Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Coulda, shoulda, shoulda, won’t bring the beautiful Beetov-Hen back to me.
I really miss my friend tax:
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[ChicoryBlue]

Can It Possibly be True? Am I Really Seeing This?!

After everything the tribe here at FBA has been through over the past several months I have been so afraid that this integration of Betty and Phyllis would go sideways on us. So much so I almost turned her down when Betty was offered to me. Well guess what I just saw on the camera........

@Ribh @micstrachan @MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum @ChicoryBlue @LozzyR @Chicken poppy

Yup it is true. Phyllis got a little extra alert when Betty took a few steps that way, but Betty knew what she could do and Phyllis settled right down. All good signs!

 

[featherhead007]

Rocks-Anne really stuck close to me today. I would sit outside, and she’d come across the yard, stare right up at me, scratch the ground and lightly peck my arm or leg “come on daddy, pick me up already!” So I did, FOUR times today. I even brought her into the house for a quick nap. (1 hour).
She’s a good hen. She has befriended Hen-Rietta and stays close to her (she’s the late Beetov-Hens sister. My other Brown Leghorn from the same hatch)

 

[BY Bob]

Truth be told, it was before Mal I stopped and switched to the current postings at the time, I think because I had skipped ahead some, and came upon the post, or a post referencing her death, and I read all those posts around it, and it was so sad, I couldn't deal with going back to the prior FBA postings knowing her death was coming up. But that left out all the news about everyone else too. I want to know all the histories at some point - the other thread participants posting Blasts From The Past is helpful - but such was her impact on you, Mal's death just got to me too, even though I didn't know her, or just barely knew her. It felt devastating. I know it was a hundred times worse for you.

It is nice to know that I am able to convey my feelings through these posts. I am pleased and more than a little surprised that everyone wants to take this journey with me. The highs and the lows. I am surprised that you avoided that portion of the story, maybe a little pleased, and perhaps a little sad that I created something you wished to avoid.

More than anything, I'm grateful that you told me. It helps to give meaning to this journey that I'm trying to share with you all.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Interesting idea but how would I collect someone from the other side of it if I needed to do so. I would have no access.

Oh, you don't want to block off the whole area, just put a little barrier from floor to ceiling in the middle so they have something to run around.
I remember long ago in self defense class being told to try to get something between you and an attacker if you can't get away, like a tree or car or piece of furniture. It blocks them from going directly at you.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

In Memorium

2 years ago today I buried one of my best friends. I will never forget her. I have have been lucky enough to have some very special chickens over the years and Maleficent was one of the best. Her death to an unknown predator while I was sick will forever rest on my conscience. Rest in peace my friend.

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@Ribh, @micstrachan, @MaryJanet, @Aussie-Chookmum, @ChicoryBlue, @LozzyR, @Chicken poppy

Darling Mal.

So very very fast. So many have come and gone in the last two years. It is almost overwhelming to think about it.

More hugs.

 

[BY Bob]

This tag worked! Thanks for the update!

Hooray!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Hattie and Betty Meet

Hattie and Betty just had a "get to know each other" moment at the door a few minutes ago. It seemed to go very well.

It really did look like it went well. No flying up against the wire or anything violent. They both looked very interested in each other, pecking at the edges of the door and pacing back and forth.
Very promising.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Roosting Time

Well it is one thing to roost together and preen. It is another thing completely to sleep together. The following video is 7 minutes long and it shows Betty roosting tonight. The end result is good but the process to get there is definitely the Fluffy Butt Acres way.

I'm sure you noted after watching the video that Phyllis acted the first time Betty roosted when Betty started edging down the roost towards her. Well Betty is certainly determined to roost close to Phyllis. Here is the final position after another 20 minutes went by. Betty just kept slowly edging down the roost towards Phyllis until she was about half way down. This is very encouraging.

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@Ribh @micstrachan @MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum @ChicoryBlue @LozzyR @Chicken poppy

Yes, I think this is looking very good, and Betty is showing good determination and is slowly seducing Phyllis into letting her be a roosting and sleeping companion. Phyllis is actually accommodating her rather quickly, wouldn't you say? She's not setting any really hard lines.
Thinking about a chickens' prime directive of safety and not just pecking order, or that pecking order is also a function of safety? Sleeping, the most vulnerable time for a chicken, would be the final life area Phyllis or any chicken might feel in her gut that she has to make at least a little effort against potential danger? It's getting dark, she is seeing less and less well, a disturbance to the settled order of things has been going on, and this stranger she just met is hanging about and even creeping up on her. It's a lot to get used to!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It is. Betty keeps banging the hardware cloth for some reason.

Well you haven't supplied her with a metal mug to drag along the bars Bob. What's a girl to do?