Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I was outside gathering eggs when I heard the commotion of their fight. He had Branched penned up in the corner of the coop where he could not get away. I came very close to wringing his neck when I tossed him off of him. I like Twig, but he will not kill his daddy.

Why do they have to be so vicious sometimes?

 

[BY Bob]

Branch update. He is a little sore this morning. He has a limp. Not a bad one, and not every step like he had yesterday evening but it is still there. Branch was scared last night. He has not slept in the coop in over a year. He has a spot on the big roost between 2 of his favorite hens. Last night at roosting time Twig was in that spot and Branch was in the coop. I had to catch Twig anyway since he is leaving this morning so I got him off the roost and put him in a dog kennel with food and water. I then went and got Branch and put him back in his rightful place between his girls. This situation is upsetting but it is something that I have to keep in mind that could happen with keeping multiple boys. Twig is a year old now, he had gotten over his fear of Branch and Bubba and has decided he was not happy being 3rd in the rooster pecking order. He is still not people aggressive so that is why I listed him for sale instead of humanely euthanizing him. If he had killed Branch, well, I may not be able to say that.

I'm glad you were able to work things out. I assume you will be wary of any rooster larger than Branch moving forward.

I am so glad threat l that Branch is ok.

 

[BY Bob]

Both boys left this morning. They get to work as a pair over a free ranging flock. They will have 15 hens to look over. This is the home that Toothless went to 3 years ago. He lived like a king but sadly passed of a suspected heart attack on the roost 2 weeks ago. Twig will now get to be the head rooster and will have Madea to be his 2nd in command. This was trying to play out here as Branch and Bubba paired up and work together and the same was starting to happen with Twig and Madea. 6 of the boys new hens, are Toothless daughters and granddaughters. As of this moment it is official, I will not keep a another rooster as long as I have Bubba and Branch.

This seem like an excellent outcome considering. They will have their new challenge and your tribe will have its stability.

 

[rural mouse]

How in the heck did they fly up there? They aren't even 2 weeks old!

Thing seems to be watching them quite closely.

did you put them back in their tote to have the warm mamma tonight? Where they aren't fully feathered, I am wondering if you think they would be okay out of the tote/away from the heating pad or not.

The pallet (had been cut to Christmas tree shape before I got it) is leaning against the wall to the left of the pic. They've been climbing it (to no more than a full 12 inches plus lower than where they are) so I'm not surprised they're up there...except I figured another week. I had left the big door open earlier. Walked out, dead stop at the threshold, about faced and went back to the house for my phone. Back out for pics, then did headcount, checked that all 6 were there, and closed up.

"Mama" is in the tote under them, so I figure they're likely hopping down before full dark (have another half hour or so from now, a good hour after I closed the coop). I'll head back out and check soon.

Honestly, I'm surprised they were allowed to stay there. Past experience says the adults will drive them off the roost for the impertinent of daring to roost on the same level (3 adults were further out the angled piece). This has been the smoothest integration....so far....with ZERO poopy butts and no persecution either.

 

[rural mouse]

That’s hilarious they sure can fly, the wee little monsters!

Did you put them back into their tote?

I'm mostly going off the: you put yourself there, you can get yourself out.

Doesn't mean I'm not checking on them (I Am!!!), or fishing them out. I'm trying to handle them lots so I can do that when they're grown while letting the adults do the educating. They can do a better job of it than I can. I'm not fluent in "chickenese"

 

[BY Bob]

FYI if you use a lawn chair tip it over so the beasties don’t crap on it

Sometimes your chair is too heavy to tip over. A removable cushion can help.

 

[BY Bob]

This update does not surprise me although saddens me. I lost the very tiny silkie mix. I have been worried about this chick since the moment it hatched. I have never had one hatch that tiny, even a pure silkie. It ate and drank and I even treated it since day 1 with save a chick. At 5 days old it never grew. Yes it was sporting wing feathers instead of down but it was clearly failing to thrive. This past week has just sucked. I am very close to being mentally done with chicks this season.

 

[LhickenChicken]

SHRA Tax

For asking a duplicate question

Tippy and Rico - full siblings (Sophia is mum) and Martina
View attachment 3538355

In case I missed, is Martina a pullet? She is looking good.

 

[rural mouse]

They stayed up there. I put them all under "mama". Tomorrow, will readjust so there's more height under it. The likely would have been fine....until around 230 or 3 am....

 

[featherhead007]

I so love this little rooster, but if he bites me one more time, he’ll be back in the coop. I don’t know what his problem is tonight. He’s full of food, been roostering all day long, and just now, had special treats for only him! That Brat!
Grumpy old man!
Rascal!
Maybe he doesn’t like being called a “rougarou”?