Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I did notice but never thought it was paint!

What did you think it was?

 

[BY Bob]

Two for Tuesday

How about a mother daughter duo wanting to lay an egg

View attachment 3308501

Chickens be crazy.

 

[ManueB]

I use chopped straw from tractor supply and the day I clean the coop they will spend hours scratching through it for seeds. Knock on wood, no stoppedd up crops here ever.

We use hay in our coop and nests. It's supposed to be a big no, but we've never had any problems. Once in a while, they eat a bit out of boredom I think if we have a whole day of rain, but it never led to crop impactions.

So, here is my situation - take what you want from it.

I have multiple coops - most are all in my 'primary' run, but some are spread out at other places on my land. The goal, though, eventually, is to have the coops all in the same general area/run space eventually.

As youngsters, I have a dedicated 'broody coop' that momma and the kids are in. Exclusively for the first 4-7 days. This is housed within the main run. Once all chicks are strong & running, they then have access to the entire 'big kids' run. I enforce only momma and kids sleeping in that coop for at least the first 4 weeks, so momma doesn't get harassed. After that, it is usually just momma and the littles, but sometimes a Roo, or a lower on the pecking order hen will start roosting in there sometimes. Once Momma abandons the kids, she usually goes back to roosting in her original coop...and the littles eventually select a coop to. For my last batch of 9 littles and 2 broodies, both broodies went back to their original coop (same one). 4 of the 'kids' eventually followed suit, the other 5 selected a different coop. (Note, my second in command' roo of that second coop accepted all the littles and has gotten 2 of the hens as his consort, now.)

As far as adults, with the exception of when I separate roos & hens for breeding, they all pick where they want to roost. For the most part there isn't much drama regarding the Roos. When young roos are getting to the 'idiot hormonal stage', there is always some skerfuffling. However, eventually they settle into their 'place' in the flock, and it works out just fine! They do still sometimes chase each other, but nothing majorly bloody/dangerous.

The biggest drama I had regarding Roos was when my top roo (mr. red...a BR) hatched a son that I kept. At some point, son beat the proverbial snot out of dad (not major damage, just lots of humiliation for dad.)

The young roos know enough to avoid the more dominant roos (until they get big enough to really take them on) Either way, I have a number of things for them to run under, hop on, generally get away if needed...and eventually the roo pecking order is established and it is fine. I have 2 coops presently with 2 roos (dominant & subordinant one) all other coops have only one adult roos, and there are some younger roos that are presently co-existing fine. I have a LOT of roos presently, but most are too young and not yet into ;hormonal idiot; stage. I will process many of them once they are large enough to do so, so I will generally keep to 1-2 roos per coop.

Note the following: I generally have small coops for the number of chickens in them (intentionally), but have large pen space, all with additional roof covering in the pens to have 'out of weather;' space. My coops have roughly 1.5 sq. feet of space per bird, but roughly 15-20 sq. feet of run space per bird. This really does work well for my chickens, roos included...and, again, for the most part, each one chooses where they roost!

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain how your settings are organized ! I guess I'm trying to get ideas of what could work for us... It seems every option I can think of either has major disadvantages or is too complicated. Your post was also helpful in showing me I need to see the bigger picture and not just the actual problem we have. As you say, things may evolve quickly when cockerels grow.
I tend to be pessimistic, because everytime I've been told about things that will get better ( like broodies coming back in the flock with no problem, roosters imprinting or accepting chicks, hens being better accepted once they lay..) never worked out here. I love my chickens like they are but sometimes I would enjoy less drama.

And @RoyalChick I know that feeling about a chicken not wanting to be touched or cuddled. The ones that like to engage with me show it by spending hours pecking my pants . Most of my chickens I can't touch, or barely. Chipie never even came near us before she had the chicks, she was terrified of us. Now she will come ask for food, and eventually pick something from our hand if it's a treat she loves. Piou-piou has only once eaten a grape out of my hand (or rather snatched it off ) after dozens and dozens of trials, and she has never repeated the deed . If I even throw a treat near her, she just walks away. She doesn't run, she's not afraid: she just wants nothing to do with me .
*******
A few tuefer. The new unlikely couple: Piou-piou and Gaston.

