Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValarieF]

Raised together they shouldn’t have as many issues, even less if you can raise them within a mature flock with a rooster. Sammy teaches most of the Boys here manners. I had company the other day and pretty boy tried to get things on with his mom, who was having none of it… she ran for Sammy and all it took was a ha low flare and “don’t even think it” stance, and he went off to find a more appropriate pulley for his attentions. of course you might get jerks, there could be problems, you never know until they grow up really. Mostly though I have found the stories of multiple roosters causing problems exaggerated. As long as there are enough hens, and they have decent temperaments… of course the will still go through the idiot cockerel stage, that’s a given!

Thanks that makes since its been awhile for me since I have had a rooster I was young. We are also going to build a bigger coop and add more to the run. The fun part is the names, the black one I think is a barred plymouth rock is the bossy roo right now. But he is so adorable I cant tell which of the Anconas is the roo lol. I am gonna start breeding them next season. My EE are being emo.! I gave them some treats tonight they loved veggies and rice.

 

[rural mouse]

Thanks that makes since its been awhile for me since I have had a rooster I was young. We are also going to build a bigger coop and add more to the run. The fun part is the names, the black one I think is a barred plymouth rock is the bossy roo right now. But he is so adorable I cant tell which of the Anconas is the roo lol. I am gonna start breeding them next season. My EE are being emo.! I gave them some treats tonight they loved veggies and rice.

The bossy attitude is where names like Napoleon, Fidel, Castro, Stalin, Dictator, Nero, etc tend to come from. The stripes could lead one to go with Jailbait, Alcatraz, Johnny Cash, (you get the theme idea). Don't be afraid to wait on a name. He doesn't have to be names immediately. The Anconas you could wait on (name discussion highly encouraged) also, until you know which one is the cockerel and have some idea of personality. You could name them all unisex names as an alternative.

 

[ManueB]

Beautiful mugs!

Beautiful Mugs.

I am very sorry that I have not responded to this earlier. I was so far behind and forgot about it. I have integrated new ladies, 9 different times. Some things that will help.

• Many feeding and watering stations. I have 4 different feeding and watering stations in my complex. Only 2 can be seen from each other. That way chickens can go eat and drink without others seeing them and runnning them off.
• Many levels. You can see your young ones using hieght to protect themselves by staying on the roost all day. They need other locations in your complex to do so. It is especially effective if you can provide food and water at different levels. I have buckets, roosts out in the run, a chair, anything they can escape up onto. Many people use logs standing on end. I have yet to see a bully hen chase anyone up onto a roost, chair, or bucket.
• No Dead Ends. I have tried very hard to have escape possible at all times. You don't want them getting pinned in a location. Now my big struggle is that my complex is a U shape. At one end of the U i have buckets for them to escape up onto. The other end is poor design by me but I am stuck with it. It is wide enough that they can run away but it is too low for me to provide any "Up" for them.
• Safe Area. You are doing the right thing with a safe area where only they can enter, except poor Gaston. Is there anyway to enlarge the opening so that he can still get in without the bigger chickens following?
• Second Coop. I added a second coop and don't regret it for a second. It made Betty's and now the Rascals integration much smoother. Betty eventually moved into the main coop with the others. I dont know if the Rascals will or not but having their own coop to roost in at night has provided them with a space safe from any roost shenanigans.

It will get better as they get older. They should slowly fold in better. Mine really started to figure out they had to live together when they were locked together for first 1 day and then later 48 hours. Now they seem to have settled in pretty nicely. I say "seem" because I dont see everything that happens.

I hope this helps. I am open to any questions as always.

I'm also late to thank you but this actually helped me see more clearly, especially the no dead end part. We have already done some of the things you list, but there are corners from which it's impossible to escape, and I think it's part of why the teens stayed on the roosts. And, although we do have a two level system in the run for now, it won't be the case when we redo it as it will be totally covered at human height. So I will have to think of a way to make an escape possible.
Having a second coop would be possible in the same run, but it would have to be quite a small coop. If we were to make another run, it could only be in a completely different place as there isn't any flat ground left in our actual chicken zone.

