Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

@Pastel The Rooster Said:

I am late to the conversation on your broody girl but if you catch this in the morning here are a few suggestions.

If she is currently sitting in the coop there is a simple cheap solution that may help you this time around. Find yourself a Rubbermaid tote. Flip it over and cut a entry hole and set it on top of your girl. I have found most girls will not take too kindly to moving them from their chosen spot. She is going to need to get up anyway tomorrow, take a basket, bowl or egg carton out with you and gather those eggs from her and bring them in to candle and mark them. Decide how many eggs you want her to hatch out, if she is a big girl she can probably cover 12 to 15 fairly decent sized eggs. A smaller girl, 8 or so good eggs. I would personally let her have at least 4 back if you have 4 viable eggs so you do not risk a single chick. Put the chosen eggs where you found them, let her come back to them and plop the tote on top of her. Now block the entrance with something....anything so another hen can not get in to disturb her and lay in her nest as she will want to keep that extra egg. Until she hatches once a day go out and remove her from the nest to make sure she eats, drinks and poops then let her go back and block the entrance again. When the chicks start hatching add a small dish of chick starter and a shallow dish of water inside the tote close to her as she may not want to immediately bring them off the nest for the first day or so. When she is ready to leave the nest with the chicks let her, she will defend them from the other flock members and they will very quickly learn not to mess with the chicks. From there all you will have to do is let her and her brood out in the morning and round them up and put them back in the tote at night.

I love that tote idea, can you post a photo of yours again?

Next year I will use that rather than my water trough

 

[Ponypoor]

Yup. If my dad wont help me, I'll do it myself.

Did you see Rebecca’s suggestion? If you moved Willy to a safer location I bet that would work perfect for you.

 

[featherhead007]

No, I think he just wants to keep me safe honestly. Although when he was a child, much younger than me, he did see his dogs kill his whole flock, including his favorite chicken Bluebell, right in front of him.
He really loved Bluebell. He took her to school on a homemade leash for Show N Tell, tried teaching her how to swim, and stuff like that.
He said that she was a RIR, so if I get a RIR looking chick, I'm gonna name it Bluebell.

That explains a lot.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Ask Aurora
Today's question comes from @RoyalChick Bernadette.

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And she asks.....

Dear Aurora,
I am a huge fan and have followed all the advice you have given me before. I also study all your writings and responses to others so I can continue to learn from you.

This has all been a great help to me and I have risen to become the undisputed leader of my small tribe.
I remember your teachings about bringing new chicks into the group and so I was excited when my servant deposited 5 small fluff balls into the Chicken Palace. Oh boy do they make a lot of noise going peep-peep-peep all the time! And I have to watch my step as I could very easily squash one - I will admit I have outsized feet - but they are also ridiculously small. So in practical terms it is all a bit trying.

But I am OK with all that because, as you have taught me, they will increase the number of chickens I will get to boss around and that makes me happy.

However, here is my issue, and I feel more than a bit foolish admitting this, but I am a bit nervous around them.

There are so many of them, and they are so fast! Only this morning all five of them (did I mention there are FIVE?!) flew from the roost right at my head. I confess that I ducked and moved to one side rather than be hit five times (FIVE times!). And then when I went to teach them some respect they all took off in different directions so I didn't land a hit on any of them.

Fortunately I don't think either Eli or Babs saw this humiliating event, and my servant is of course completely loyal, so word will not spread. But still, I need to figure how to stop this nonsense ever happening again.

Any suggestions would be most welcome. I am including a picture of them, and yes, I know they look very cute and all that, but when they all fly at your head it is quite scary!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Respectfully yours,
Bernadette

Dear Bernadette,
I am pleased that you were able to follow my suggestions and achieve the lofty status which you so richly deserve. Welcome to the ranks of leaders. Always remember though, as William Shakespeare said, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown”. Of course, crowns are physically heavy but that is not what olde Billy was referring to. In this case, it is a mighty responsibility which you have accepted. Of course, no one else is capable of doing it correctly, so good for you. You have stepped up and are ready to utilize your superior intellect and wisdom to guide your tribe. It is for their own good that you have assumed this mantle. Be certain to avail yourself of all the benefits to which you are entitled.

I mention this because during the hectic day of telling everyone where to go, when to preen, when and where to dust bathe, etc., it is easy to forget of the benefits to which we are due. Things like:

1. The best roosting spot
2. The best dust hole
3. The choicest bits of food
4. The pleasure of smacking Phyllis around (that is just for me but you should try to find your own Phyllis. It is truly enjoyable to have your own “pecking bag".)
5. Having someone inform your human servant so you get the treats to which you are due
6. Having a minion laying your egg for you. (This of course is not true but it would be a real life changer if it were possible)
7. Having someone else stand sentinel
8. Perching on the human’s chair and surveying your kingdom

You will note that 5, 6, & 7 are all things that your minions perform at your direction. You are right to point out in your letter that more chickens = more minions to do your bidding and serve you and the rest of the tribe.

Something to remember that can be forgotten, the primary purpose of minions is to work at your direction for the betterment of the tribe. Some Queens have forgotten this and have their minions so busy taking care of them personally that the tribe suffers. This is dangerous and can foment revolution. For an idea of how that can turn out, check up on what happened to Czar Nicholas II of Russia and his family. Not great. Whatever you do, do not have your techie hen google it for you. That could be bad.

