Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I'll be using bales of straw and tree stumps to make a ladder up to the new roost. I think the older hens feel nervous about hopping from perch to perch to get down, so I'm going to provide very wide and stable surfaces for them to use.

This is an excellent idea.

 

[RoyalChick]

Frigid Ranging

The wind is still howling so despite temperatures in the high 30s it was brutally cold outside. However, because of Lilly and my job, it has been 3 days since the tribe got free range so I bundled up and let them out for 2 hours.

Interesting item number 1: One tough frizzle. Only Betty the frizzle, stayed out the entire time.

Interesting item number 2: Lilly comes out. Lilly jogged out and stayed out for 5 minutes before packing it in.

Interesting item number 3: Betty split her time in thirds. One third with Phyllis, one third with the big girls, Hattie and Aurora, and one third alone (mostly because everyone else went in). She assiduously avoided Sydney at all times.

Here she is with Phyllis.

And working the wood pile with Aurora
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Interesting item number 4: Hattie's behavior. Hattie did not come out at first. She watched everyone from the porch.

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Hattie did come out once Lilly went in. She wanted a couple of walnuts. Lilly must have said something to her.
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Surprisingly, at one point, Hattie sprinted over to Sydney and forced her to bow down and submit. I don't know if Sydney was eyeballing her or what. I missed the reason for the behavior and my hands were too numb to work the camera on the phone to catch a picture.

After maybe 10 minutes out, Hattie went back in and sat in the doorway to watch everyone else.
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Interesting item number 5: In and out. Sydney and Aurora did not stay out the entire time, rather they would be out for a while and then run back in the coop to warm up. After a bit, back out they would come. They did this at least 4 times.

Interesting item number 6: Tortured Aurora. Betty did not want to go back in. So after everyone else went in her and I walked around the yard. This drove poor Aurora crazy. She was certain that at some point I would sneak special food to Betty and she would get none. So Aurora paced the porch. Not wanting to come out but watching just in case I had some secret treat for Betty. She even came part way out once when I removed my hand from my pocket and she was certain the moment for secret treats was at hand.

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

Fascinating. Betty is clearly building alliances.
That shot of Hattie in the doorway is lovely.

 

[micstrachan]

I'll be using bales of straw and tree stumps to make a ladder up to the new roost. I think the older hens feel nervous about hopping from perch to perch to get down, so I'm going to provide very wide and stable surfaces for them to use.

I love this idea.

 

[featherhead007]

Non chicken related. My brother just called me, yay, and he said that he was going to take a few days off work next week, and would love to see me. So I’m setting up to fly to Seattle next week. Maybe we will be cruising around on the yacht. (I kinda hope so) ! I haven’t seen him or his family in a while.
OT tax:

 

[RoyalChick]

Mine are around 4 feet.

Mine too. The bigger ladies walk down the ladder. The Roadrunners fly.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh, look! Lucky moved to Ruby’s old spot!

Sorry, the lighting is quite low so it’s very blurry.

 

[micstrachan]

Non chicken related. My brother just called me, yay, and he said that he was going to take a few days off work next week, and would love to see me. So I’m setting up to fly to Seattle next week. Maybe we will be cruising around on the yacht. (I kinda hope so) ! I haven’t seen him or his family in a while.
OT tax: View attachment 2998235

That sounds really lovely, Alex. Enjoy your family time.

 

[MaryJanet]

I love this idea.

I'm hoping Mary and Janet love it too. I'd like to think they feel safe as they climb down each morning.

 

[RoyalChick]

The thing is they don't use them to get down though do they? They fly or jump down.

Mine use their ladder to get down. Not the flying ones but Maggie and Diana.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

It is next to impossible to get a good picture through the viewing window. She is finally sleeping, spent most of the day walking around. She is very strong and can already stand upright and walk properly.