Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Hen at Work

Here's a short video of Aurora watching over the tribe. Right after I stopped filming she went and chased Hattie off the apple they have all been pecking at. That sing song speech is Sansa. She was chatting away today while they were out.

Love the leaf rustling. My tribe has already broken the leaves (unless the wind snitched them) into quarter to half inch pieces....all of them...

 

[rural mouse]

Had a scare tonight (down into single digits F tonight: @ -14C). (Crystal clear skies, too) Got home from work, already mostly dark, sent kid out to close coop.....kid comes back: "the crested one is missing." layer up, grab flashlight, head out. She's hunkered down next to the solar powered motion spot light on open ground (less than 10 feet from the hatch). Breathing, cold, tucked her inside my wrap with me. Back into coop. Waterer has liquid water in it (iced top/sides), but nipples are frozen. Kid takes it in to thaw/refill. I'm standing in coop, most of flock on roosts/tucked into nest boxes, Thing in arms. She's quiet (dark, cold, combo?) Tucked head inside against my shoulder and settled in to perch on my arm under her (helping warm her feet). (Major cuddles NEVER happen). Took advantage to check combs. Jessica busy settling her feathers (and trying to burrow her head under Cheetah, who's firmly trying to sleep). Nellie has the biggest comb, followed by Blanche and Splash. No one willing to tolerate that kind of inspection (normal for them and seem fine) Number of tucked/burrowed heads into feathers went up dramatically (had been 1-2) now more than half, including Twirp with the only pea comb, but none of the rose comb birds. Water came back. Set Thing down, placed water back in spot, lowered lamp. Thing went for food first, not water, and was feeling toasty warm against me. Coldest night yet this year. Tomorrow, coop will stay closed (checking water) until temps up into teens, likely close early too. currently, all present and accounted for, fluffed up to double sized, and sleeping. (Storm now 20 weeks, no eggs yet but not expecting with the cold, and perched on roost not in nest box like normal)
Castor also tucked up in his house. Tried putting his food dish inside.....NO! Must keep at least 1 foot outside on the ground to eat. (Silly cat)

 

[fuentemoon]

Some late fluffy butts, can't remember when they were both clean, hooray for fresh feathers!

 

[micstrachan]

Thought you guys might like this article from the home page.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...prove-chicken-diets.77197/#ams-comment-521309

 

[micstrachan]

There has been a Change in Environment

Ever since the hawk attack and the video I took of the hawk hunting in the trumpet vine, the song birds were non-existant here. I did not see one.

This morning they are back in force. The yard is full of them again.

Does this mean the hawk has moved on? I wonder.

Oh, I sure hope so!

 

[micstrachan]

Happy Fluffy Butt Friday everyone. While she does not have the fluffiest butt on the place, today I'm honoring Butter. She's on the other side of her crazy molt and honestly looks the best she has since her injury back in April. The rate she's going I feel she'll be completely done by the first week of January.
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Butter looks fantastic! Yay!

 

[micstrachan]

So then what? You have a kitchen bowl full of oily mice. What do you do next?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[micstrachan]

No idea. Suggestions welcome!

It’s an alert call. When one of my hens does this, everyone else stands perfectly still.

 

[micstrachan]

I do build coops big enough to keep them locked in if needed either because of a blizzard or temperatures well below zero. These same coops provide safe and dry places during tropical storms and hurricanes that come by every so often.

I do this because the climate where I live includes both extreme heat and cold as well as the periodical big storm.

I will also note that after the recent hawk attacks the tribe spent a large portion of their time not out in their run but rather safely in their large coop which I built for them. It provided them with lots of room and somewhere they felt safe.

I will also note that even in extreme cold you will not find my tribe huddled together. They would rather be cold than appear to like each other.

OR

They are comfortable in their big coop and don't feel the need to huddle to stay warm.

My coop has a decent amount of volume, since it’s tall (I can stand up inside the lower level and stand ducked in the upper level.) But the amount of floor space is small for hanging out in for extended periods of time. I don’t understand why they do this even when I’ve covered a long side of the fun with plastic. Unfortunately, the overhead tarp can flap a bit when it’s windy, but I thought they were used to it by now.

 

[micstrachan]

Evidence of a Switch in the Order

I have stated previously that there has clearly been a change in the pecking order. When hanging with the ladies this morning I managed to catch a piece of evidence thatdemonstrates the change. In the video below Hattie and Lilly are eating corn from my hand when Aurora comes over. All 3 eat together for a bit and then Aurora pulls back and growls. Hattie backs out and walks away. Aurora then resumes eating with Lilly.

Hattie was not done eating corn. She would come back for more as soon as Aurora left.

I am loving that you are posting more videos!