Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Got a FB from Ash
View attachment 3223519

Spectacular! It is everything I hoped for.

 

[rural mouse]

Battle at the Top
I suppose this was inevitable. I may have spoken too soon.

Well I think we have learned who leads the Rascals. Little Glynda just attacked Aurora. there was a pause and I was able to get the camera running and grabbed the finale. Rest assured, Glynda started it. it seems that Aurora ended it.

Right after I stopped filming, Glynda looked at Hattie wrong and got stood on for her troubles.

Aurora is still squawking mad because she was challenged. She took that out on Hattie a few minutes ago. Aurora is walking around the yard squawking still.

Velvet glove covering iron fist queen?

 

[bgmathteach]

How deep do you want your sand?

Sand about 3" deep, with hay/straw on top. The 'dish/nest' I make in the sand is a good 2+" deep. The board in the front is only about 2 - 2 3/8" deep. The next nest boxes I make will use at least a 4" board (so it is 3 3/8 to 3 5/8" deep min., preferably a full 4" deep.)

However, my real hope is to be able to get her to settle in another spot - I have my breeder/broodie/hospital huts just for this. 4X8' that can be split into 2 sides/halves. 1 nest box each side plus a 4' long roost each side...and spots for feeder & waterer. Separated from rest of flock by wire sides. Plenty big enough for a broody & her chicks for first week or two ...and then still big enough for 'sleeping quarters' until Mom leaves them. I also have a movable broody hut, but that is occupied by me current littles...that is what my 2 DC brooded in.

 

[featherhead007]

Dakota is inside the house with me tonight. I didn’t want the coop drama this evening. She was waiting on the porch for me as I locked up the others. I reached my arm down, and she hopped on. So inside we went.

 

[rural mouse]

Well the lovely Glynda needs to know her place - I mean who in their right minds would take on Aurora at the best of times and then there is the size difference!

Little Cheetah

chases big Hector, who runs

Meanwhile the hormonal idiots

Tag team a pullet and stand around when Cheetah runs up to screaming pullet. Cheetah hasn't quite figured out what to do: if he does for 1 of them, the other jumps the pullet. Neither runs...

 

[BY Bob]

Velvet glove covering iron fist queen?

I think she was extraordinarily kind to the new girls. For her kindness she got challenged. Well that ticked her off. She took it out on Hattie and yelled at everyone for a good hour.

Later this evening when they were together again Aurora seemed to hold no grudge against Glynda. Hopefully that is settled.

 

[featherhead007]

Sand about 3" deep, with hay/straw on top. The 'dish/nest' I make in the sand is a good 2+" deep. The board in the front is only about 2 - 2 3/8" deep. The next nest boxes I make will use at least a 4" board (so it is 3 3/8 to 3 5/8" deep min., preferably a full 4" deep.)

However, my real hope is to be able to get her to settle in another spot - I have my breeder/broodie/hospital huts just for this. 4X8' that can be split into 2 sides/halves. 1 nest box each side plus a 4' long roost each side...and spots for feeder & waterer. Separated from rest of flock by wire sides. Plenty big enough for a broody & her chicks for first week or two ...and then still big enough for 'sleeping quarters' until Mom leaves them. I also have a movable broody hut, but that is occupied by me current littles...that is what my 2 DC brooded in.

Is there any room for the flatscreen TV?

 

[lightm]

I only know of 2 choices. Remove the ring leader or remove the bullied hen. Unless you identify and solve what has set them all off. I have never experienced anything like this.

I did do an experiment today. There were multiple attacks this afternoon, the first one was Ginger (top hen) alone chasing Inky all the way back to coop corner and attacked her there, then left. I locked Ginger out of the run. I then encouraged Inky to come out again for dinner. But then she was attacked by Poopy and Honey (their pecking order is 4/5) the 2nd time around. It appears that my three golden comets are the bad girls.

[To complete the story, I thought I'd let them out to limited free range after the 2nd attack. This is when all girls cornered Inky and I had to rescue her. She may have been fine if I had opened up the whole backyard. Sigh.]

I feel like I'm whining too much so I will post some bully girl picture:

Honey looking innocent

Poopy hunting for bugs

 

[BY Bob]

Sand about 3" deep, with hay/straw on top. The 'dish/nest' I make in the sand is a good 2+" deep. The board in the front is only about 2 - 2 3/8" deep. The next nest boxes I make will use at least a 4" board (so it is 3 3/8 to 3 5/8" deep min., preferably a full 4" deep.)

However, my real hope is to be able to get her to settle in another spot - I have my breeder/broodie/hospital huts just for this. 4X8' that can be split into 2 sides/halves. 1 nest box each side plus a 4' long roost each side...and spots for feeder & waterer. Separated from rest of flock by wire sides. Plenty big enough for a broody & her chicks for first week or two ...and then still big enough for 'sleeping quarters' until Mom leaves them. I also have a movable broody hut, but that is occupied by me current littles...that is what my 2 DC brooded in.

If moving falls put as much sand in as you can. It's possible they could make do with less.

 

[rural mouse]

They pierce the egg and inject the vaccine into the amniotic fluid or breast of the embryo. They do this safely using air pressure somehow.

Sooooo, all you really need is an air compressor, the vaccine, some tubing and one of the needle tubes, to build one. They have to make replacement parts somewhere....