In the meantime, I just fed the chooks some chopped up tri tip steak 
. They loved it 
. They loved it 
Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock
- Thread starter BY Bob
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I would be too. That much communication is exhausting, even more so when it's online.
You've reminded me of that story about the author who was in a permanent writing frenzy, utterly prolific output. Some time and motion specialist wanted to study him and was allowed to be in the room and take observations. The author spent most of every day lying down on his sofa in the living room then typing for 2-3 hours every afternoon. The time and motion person wondered why he didn't type all day because he'd publish even more books that way, right?
Wrong. Lying down was the work. That's when the author was doing all his thinking about plot, character, dialogue etc. Because of the lying down, he was able to be prolific.
Sometimes thinking doesn't look like work.
I was doing just that last night
I love tri tip myself but, so even at my advanced age, I am able to chew it myself.
Exactly!
Okay kids, I’m off to Colorado. My friend is here to watch my home and my chooks. Ps. Perfect weather for flight tonight!
Yes I like 2 and 3, love the looking up. Very behind, I wonder which one is the most popular?
I was thinking Hazel is top hen but now I'm thinking she's second, and Peanut is top of the pecking order, and Hazel is her enforcer, or at least fiercely defending her #2 spot. So I think it is
Peanut
Hazel
Butters
Popcorn
Two things in support of Peanut as top hen lately: the dustbathing session I described, where Hazel, standing outside the pool, pecked Popcorn out. Popcorn made three attempts and Hazel did not let up until Popcorn gave up for the time being and went away. But Hazel let Peanut go in and start bathing untroubled. And Hazel kept everyone else out for awhile, Butters too, until Hazel herself got going with the dustbath.
Second is today, it became pretty clear when I was offering everyone dandelion leaves held in my fingers. It was in one bunch this time. Hazel was eating some, and Peanut came over. Hazel stopped and let Peanut tear off a piece of leaf. She was watching her. Then Hazel tore off one herself. Peanut was ready for another and Hazel held back again until Peanut had gotten a piece of leaf. It seemed that Hazel ate in between Peanut. Peanut did not make Hazel leave, either. But Peanut had priority on the dandelions.
Often, the three - Hazel, Butters and Popcorn, all try to go at the leaves at once, with Popcorn getting eased out. So then I make two bunches and use two hands so Popcorn gets some. Two hens on a bunch works, but Popcorn is easily pushed aside, not even pushed, more like intimidated - she just defers a lot. So I will tear off pieces and offer those to Popcorn, who is now off to the side, or show her the bunch first.
Popcorn was eating the calcium mash balls I brought out. It's in a square cat food dish and there's plenty of room to eat from four sides. Hazel came over, and Popcorn stepped away, but she circled around. Hazel ate a few and left. Popcorn came back and resumed eating. Butters came over and Popcorn stepped away again. Butters ate one and left. Popcorn came back around again. (Peanut was nearby under the lilac bush, digging away, totally uninterested.) The way Popcorn laid hungrily into the mash balls I wondered if she is not getting to the pellets as much as she wants. Or maybe just today she was really into it. But it's clear I will offer them in two dishes. And I can get another pellet feeder for the small coop run (they have the run of that in the early morning until I get up and let them into the larger run, and I bring a second feeder out too). No one will share an eating space with Popcorn? She is not comfortable being that close to them? This is sad. I did see Butters and Popcorn forage and dig together today, so it's not all isolation for her.
Last observations - Hazel's leg fluff has been a bit strange looking, kind of disheveled, I think she is molting some. Today I sat with Popcorn who was all by herself in the greenhouse run; the others were nearby foraging around it. She was preening, straightening and oiling and zipping her feathers, and she pulled out several fluff underfeathers in this process. She is molting too.
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- #57,249
Better you than me.
Yes, I was envisioning a door that locked once it was shut. The Ador sounds really good. Did you say you use a timer or a solar sensor?A door that closes by gravity only could easily be pushed up by a predator. I believe it takes 20lbs of upward force to open the Ador once it is closed. The Ador uses almost no force when closing so it could not push through a chicken but what it does do is lock in place when closed.
Perhaps I will shoot a video of it closing on my hand......
Sadly the automated door is way more reliable than me, especially in the winter when I can be in meetings way past sunset. It always closes. Whereas I have been known to forget or just plain been late.
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