Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

Today has been eventful as far as chicken keeping goes...

Light is not the full herself, but we really don't know what's wrong with her. She hasn't been very interested in food, is drinking some, not active since yesterday afternoon. My best guess is some kind of slow moving crop. We massaged her crop a bit and she is a little better compared to 24 hours ago. Thanks again to RC for her advice on sour crop.

Poor LightView attachment 3223419

Then some vicious chicken bullying happened today. It started this morning when ALL the chickens (except for Light who is inside) gang up on Inky, like they all piled up on her and tried to kill her. Inky eventually got out and went inside the coop. We thought this was just one incident, but this afternoon when I gave them their dinner, Inky came out of the coop and they ALL went for her again. This time I noticed there is blood on her neck, and even I had a HARD time shielding Inky from the gang. They were ruthless.

So Inky is now inside the house with veterycin applied to her... I've never seen or heard chickens being soooo bad. The gang likes to chase Light but only chase. Inky is the only gray hen we have and she is always kinda a loner+no touch chicken, but they all got along fine until this morning. Why? What happened? Inky was COMPLETELY TRAUMATIZED after the afternoon attack. I don't know what to do...

No picture of ruthless killing, but I suppose I will post some pics of Ginger, the head of bully. The other day she was dragging this straw for a long time...
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What breeds do you have? I'm told RIRs are very intolerant of other breeds but I have no personal experience as I've also read they are aggressive & I prefer docile breeds. You may need to rehome Inky. That or build a seperate coop/run & get her a companion.

 

[bgmathteach]

I'm going to be reasonable. I will simply ask that she be tied back up, I do not want her stepping a foot back in my yard. She has now killed once, she WILL do it again given the opportunity. I also think it is fair to be compensated for the loss of Granny. Yes my chickens are pets foremost, but I also sell eggs and have several egg customers. I just lost a brand new laying cinnamon queen.

I'm so sorry you lost Granny! Yes, you have every right to be compensated. In our state, it is law to be reimbursed for loss of farm animals. (Of course, the farmer has to request it).

I am so hoping that you find Ezzie safe in the morning. If he is in hiding,he won't come out now, as he is too frightened.

 

[BY Bob]

Our forecast keeps changing. We were supposed too have rain 10pm tonight, last i read it was 3am.

I was just reading another area. Threats of Thunder is it me or is this forecast confusing

Rain around 7 am is what I read.

 

[rural mouse]

They are terrible. Nasty fellows.

I had the hose out filling tires this evening while the girls were going into roost.....the idiots started their divide and conquer tactic and my thumb "accidentally" slipped over the end of the hose and it sprayed....towards them.....no one was soaked, but there were a couple of boys running for the olive trees to get out of the "rain". They're a little damp around the edges.

 

[featherhead007]

Our forecast keeps changing. We were supposed too have rain 10pm tonight, last i read it was 3am.

I was just reading another area. Threats of Thunder is it me or is this forecast confusing

Shoot that rain across the pond for me. I sure could use some!

 

[rural mouse]

It looks like you might be able to convert it to a pinball machine when it’s offline. So that could offset the cost….

And the teens in the area might be willing to help with the conversion so they can play.....

 

[DaisyBuff]

Hi all! I'm back! @BY Bob has requested for me to keep you all updated on my white leghorns growth! I had some friends who wanted some chickens and when you have to many you can't feed that's a pretty food thing! So now I have 3 leghorns! My Original Daisy was a Leghorn, then I had a Buff Orp, now I've got Daisy! BY Bob also had a special Daisy leghorn. I am proud to announce The 3rd Generation Daisy! The sweetest chicken I've "egger" met! She layed her first egg yesterday! And layed another one today! It's been a while since I posted an update, you will be stunned with their growth! They grow up so fast! My other two leghorns are Lad, and Nighthawk! They are all flighty! Just so you know, Night hawk has a nub for one of her toes, so she has no claw on it! But super sweet! PS: Daisy is my PFP! When she was a little younger! Photo Time!

Here's Lad! She is very interested in cameras!

She has no problem getting her photo taken! She always poses like she's a photo model.

Yikes, that photo just disappeared, sorry. The one with her neck stright up is Lad, and the one with the bigger comb, looking at the camera with her head tilted, is Daisy. To sort the confusion. Here are more pics of my Leghorns!

And Miss Hailey the Photo Bomb......... Who is my current main Supplier of eggs. ( The Rhode Island Red)

 

[bgmathteach]

It’s not tall enough, or it’s not front-to-back deep enough? For height or front-to-back, can you replace the roosting area with good boxes? How much roosting space do you have to have, and could those chickens be moved to another roost?

Unfortunately, no, I don't at the moment have another coop for them to roost in. I'm in the process of building another coop...but it takes me forever because I measure, cut, screw on piece at a time - I'm not a builder. Even though I plan and know what size/length the next piece should be, nothing ever comes out square, and the 'should be' lengths don't always work...so one piece at a time.

I wish I had had someone like @BY Bob as a father to teach me to use equipment. I kinda wing it!

 

[bgmathteach]

No, not really serious @ this point. Let go it could be fatal so I've had to bite the bullet. I hate hospitals. I hate Drs. I'm paranoid about needles. I don't do well with invasions of bodily autonomy or being told what to do & I need to be very well behaved & not let my paranoia get in the way of surgery.

I'm glad that presently it isn't serious. Please do take a deep breath and remember this is the right thing to do....you are a kind and creative person - want you around for a long time! I'm sorry I'm not a lot of help in calming those fears - I'm too logical in my thinking. I envy those with creative/free-thinking abilities...but I guess this is one place where a linear/logical mind/way of thinking might help. That said,I really don't know how to help you with this. My best wishes for a fairly non-traumatic outcome for you - all ways around (physically and mentally)

 

[lightm]

The only thing I can think of to help with this is to isolate the lead bully girl. Start with 24 hours, and reintroduce her...if that doesn't work, then do it for a couple of days. Sorry, that is all I have for suggestions

Thanks. We may try that tomorrow.