Taking a bath together

For size and color comparison: Piou-piou and Chipie

Cannelle is molting terribly but otherwise better these last two days
Here with Brune looking for slugs after the rain this morning

Théo would have Chipie back. She asks for his protection, comes when he tidbits, but shies away from him when he does the dancing thing, making him angry everytime...

 

[BY Bob]

I always thought they had a call sort of like a cat meowing, in fact one day I went hunting for what I thought was a lost kitten! Only to realize it was a YBSapsucker

Silly tax
Misty
View attachment 3308521

Misty is one pretty lady.

 

[featherhead007]

How is Jaffar today? Any news from the Vet?

He stayed in the coop with the ladies last night. He’s out there crowing this morning. He seemed better last night at perch time.

 

[RoyalChick]

What did you think it was?

Dry skin! Mine get dry skin on their combs and I am always itching to moisturize.

 

[featherhead007]

I come in to see how everyone is doing, but the next thing I know, is I’m being called a “Yellow Bellied SapSucker”! You people are mean!

 

[BY Bob]

A Sad Anniversay

Today is the anniversary of Elphie's passing. It is kind of a watershed moment here at FBA as this was the moment the chicken as pets experiment could have ended. Three deaths in less than 2 years was enough that we almost rehomed Daisy, the greatest hen ever.

For those that don't know Elphie's story you can find it here.

The Story of Elphie
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fluffy-butt-acres-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/page-365

Elphie’s Time
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-22424389

Elphie Remembered

To bring it forward to today some photos of the chicken named in her honor, Glynda.

 

[rural mouse]

Forgot to post yesterday. Spooktacular view (and 50f )

 

[Ponypoor]

We use hay in our coop and nests. It's supposed to be a big no, but we've never had any problems. Once in a while, they eat a bit out of boredom I think if we have a whole day of rain, but it never led to crop impactions.

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain how your settings are organized ! I guess I'm trying to get ideas of what could work for us... It seems every option I can think of either has major disadvantages or is too complicated. Your post was also helpful in showing me I need to see the bigger picture and not just the actual problem we have. As you say, things may evolve quickly when cockerels grow.
I tend to be pessimistic, because everytime I've been told about things that will get better ( like broodies coming back in the flock with no problem, roosters imprinting or accepting chicks, hens being better accepted once they lay..) never worked out here. I love my chickens like they are but sometimes I would enjoy less drama.

And @RoyalChick I know that feeling about a chicken not wanting to be touched or cuddled. The ones that like to engage with me show it by spending hours pecking my pants . Most of my chickens I can't touch, or barely. Chipie never even came near us before she had the chicks, she was terrified of us. Now she will come ask for food, and eventually pick something from our hand if it's a treat she loves. Piou-piou has only once eaten a grape out of my hand (or rather snatched it off ) after dozens and dozens of trials, and she has never repeated the deed . If I even throw a treat near her, she just walks away. She doesn't run, she's not afraid: she just wants nothing to do with me .
*******
A few tuefer. The new unlikely couple: Piou-piou and Gaston.
View attachment 3308596
Taking a bath together
View attachment 3308626
For size and color comparison: Piou-piou and Chipie
View attachment 3308600
Cannelle is molting terribly but otherwise better these last two days
Here with Brune looking for slugs after the rain this morning
View attachment 3308612
Théo would have Chipie back. She asks for his protection, comes when he tidbits, but shies away from him when he does the dancing thing, making him angry everytime...
View attachment 3308616

Piou-piou is such a little lady now and very pretty.

Some of my chickies will hang out with me, and some don’t t care to. I let them decide, but if there is food involved them I am generally mobbed by all but Mr P - he will come close but he won’t take from my hand and if I throw anything to him the girls snatch it up.