Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[knoturavggrl]

These feathered creatures are taxing my patience. They spend all day in my yard, and probably spend the night in the back, by the coop. I may as well just consider them my own. But my birds are tame! (Not these birds)

Well, if you do end up keeping those cuties there is one thing I am sure of and that is; they will be tame in short order You know well the way to a chickens heart, food, time, patience, and some love thrown in and they will be as tame as the rest of your crew.

 

[BY Bob]

Yep and chickens.

Like people, they can have obsessive behavioural problems. But then I guess all animals who have had stress are prone to this.

Reenie was at the track, horses there tend to be not be turned out a lot, and pick up all sorts of bad behaviours.

Much like battery hens crammed into little cages

Well that's sad. Hugs to Reenie.

 

[BY Bob]

What is up with one of my hens? Consistently, I get one stress egg every day (the wrinkled one) Nothing wrong with it except that it’s funny looking. So I save them all for myself.
Note: all the hens seem healthy enough, even heavier than they should be sometimes. My research shows that the egg deformation is caused by the hen being too stressed. There’s not a poultry psychologist around when I need one. I’ll shut up now!

Maybe Lucy can help. You need to give them some nickels though.

 

[BY Bob]

Good night littles

Last night they were still sleeping under their heat plate.
Tonight they have decided they don’t need it and have gathered up on top.

View attachment 3512928View attachment 3512929

Check in the am to see if they move as the temp falls tonight.

 

[featherhead007]

Maybe Lucy can help. You need to give them some nickels though.

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Only if I thought it would help! But every psychiatrist I’ve ever had, quit the practice because of me!

 

[BY Bob]

Well, if you do end up keeping those cuties there is one thing I am sure of and that is; they will be tame in short order You know well the way to a chickens heart, food, time, patience, and some love thrown in and they will be as tame as the rest of your crew.

 

[featherhead007]

I was right, they are all just outside the side of coop (probably planning how to infiltrate the coop next) I hope no one gets hurt if they try! The Rocks can be very mean when they want to be.
Tax for too much interloper talk:

 

[featherhead007]

Maybe I might need to build another coop?

 

[BY Bob]

Maybe I might need to build another coop?

I feel like you have enough extra room.

 

[rural mouse]

Maybe I might need to build another coop?

Mama needs to integrate too....the rest know she's there. I'd let them work things out. She's not really going to roost with the babies until she's fairly comfortable with the environment. If she wants to take the babies into the coop, I'd be inclined to provide some extra shelter where she wants to take them, but otherwise let them sort things out. She'll merge better with the others. Once she's settled in with them, working on taming her (and babies) can start happening. She's not used to the level of attention you provide, so it's going to make her more nervous. "Ignoring" her while working with the others will give her space to see how the other respond to you and give her time to work out her position with them.

Edit: you're taming a "wild" animal. Take things SLOWLY, at HER pace. Spooking her will reset any progress you've made.