More Minions = More Good

Some of my Minions
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You have the Minion concept down. What you are running into now is the conundrum that comes with pullets. They are adorable, cute, and the future of your society. However, they are still silly pullets. Most of them think they are real birds and will fly all over the place. Now flying at your head is clearly unacceptable. You have made it known that it is unacceptable by chasing them. You do not have to connect to discipline. Your anger alone is enough for them to get the point. In fact, it can be dangerous to connect in rage. While for example I can go all out and smack Phyllis around in ager without really worrying about hurting her severely, if you lose your temper and impact too hard you could actually hurt pullets pretty badly. So, chase and peck at them but don’t worry if they get away.

There is one thing you do need to remember.

Patience is your friend.

Soon they will be larger and not able to fly nearly as well. Most if not all of them will likely be slower than you. You will be able to connect then when needed.

This is all part of “The Way of the Chicken”. The speed, agility, and flying ability of chicks and pullets is to help them avoid danger. Whether that danger is a peck done in anger which is too hard or a predator does not matter. Eventually they mature and join the ranks of your minions and will then be subject to your firm but needed discipline.

By the way, do not be embarrassed that you ducked when they came at your head. That is a natural chicken response to things coming at our heads. Normally those things are predators. It is essential that you have good instincts and continue to protect yourself. Just imagine the tragedy that would befall your tribe without you leading them. I know that it would be a complete catastrophe for mine. I imagine yours is the same.

One last thing while I am providing advice. You do need to start succession planning if you have not already done so. Someone else needs to have your wisdom. You need to identify someone who, with your guidance, will someday be capable of taking over should anything happen to you. The tribe must go on. This is “The Way of the Chicken”.

Yours,
Aurora

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Great letter to a young Queen! Surprisingly even-handed with good solid sisterly advice & explanations. Thank you, Scribe, for posting it!
Is Phyllis Aurora’s “techie hen” (besides “pecking bag”)?

 

[Addicted To Chickens]

Caturday

This is Bill my nieces cat .
He used to be our family Doctor’s cat, but he became ill retired and gave to cat to his grand-son. Who just happened to be dating my niece, of course the cat is hers now he love my niece.
The boyfriend Is good with that

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So it's Caturday?

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

It's too bad you didn't live near me, I would throw you up on Lulu and send you out for a nice hack in the tree farm (while I sat home on my lawn chair and chillaxed!).

All my friends kids that used to come out and ride my horses and ponies are all grown up and moved away boohoo! I am gonna need to get some new friends with kids.



Horse Tax
I missed posting this for a fluffy butt Friday - Penne loves this solar light to sit and preen on.

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Haha, maybe someday.
And maybe someday I will also become ponypoor

 

[Ponypoor]

(Not meant to be rude or anything)
That sounds like a really good idea. Really good.
The only thing is, the underneath of the big box in their coop is way too short for that. There got sure is no room.
And with how far back she is, it would be hard to put a tote on her.
What do you mean by, " most girls won't take too kindly to being moved from their chosen position? "
They will break their broodyness? Really have a huge fit and attack?

She meant that she might not stay in the tote if you moved it, she would run back to the location she is in. I am worried about that location as you stated it got wet in there. That is not good for chicks, eggs, or mama.

I love the tote idea and if you can get Willy and her eggs (I think it was rural mouse who suggested taking the eggs first), and move her to a safer location and use a tote - do as Rebecca suggested and cut the tote a doorway and put it over top of Willy (upside down), let her sit in there about 30 min to settle down then give her eggs back to her, then that will solve your problems I think.

Good luck.

 

[Addicted To Chickens]

Great letter to a young Queen! Surprisingly even-handed with good solid sisterly advice & explanations. Thank you, Scribe, for posting it!
Is Phyllis Aurora’s “techie hen” (besides “pecking bag”)?

Poor Phyllis!

 

[Ponypoor]

So it's Caturday?

Yes - do you have a cat? Many of us have lovely moggies that we love to share. By Bob has 3 gorgeous moggies, Marie2020 has a lovely black, LhickenChicken also has a couple of lovely black moggies.

Tomorrow is Pony Sunday - we post photos of our ponies, horses, donkeys, cows, goats, iguanas etc - love seeing everyone's other pets

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

She meant that she might not stay in the tote if you moved it, she would run back to the location she is in. I am worried about that location as you stated it got wet in there. That is not good for chicks, eggs, or mama.

I love the tote idea and if you can get Willy and her eggs (I think it was rural mouse who suggested taking the eggs first), and move her to a safer location and use a tote - do as Rebecca suggested and cut the tote a doorway and put it over top of Willy (upside down), let her sit in there about 30 min to settle down then give her eggs back to her, then that will solve your problems I think.

Good luck.

How long could they live in the tote though, until she and her chicks, if she is able to hatch some, grow out of the tote.
With the brooder type thing I planned out, they could probably live there for a few weeks, and they and peck each other through the wire, but not make much physical contact.
(I'm NOT trying to have a comeback for everything, I'm just trying to figure out what works best)