Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

I’m confused about broody attitudes.
When any of my Rocks go broody, they turn quiet, change their clucking language, and prefer to stay in one place instead of roaming about.
I like seeing them broody, even though I have had no success with them hatching any chicks.

They only get screeching and pecking if you try to disturb them, put your hand under them, or get too close so they get nervous. (i.e. they kick into protective mom mode - to first protect their eggs, then their chicks once hatched.)

A few, like Momma Hen, feel you enter their 'space' just by looking at them

 

[RoyalChick]

I may be a bit out of place (slightly prejudiced!), but she is looking lovely! Yes, those DC girls know how to pack it away.

No worries - yes, an extremely full crop does that....AND if she was plucking her breast feathers out, you would know when you collected the eggs. The nest would be littered with 1/2 doz. or more of her delicate breast feathers! That said, what isn't to love about: ?

If she or Eli does go broody, you have a ready made Momma for any chicks you get

I was hoping you would pop in and see how gorgeous your girls are. And yes, packing it away is a good description of their feeding habit. This is mainly forage - they have free access to commercial feed but aren't eating that much of it. I suppose that is why I am observing their crops so closely to make sure they are all eating. Apparently there are enough yummy things around in the warming dirt to fill them up!

Hmmm - now you mention it - there were some feathers in the nest box.

I want to rush back and check, but Bernie is squeezing herself in there at the moment. It is a tight fit, but she didn't like that I gave her fresh shavings in her more roomy chosen nest, so she is making a point. Seriously, I can't do anything right!

 

[bgmathteach]

I was hoping you would pop in and see how gorgeous your girls are. And yes, packing it away is a good description of their feeding habit. This is mainly forage - they have free access to commercial feed but aren't eating that much of it. I suppose that is why I am observing their crops so closely to make sure they are all eating. Apparently there are enough yummy things around in the warming dirt to fill them up!

Hmmm - now you mention it - there were some feathers in the nest box.

I want to rush back and check, but Bernie is squeezing herself in there at the moment. It is a tight fit, but she didn't like that I gave her fresh shavings in her more roomy chosen nest, so she is making a point. Seriously, I can't do anything right!

So, maybe you need to replace only 1/2 the shavings at a time? That way you still have some of the old shavings, feathers and such. Also, try to smoosh them down into a semi-bowl shape - like they had it pre-clean out.

At least she had an alternate nest box to use - and I wouldn't really worry about it- trust me, I've seen some hens get into places, and I have no idea how in the heck they fit!


If you see Babs looking like this, you can suspect a broody!

Or this:

 

[RoyalChick]

So, maybe you need to replace only 1/2 the shavings at a time? That way you still have some of the old shavings, feathers and such. Also, try to smoosh them down into a semi-bowl shape - like they had it pre-clean out.

At least she had an alternate nest box to use - and I wouldn't really worry about it- trust me, I've seen some hens get into places, and I have no idea how in the heck they fit!


If you see Babs looking like this, you can suspect a broody!

Or this:

Nope. She is in vacuum cleaner mode because I just tipped the dregs of one of the feeders onto a log and all the yummy bits need cleaning up.
Such a tidy little thing!

 

[Lilion]

Finally made it out to the coop today with my offering of left over salad. I see the neighbors had already offered them a bread course! Glad my offering was healthy. They'd left bread, but went right for the veggies, smart little birds.

Meanie was looking rather disheveled, with feathers out of place. But her muffs a so fluffy and she's getting a luxurious beard, not that I can ever get a good picture.

And since the only poser I have is Manny...here's his mugshots. Look to the left...

Look to the right!

 

[bgmathteach]

Finally made it out to the coop today with my offering of left over salad. I see the neighbors had already offered them a bread course! Glad my offering was healthy. They'd left bread, but went right for the veggies, smart little birds.

Meanie was looking rather disheveled, with feathers out of place. But her muffs a so fluffy and she's getting a luxurious beard, not that I can ever get a good picture. View attachment 3423767
And since the only poser I have is Manny...here's his mugshots. Look to the left...View attachment 3423771
Look to the right!View attachment 3423772

@Lilion :Manny was doing what a rooster is supposed to do! He would grab a nice piece of salad, drop it on the ground and tidbit (that little tuk, tuk, tuk) that is him calling a hen over saying 'look at this great piece of food I found for you!

Rooster's jobs are to:
protect - they should be ever watchful while he and the girls are out free-ranging - and give warning calls if something is amiss (some will even fight to their death to protect their ladies)

provide - they will tidbit when they find something good - to call the girls over and let them have it (the girls need a lot more food/energy to produce those calorie dense eggs every day)

produce offspring to carry on his line: This involves not just mating ( often!), but also helping a young hen find a suitable nesting spot and come to escort them back to the tribe after they have laid. It can also include helping parent/train/teach the young chicks (usually momma will let the rooster near them sometime around 2 weeks - but that varies drastically by hen and tribe.

Either of the first two can also include 'herding' the girls. To new areas to forage, to the dust bath area...to get them to go into the coop when it starts getting dark, and/or to keep them semi-together so he can keep a watchful eye on them all.

@BY Bob can probably add to this, as I'm sure I am missing something.

Regardless, Manny WAS manning-up when he let the girls take the salad pieces . He was being a very good Roo!

 

[RoyalChick]

@Lilion :Manny was doing what a rooster is supposed to do! He would grab a nice piece of salad, drop it on the ground and tidbit (that little tuk, tuk, tuk) that is him calling a hen over saying 'look at this great piece of food I found for you!

Rooster's jobs are to:
protect - they should be ever watchful while he and the girls are out free-ranging - and give warning calls if something is amiss (some will even fight to their death to protect their ladies)

provide - they will tidbit when they find something good - to call the girls over and let them have it (the girls need a lot more food/energy to produce those calorie dense eggs every day)

produce offspring to carry on his line: This involves not just mating ( often!), but also helping a young hen find a suitable nesting spot and come to escort them back to the tribe after they have laid. It can also include helping parent/train/teach the young chicks (usually momma will let the rooster near them sometime around 2 weeks - but that varies drastically by hen and tribe.

Either of the first two can also include 'herding' the girls. To new areas to forage, to the dust bath area...to get them to go into the coop when it starts getting dark, and/or to keep them semi-together so he can keep a watchful eye on them all.

@BY Bob can probably add to this, as I'm sure I am missing something.

Regardless, Manny WAS manning-up when he let the girls take the salad pieces . He was being a very good Roo!

 

[RoyalChick]

Finally made it out to the coop today with my offering of left over salad. I see the neighbors had already offered them a bread course! Glad my offering was healthy. They'd left bread, but went right for the veggies, smart little birds.

Meanie was looking rather disheveled, with feathers out of place. But her muffs a so fluffy and she's getting a luxurious beard, not that I can ever get a good picture. View attachment 3423767
And since the only poser I have is Manny...here's his mugshots. Look to the left...View attachment 3423771
Look to the right!View attachment 3423772

They are lovely and Manny is gorgeous and such a gentleman.
But I am picking myself up off the floor that you have chickens that prefer salad to bread. Mine are carbohydrate obsessed!

 

[RoyalChick]

Is it possible that foraged food causes their crops to bulge bigger? Maybe because the commercial feed is so nutrient dense that when they forage they have to eat a bigger volume to get the nutrients they need?

I ask because the coop cam caught both Bernie and Babs walking through the door and what can I say? Amazing they can stand upright!

 

[featherhead007]

I have given my rooster a break from his busy day and let him take a nap inside the house.