Can use the new stove. It burns hotter, and as of Jan 2022, all chimneys had to have a metal sleeve lining (ceramic tile lining would burn too). Got the stove in, discovered no sleeve. Got the sleeve in, went to slide down inside, chimney wobbled (when took down discovered it was built against the original siding rather than the flashing). Sleeve wasn't designed to be self supporting, so had to order a different sleeve. Stove was ordered a year ago, installation started end of April, tried again just before graduation in May, finally got all the pieces. Have gone 2 winters without the wood stove. The winter power bill reduction will make a large deposit into the home repair fund, and I'm happy happy happy

Here we do things the old way

Did I set fire to the chimney this winter ? I may well have .
Do we love our old stove ? So much that we're looking to buy the same one second hand in a better state. We love that we can cook on it and that it heats up very fast.
We just have a big case in the entrance where we can stock up almost two full days of wood so we don't have to get out first thing in the morning, or in case of a storm.

Speaking of learning her lesson, I don't think Glynda is satisfied with her position.

Tonight she almost got into it with Betty.

Betty decided it was time to peck the Rascals and remind them of their place. She pecked Lady Featherington twice and LF just walked away.

Betty then went to peck Glynda from behind. Glynda whirled and flared her neck feathers. They stood looking at each other. Glynda went forward. Betty was shocked and briefly moved back. It looked like battle was about to occur and then.....

.......Aurora walked between them and broke it up.

I feel like this is not over. Betty is only 3 lbs. I would guess Glynda is 2 lbs at most. I'm not certain that's enough difference to lean the fight in any one direction.

I love Glynda. She has a strong will, likes adventure, and is fearless. She looks like a swan but she acts like ... Hum...Beatrix from Kill Bill ?

I have 2 for sure roos in my bunch. After reading Shads posts I know Id like to try and keep 2 boys so I am in the same boat. Its been fascinating watching them sort it out so far. No blood shed at all just squabbling. Occasionally they will face off, flap some wings about, and chest bump. Then the bigger of the two walks away which surprises me. The BCM is so laid back in comparison to the other roo and he is the smaller of the two by a bit yet so far it seems clear he is the little man in charge. Its like a soap opera in the brooder! So much drama!! As the brooder turns.

I'm also in the "newby with roosters trying to keep two at once" crowd ! I already had behavioural problems with just one, so not sure how it will work out yet. One thing I've learned on BYC : don't make up your mind until they are at least 15 months old! Obviously they change a lot, much like humans, from childhood to teens and young adults.

Fire tax : Chipie watching the scenery this morning!

 

[BY Bob]

Hector went for Twirp this evening. She bolted from the coop, then hooked a u turn as Cheetah landed on the ground. Watching Hector pull up short when Cheetah charged his face was comical. Shortly after that, Kren, the Horny Little Brat, tried to mate Whiskey, who took extreme exception to that, pulled a duck and twist maneuver to get turned arou d and promptly charged Kren. 20 min later, Storm chased Hector out of the coop. Then Kren squawked....Whiskey went for him again...I don't think Whiskey appreciated Kren's interest....here's to hoping he takes to beating on Kren every time Kren goes for one or more of the girls. And W just backed K off the feed dish. Now K is standing back and waiting until W is done before hopping up to roost above.

Your group still has a lot of stuff to work out. How old are all the boys now?

 

[bgmathteach]

I'm also late to thank you but this actually helped me see more clearly, especially the no dead end part. We have already done some of the things you list, but there are corners from which it's impossible to escape, and I think it's part of why the teens stayed on the roosts. And, although we do have a two level system in the run for now, it won't be the case when we redo it as it will be totally covered at human height. So I will have to think of a way to make an escape possible.
Having a second coop would be possible in the same run, but it would have to be quite a small coop. If we were to make another run, it could only be in a completely different place as there isn't any flat ground left in our actual chicken zone.

