Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Try adding vodka.

Doesn’t Alex not drink alcohol?

 

[micstrachan]

They are works of art. Don't stop! You are very good at it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks, Bob! Happy Thanksgiving to you!

 

[micstrachan]

I’m a little late with my Monday Mugshots of Kiko & Gizmo… I’d like to blame it on “Hawaiian time”
View attachment 2907146
View attachment 2907145

Spectacular mugshots! You should enter them into POW!

 

[RoyalChick]

Wow! That is worse than Aurora!

If you're going to solve this it will help if we can figure out why she would do this. Why does she care where Dotty lays her egg?

Is it......

• Dominance?
• Her personal nest?
• A bad day?
• What else? Anyone else have an idea?

I have seen Phyllis and Sydney run off but it always happened when others wish to lay. It was never you can't lay here, ever.

I would suggest other nesting areas. Dotty is going to lay that egg. She will just choose somewhere else on her own and you may not be able to find it.

It is definitely not Maggie’s personal nest. She likes top right not bottom left.
I think dominance is a possibility. Dotty is challenging me and I think may have tried challenging Maggie. So this may be about teaching her not to do that. But it was very persistent and very associated with the nest box. In between they were just as normal.
Maggie is likely having a bad day. She lost a lot of feathers over the last few days and it has turned cold and windy.
The only other change is that Diana randomly laid in ‘Maggie’s box’ the other day. So maybe Maggie feels threatened and is taking it out on the next chicken down. But I am not sure Maggie would even know Diana laid in her nest because she isn’t going in to check.
I will see what the cameras pick up tomorrow. Meanwhile I will dig up the lidded cat litter box (I think it is in the garage with the snow shoes!!) so I can supply a new nest box at short notice.

 

[RoyalChick]

Hi folks. My son is home for Thanksgiving and I’m busy with food prep, etc, but wanted to check in. Sunshine was feeling eggy this morning, as if she’s coming back into lay. However, there was no egg and tonight she does not feel well. I popped a calcium citrate plus D3 and will evaluate in the morning.

Here is my third (and probably final) fall flower arrangement. It’s such a frivolous expense, but I can’t help myself. They add warmth to the home and make me happy.

View attachment 2907541View attachment 2907542

Wow. They are gorgeous.

 

[BY Bob]

It is definitely not Maggie’s personal nest. She likes top right not bottom left.
I think dominance is a possibility. Dotty is challenging me and I think may have tried challenging Maggie. So this may be about teaching her not to do that. But it was very persistent and very associated with the nest box. In between they were just as normal.
Maggie is likely having a bad day. She lost a lot of feathers over the last few days and it has turned cold and windy.
The only other change is that Diana randomly laid in ‘Maggie’s box’ the other day. So maybe Maggie feels threatened and is taking it out on the next chicken down. But I am not sure Maggie would even know Diana laid in her nest because she isn’t going in to check.
I will see what the cameras pick up tomorrow. Meanwhile I will dig up the lidded cat litter box (I think it is in the garage with the snow shoes!!) so I can supply a new nest box at short notice.

This seems a prudent plan. Let's hope it's just a bad day and you don't need another nest box.

 

[BY Bob]

That’s super sweet. But poor Hattie.

Bridge is still Boss Bird, but she has not had a good friend since Margo and Bagheera died. She tolerates Flo quite well and sometimes I see her hanging with Lucky or Little Mill (Ruby’s bestie), but no super tight bonds like Ruby and Little Mill had or like Bridge had with her first flock.

It's hard when they lose their friends like that. You want them all to have those special friends.

 

[BY Bob]

Doesn’t Alex not drink alcohol?

Oops!

 

[RoyalChick]

I can't believe yours are still laying. Mine dried up over a month ago.

That egg is ugly though.

They are not laying much. I have had one Roadrunner egg (Dotty’s) since September. Maggie is on a 10-12 day schedule. Diana has slowed to one every 3-4 days. She can’t help herself poor dear.

 

[featherhead007]

Doesn’t Alex not drink alcohol?

I don’t drink alcoholic beverages But I got Bob’s joke about it!