Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Of course I would love to share photos of Little Mill! I’m having trouble finding my favorite photo of her right now, but here are some others.
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It worked!!!!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I am not an expert by any means, so if someone else chimes in with something that sounds better - go for it.

This, however, is my thoughts based on my experience and a bit of judgement (? correct? incorrect?) on my part.

1) If you can place 'baffles' in the coop/run so not all hens pecking the ground with butts in the air will be visible to Scarlett may help. ( something like physical visual barriers like large stumps, hanging cloths randomly within the coop (and/or run), etc. Any physical/visual things to break up lines of sight.

2) Whenever possible, hang some food item for them to peck at (multiple ones at a time) Such as: apples, cabbages ( decent sized ones can be halved or quartered), creating multiple different things to be pecked at, so all aren't at the same one jockeying for access This will keep them occupied with something other than each other's butts!

3) If possible, have hubby move things around in the coop/run once a week. Keep them off balance and ';re-exploring' their area to investigate changes.

4) If you can find any, see if hubby can on the weekend, rake up a bunch of leaves (damp ones are super) and throw them into the run/coop floor. Give them something new to scratch/hunt in/through.

5) Give them a new 'toy' that has treats they have to work for. I don't have a picture of one I have used...but I will try to explain it. Take a ROUND/Cylindrical plastic seasoning container (such as an empty oregano or italian seasoning container) Drill a half dozen small holes in it at various spots around the container. Fill with scratch grain, toss into run. The chickens will have to move/roll the container to get it to 'spill' its contents. Makes them work for the scratch and keeps them occupied. Just make sure the drilled holes are only slightly bigger than the diameter of the scratch grains, so just a little falls out with each movement of the container, and note that you may need to lightly sand around the drill holes to remove the sharp burrs caused by drilling.

Obviously - with #5, don't overdo the amount of scratch they get daily - but a couple of these 'toys/treat dispensers' can give them quite a bit of entertainment with not a whole lot of scratch. It keeps them physically 'busy', mentally occupied, and most definitely focused on something else than their companions fluffy derrière!

6) are you able to easily get a bag of rice hulls? @micstrachan buys them sometimes - her girls love scratching through - I suspect they find pieces of rice mixed in with the hulls. The hulls make a good additive to their bedding, and rice fragments give them incentive to be digging, scratching and pecking through the hulls.

Lastly, if you can purchase a different bedding than usual, just once...and top-off or clean out the coop/run and use the different bedding, it will - for a short time - create interest.

(If the girls bottoms are pretty exposed, then dabbing some anti-peck on them to darken the bright pink of flesh may also help to keep it from escalating. Sorry, I don't remember the name of the product, but there is an anti-peck spray/daub on treatment just for this purpose. - maybe someone else can chime in with the name of the product? )

So, no one of these alone will fix the issue, I suspect, but more space and a couple of these suggestions might make a noticeable difference.

And, while I hate to suggest this, it could be a 'last resort' kind of thing - especially if it is pretty much JUST Scarlett who is the culprit. You might be able to put her in a 'see but not touch' cage/pen within the coop/run so she can't peck the other's bottoms/feathers - at least during the day, for a short period of time to see if it helps. if you do this, please do give her something to occupy her time, so she doesn't develop other bad coping behaviors.

Sorry for the long windedness of this...and know that I am quite sure you have thought of at least some of these things already - but it is all I've got. I do so hope that you are able to help her find other, more 'constructive' things to occupy her time!



Edited to add: @BY Bob has an excellent point that I completely overlooked: level of protein in their diet. Maybe try a feather fixer feed in a separate feeder for a bit to see if that makes a difference? (or just use it in their regular feeder in place of what you are using)feather fixer is usually slightly higher in protein (or, alternatively, pick up a bag of grower feed in your usual brand - that is also usually higher in protein than the standard layer feed.) They can then choose the higher protein if they so want.

What you just said! Blu-Kote may be what you’re thinking of.
SHRA

 

[Ponypoor]

Is metal hotter in summer?

Not really, it's an open structure. If put in PVC I would likely go with the clear stuff though. I need to run some numbers I guess. My run is an awkward width - I should have made it a little less than 16' then I could have a bit of an overhang on the front side (needs to be flush on the back side as that is the alleyway for the horse's paddocks).

Well I have some time to think about things at any rate. My big concern is to keep raptors from getting in from above, and racoons and foxes/dogs, from getting in the sides. That is easy with electric fencing on the outside of the run.

Wow. And that is not even Aurora speaking!!

When will you be returning? Hopefully she will wait for you

Wow, that's WAY more than I paid three years ago!

Maybe netting isn't any cheaper then!
Here is a photo of the lovely Penny hanging out with me in the roofed run for tax
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Hello Penny - are you getting through your molt? Your mama suggested some lovely netting which I am really drawn to, I just need to talk myself into it What do you think?

 

[BY Bob]

Wow. And that is not even Aurora speaking!!

There is always a chance that doing Ask Aurora is not good for me..........I wonder

 

[Ponypoor]

Um, I hate to break this to you, but that isn't penciling. Not sure what it IS called, but not penciled.

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Oi boy....

Hmmm I am going to call it filigree - ha! there lovely filigree She has such lovely filigree on her feathers

 

[BY Bob]

Well, they do say our pets eventually resemble their owners. Now we know where Aurora gets it from.

 

[BY Bob]

Look at the talons on that sucker - WOW! Amazing! And that beak!

You have to admit - they are an awesome hunting machine

I admit nothing. I hate them.

 

[BY Bob]

Sorry haven't been on much today not feeling well. Been dizzy all day and weak. I managed to get water and treats to the chooks. Man Cia is first one at that door and try's to leave with me lol. She is persistent and a sweetheart. Officially all 5 of my Ancona hens are laying. I collected a dozen eggs today and filled up my apron pockets. 5 white eggs and the rest colored. My hubby is making dinner and I am resting and hoping I feel better in the morning.

Feel better soon.

 

[RoyalChick]

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Maggie was a shade over 6lb.

Maggie (RIP)

 

[RoyalChick]

Um, I hate to break this to you, but that isn't penciling. Not sure what it IS called, but not penciled.

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Bookmarked!