Here we do things the old way
View attachment 3243234
Did I set fire to the chimney this winter ? I may well have .
Do we love our old stove ? So much that we're looking to buy the same one second hand in a better state. We love that we can cook on it and that it heats up very fast.
We just have a big case in the entrance where we can stock up almost two full days of wood so we don't have to get out first thing in the morning, or in case of a storm.

I love Glynda. She has a strong will, likes adventure, and is fearless. She looks like a swan but she acts like ... Hum...Beatrix from Kill Bill ?

I'm also in the "newby with roosters trying to keep two at once" crowd ! I already had behavioural problems with just one, so not sure how it will work out yet. One thing I've learned on BYC : don't make up your mind until they are at least 15 months old! Obviously they change a lot, much like humans, from childhood to teens and young adults.

Fire tax : Chipie watching the scenery this morning!
View attachment 3243236

@ManueB I love all of your thoughtful observations, well stated responses, gorgeous views....and I am especially a fan of Chipie and Theo. Despite Chipie not allowing people to get too close...she is absolutely gorgeous and I love her fierceness and independence. Poor Theo, though sometimes love is not fully returned.....but they do make such a gorgeous couple, and I love his devotion to her!

 

[BY Bob]

although we do have a two level system in the run for now, it won't be the case when we redo it as it will be totally covered at human height.

My complex is completely covered at just under 6 feet high. I built my second levels at around 2 feet and 3 feet. You don't need a lot of height for the chase to end and escape to be possible.

I love Glynda. She has a strong will, likes adventure, and is fearless. She looks like a swan but she acts like ... Hum...Beatrix from Kill Bill ?

That comparison is hysterical. Glynda is really living living up to my hopes for her. She is personality plus!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Speaking of Idiots, George is getting ready to hit his. Actually, as of last night it is just beginning. He just turned 3 months old a few days ago. For the last week or so every time I would walk by him he would drop to the ground in a sitting position. I would reach down and stroke his chest and continue on my way. He did it last night, I reach down to pet him and he bites, Hard. The little devil proceeded to be packed around like a baby for a good 10 minutes while I finished up feeding the horses. It does not surprise me, Drummie, Bubba and Ezzie all 3 did this a time or two around this age. A few times being carried around and they stopped. George is just hitting his phase earlier then they did. Twiggy is still good as gold, but I'm watching him. At least I think Twiggy is a boy as more copper coloring is sporadically popping up. Behavior wise, Twiggy is acting like a pullet. Since I think Twig is a boy I do need to stop dragging my feet and list George, I do not need 4 boys. I will wait until this biting phase is corrected though.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Gah, I need to hide from my horse facebook groups for a few days. A 11 year old Chocolate Ky Mountain mare was just listed that has the build I prefer in the breed. "I do NOT need a mare, I do NOT need a mare." watched the videos, she moves gorgously...no I repeat, "I do NOT need a mare."

Everyone remind me I have 3 horses already and do NOT need a mare.

tax

 

[BY Bob]

Gah, I need to hide from my horse facebook groups for a few days. A 11 year old Chocolate Ky Mountain mare was just listed that has the build I prefer in the breed. "I do NOT need a mare, I do NOT need a mare." watched the videos, she moves gorgously...no I repeat, "I do NOT need a mare."

Everyone remind me I have 3 horses already and do NOT need a mare.

tax
View attachment 3243279

You have come to the wrong place to find strength and support for not getting more animals. We are all enablers.

 

[ValarieF]

The bossy attitude is where names like Napoleon, Fidel, Castro, Stalin, Dictator, Nero, etc tend to come from. The stripes could lead one to go with Jailbait, Alcatraz, Johnny Cash, (you get the theme idea). Don't be afraid to wait on a name. He doesn't have to be names immediately. The Anconas you could wait on (name discussion highly encouraged) also, until you know which one is the cockerel and have some idea of personality. You could name them all unisex names as an alternative.

Yea I was thinking of calling him Zeus. That name has been stuck in my head since before he arrived if I ever got a rooster lol. Right now Im just watching all their cute behaviors and little quirks. Its so cute.