Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Bob mentioning Lady Featherington pulling feathers out of poor Betty reminded me to post this picture of Babs that I took yesterday.
The bald patch that Bernie has created is now much, much bigger. I don’t think the skin is broken but will look again the next time I can get up.
In my fever-fueled dreams I keep thinking I should fashion a bonnet for Babs to cover the back of her head. I can’t quite figure how to keep it on her without a risk of strangling her!
My observation of behavior is that it is not an aggressive attack, but much more like a rooster mounting a favorite hen.
Has anyone else seen this between hens? Bernie does not do it to Eli.

 

[BY Bob]

It really should be beneath Lady Featherington to attack anyone.
I am glad Betty isn't left totally solo.

That is the beauty of having 7 chickens. There is always someone to hang out with. The pecking order is long enough that those higher up don't worry about those at the bottom. When I had 3 or 5 I always felt like someone was alone. I don't see that now that I have 7.

The hen next to lay in the pecking order is always the most vicious in my experience. The fact that Lady Featherington just moved up of the bottom is making it worse. Betty always submits Lady Featherington mounts her. Betty would be better off running away.

 

[BY Bob]

Poor wee gal, Rose and Dorothy are like that to my silkies, poor Curly gets attacked when I haul her off the nest each morning so I stand guard.

I worry she won’t be able to protect chicks properly, so I am hoping that between her and Fluff they will stand guard together as a united front against those two bullies.

I hate interceding with their conflicts, do you break things up? I only ask because this morning Curly and Henny got into a brawl, I grabbed curly and she went wild! Guess I should have grabbed Henny instead

I try not to intervene but yesterday I did twice. I don't want poor Betty ending up bald. Once she is mounted and a feather comes out, I intercede.

Enough already.

 

[BY Bob]

Bob mentioning Lady Featherington pulling feathers out of poor Betty reminded me to post this picture of Babs that I took yesterday.
The bald patch that Bernie has created is now much, much bigger. I don’t think the skin is broken but will look again the next time I can get up.
In my fever-fueled dreams I keep thinking I should fashion a bonnet for Babs to cover the back of her head. I can’t quite figure how to keep it in her without a risk of strangling her!
My observation of behavior is that it is not an aggressive attack, but much more like a rooster mounting a favorite hen.
Has anyone else seen this between hens? Bernie does not do it to Eli.

View attachment 3478129

That is what happens when you have over aggressive roosters that hold on too tight. Poor baby.

 

[RoyalChick]

That is what happens when you have over aggressive roosters that hold on too tight. Poor baby.

But I don’t have a rooster.
I have Bernie.

 

[Ponypoor]

OMG poor thing! Sorry but I don’t find that cute or funny Ice is very dangerous to horses and cattle, seen horses do splits and tear their hips and pelvis and have to be euthanized. My neighbours good milk cow broke a leg falling on ice.

My horse I was riding one day slipped and fell on ice we were bothe lucky we weren’t injured, didn’t see it under the snow.

One of the reasons I hate winter! Snow and ice.

 

[Ponypoor]

Bob mentioning Lady Featherington pulling feathers out of poor Betty reminded me to post this picture of Babs that I took yesterday.
The bald patch that Bernie has created is now much, much bigger. I don’t think the skin is broken but will look again the next time I can get up.
In my fever-fueled dreams I keep thinking I should fashion a bonnet for Babs to cover the back of her head. I can’t quite figure how to keep it on her without a risk of strangling her!
My observation of behavior is that it is not an aggressive attack, but much more like a rooster mounting a favorite hen.
Has anyone else seen this between hens? Bernie does not do it to Eli.

View attachment 3478129

You need a Roo - this way he will ensure peace reigns. All joking aside maybe you should take the offer of a Roo from the others. And maybe another hen or two- give you a half dozen. More than enough for you to enjoy and not too much to care for.

 

[Ponypoor]

At least everyone had a lovely morning/afternoon before this storm

View attachment 3478039

View attachment 3478032

Nice to seee everyone out and about

 

[Ponypoor]

That is the beauty of having 7 chickens. There is always someone to hang out with. The pecking order is long enough that those higher up don't worry about those at the bottom. When I had 3 or 5 I always felt like someone was alone. I don't see that now that I have 7.

The hen next to lay in the pecking order is always the most vicious in my experience. The fact that Lady Featherington just moved up of the bottom is making it worse. Betty always submits Lady Featherington mounts her. Betty would be better off running away.

Tis the way of the chicken I bet Aurora would say.

 

[Ponypoor]

I try not to intervene but yesterday I did twice. I don't want poor Betty ending up bald. Once she is mounted and a feather comes out, I intercede.

Enough already.

Yes that is what Dorothy has been doing to Curly - just viciously grabbing her wing or neck and of course
Those silkie feathers are no match for that behaviour.

I thing that my quota of 15 is a good number, and Penelope is 7yrs and Blanche and Sophia 5 (I think), so they are getting up there. Hopefully Rose and Dorothy settle down a bit, if Dorothy went broody it would be a good thing, get her away from being a bully.