Allele (ISA Brown...I think??) in fact did get up to some antics...she was perching on the top brace of the hammock stand this morning. It is at least 6 feet off the ground!

I think she used the run to launch from.

Adventurous little girl

Those two do look like they mean business. Great picture by the way.

 

[Scrambles83]

I will have children shortly but it is Friday here so just for you @BY Bob...
Ceres & Olivia.
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Love the frizzle fluff!
Like chicken bed hair

 

[Scrambles83]

It’s Friday!!
Time for fluffy butts

 

[Marie2020]

It's a good thing I don't have your address...there might be a case of chickidnapping

If we can share I'll help

 

[Marie2020]

It’s Friday!!
Time for fluffy butts

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I wish my lady's were this clean. They are such mucky girls

 

[Shadrach]

Fat Bird looking in lovely condition.

 

[Scrambles83]

I wish my lady's were this clean. They are such mucky girls

Snow has a tiny bit of stuff there but for a white chook, she does pretty well, that’s the first time it has happened.
When choosing her I didn’t think of poopy butt on white feathers