Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Good morning all - it's a mild start to the day here at -8C - yay!

Still have a bit of a migraine from yesterday, the diesel fumes from the large trucks, and equipment just hangs in the air here - there has been no wind at all here lately. Wish it would start blowing and snowing a bit...

I have a video I will post tomorrow of a few critters our Environmental Inspector captured on Christmas Eve

Meanwhile Misty made an appearance on camera, and Marty once again has thrown herself out into the world and is nesting on the bottom roost. What does everyone think? should I just leave her down there at night? I am worried she will harm herself flying off her little roost at night.

View attachment 3369088

If Marty has been doing this for a long time now, she’s gotten good at it. Just don’t have any new obstructions in her way. How could you prevent her from doing it anyway? Go and take her off her roost every night?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I actually have a third option, but I'm working today for a special registration express, and can't get pictures right now - so it won't make much sense. I'll post later today when I can include pictures, so it makes sense.

OK great!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

My two integrations gave me nightmares and were failures, first when Théo and Chipie arrived, then with Chipie's hatch. Not that there was real harm done to the the new chickens (although Chipie did spend her second night in the woods which she was lucky to survive and that we found her). But there was no integration. I have a flock with two tribes, and Chipie is an isolated ovni.
To this day I'm not sure why. My settings have lots of defects, but they are spacious and full of clutter, and I followed all the usual advice as well as I could. I'm very nervous about future integrations.

Do you think Betty feels the nest box is the only place she is safe ? Or maybe she doesn't mind so much sleeping there ?
Glynda is healing nicely, I hope the panel heater helps.
*********

My little Blanche, who was attacked by the hawk the day before Christmas, is not doing well, i'm preparing myself that she may not survive. She has one eye very often closed, moves backward shaking her head every now and then, and spends most of the day lying down. She's still happily eating though. I've began giving her metacam today. Taking her to a vet is not an option I'm ready to take after my experience with Caramel, and I still dont see any visible damage to treat.

Aren’t two roosters going to eventually create two tribes, and wouldn’t that be a natural, good thing? I’m basing this on what @Shadrach has written. The problem is for Chipie, who doesn’t fit in either tribe.

 

[GregnLety]

Aren’t two roosters going to eventually create two tribes, and wouldn’t that be a natural, good thing? I’m basing this on what @Shadrach has written. The problem is for Chipie, who doesn’t fit in either tribe.

Not necessarily, I have 2 roosters in multiple tribes. Big Boy and Buddy, Cholo and Cholo Jr, stupid and Blackie. Just like men, some roosters are better leaders and some are not.

 

[GregnLety]

Not necessarily, I have 2 roosters in multiple tribes. Big Boy and Buddy, Cholo and Cholo Jr, stupid and Blackie. Just like men, some roosters are better leaders and some are not.

I believe that @Perris has multiple roosters in a single tribe also.

 

[lightm]

Hello friends,

My dad is a bit better and I am a lot relieved. His pneumonia was severe and this is a good trend. His appetite was so good that he asked for a drink... I grew up in a town famous for rice wine. Almost every one drinks at lunch and dinner, and this is definitely the case for my parents. Occasionally I was drinking a small amount of beer or wine with my meals as very young teens...

Thank you for all the kind words. Here is a picture of young Foxy in our bed.

 

[Perris]

I believe that @Perris has multiple roosters in a single tribe also.

Indeed I do.

Aren’t two roosters going to eventually create two tribes, and wouldn’t that be a natural, good thing?

They haven't here. We have five, all raised within the flock (though not all genetically related, as two were hatching eggs bought in) so the older roos think they're offspring. They work as a team, most of the time.
Why do you assume @ChicoryBlue that the flock dividing into 2 (or 5, as there are 5 roos here) would be a) natural and b) a good thing?

 

[ManueB]

I was expecting that if we had roosters in the hatch it could be a potential problem with Théo when they grew up.
It's not what happened however. Théo and Chipie had several serious arguments when she became broody and Théo tried chasing the chicks away when they were days old. Whether it was because Chipie wanted to keep them to herself or because he somehow knew they weren't his or because he's a brat, I don't know. Chipie had to protect them constantly and later I had to use all kind of tricks so they could roost in the coop. I would prefer peaceful cohabitation but I'm afraid the chickens will reproduce what they have been through.

 

[RoyalChick]

Not necessarily, I have 2 roosters in multiple tribes. Big Boy and Buddy, Cholo and Cholo Jr, stupid and Blackie. Just like men, some roosters are better leaders and some are not.

You have a rooster called Stupid?
That's a bit harsh! I wonder what he calls you!!

 

[RoyalChick]

Hello friends,

My dad is a bit better and I am a lot relieved. His pneumonia was severe and this is a good trend. His appetite was so good that he asked for a drink... I grew up in a town famous for rice wine. Almost every one drinks at lunch and dinner, and this is definitely the case for my parents. Occasionally I was drinking a small amount of beer or wine with my meals as very young teens...

Thank you for all the kind words. Here is a picture of young Foxy in our bed.

View attachment 3369212

So glad to hear! You must be very relieved.