Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I haven't been chipping in to this chat because at my house there are three hens in an egalitarian pecking circle and Ivy who is pecked by all three.

However, after living with each other for two years now, pecking rights are rarely exercised. They get along with a lot of camaraderie and very little pecking.

What a wonderful tribe you have. ❤

 

[rural mouse]

Ahh...but do you know about summer & winter air? Gotta make sure you have the correct season's air in the tires, don't you know! (Hubby teaches forestry & landscaping..has had kids getting 'buckets of steam', changing out the winter air in tires, trying to replace blinker fluid, and searching the other voc. programs for who has the shelf stretcher on April Fools day!) I'll have to tell him about the muffler bearings & 710 Cap!!

Don't forget the warp remover or 50 feet of chow line.

 

[rural mouse]

See! It works

That's on the pedals not on my feet.

 

[LozzyR]

Like this

View attachment 2893665

Why do you permit your chickens to smoke?

 

[BY Bob]

That is what I'm led to believe. Unfortunately very few studies over a long enough period of time have been done.
My observations over ten years is pretty unusual. My Finish friend has excelllent documentation on his tribes. There is anothe guy in Aus who has a multi tribe set up who has fallen off the grid about the same time as I left Spain. I hope he's okay.
Unfortunately those who do have knowledge in this area are often not English speakers. I have tried in the past to get a couple of very knowledgeable people from Spain to join BYC but they hated the site.

That is very disappointing.

 

[MaryJanet]

What a wonderful tribe you have. ❤

I'm very lucky

 

[BY Bob]

Sylvie IS her little sister, isn’t she?

In just about every way, that seems to describe their relationship. It is super adorable.

 

[BY Bob]

Lovely fluffy butts.. Except poor Sansa.....hopefully her molt is turning 'round and she will soon be on the home stretch.

Phyllis:
I've got wings, I know how to use them
.............................
I never beg, I know how to choose them
I'm his baby, I'm his baby,
yeah, I'm alright!

Excellent post!

 

[BY Bob]

Hopefully that will change once they get size to them and/or start laying, though.....they are SO much smaller than the others, and had no 'Mom' to introduce them to the 'flock' and protect them like they would have in a natural setting.

My experience with broodies/chicks: Momma protects them and introduces them to flock (things are essentially fine...a few hens might go after the chicks if they get separated now & then, but Momma will charge & defend. Then once momma 'abandons' them, they are mostly fine until they hit 'adolescent stage'. They know, as youngsters, to not challenge the adults and stay with the flock, but a bit to the side so to speak...though some hens will let them cluster around, eat treats, etc without bothering them. At this point - the hitting adolescent stage - there seems to be some chasing & pecking...especially at roost time...but I think that is has to do with them reaching adult world and essentially establishing their place in the heirarchy.....and it definitely settles down once the girls start laying. (same with the boys, too...only it seems that the hens stop 'picking' on them sooner...maybe when they have reached sexual maturity...as it is always after they start expressing their 'Rooster' desires.)

I don't by any means have scientific evidence...just this observational/anecdotal evidence...but with 1 exception, (i.e. 1 chick), this has been the case with all of the broody hatched &/or chicks 'imported' and given to a broody...

This was my experience with Ned and Lucky. I wish that Phyllis had been able to raise them. Things would have been so much better. Alas, that did not work out.

 

[BY Bob]

Why do you permit your chickens to smoke?

They are free to make their own choices. Even if they make bad ones.