Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

View attachment 3553326
Fluffy chick butt.

Awww a Bielefelder Butt

 

[Ponypoor]

No...just her feathers. She didn't look so bare yesterday. I'm probably really overreacting, but I'd not noticed the wing feathers before the picture and it kind of freaked me out. I suppose it might be the chicken equivalent of a bad hair day and I'm being stupid.

We have started locking the others out of the coop for a half hour or so once or twice a day, so we can get her out to eat and drink unmolested by Manny and then we can get any extra eggs out.

As long as she is able to sit the eggs unbothered and then brood the chicks without anyone bothering her or the chicks then it should all be perfect.

Ok well keep an eye on her, I am excited to see babies

 

[Ponypoor]

You haven't?
View attachment 3553370

They are related to Aurora!




Queen Snakes

And when they make her annoyed she can just eat them!

 

[Ponypoor]

No...just her feathers. She didn't look so bare yesterday. I'm probably really overreacting, but I'd not noticed the wing feathers before the picture and it kind of freaked me out. I suppose it might be the chicken equivalent of a bad hair day and I'm being stupid.

We have started locking the others out of the coop for a half hour or so once or twice a day, so we can get her out to eat and drink unmolested by Manny and then we can get any extra eggs out.

I think that bgmathteach or rural mouse or RebeccaBoyd would be better able though to let you know.

 

[Lilion]

As long as she is able to sit the eggs unbothered and then brood the chicks without anyone bothering her or the chicks then it should all be perfect.

Ok well keep an eye on her, I am excited to see babies

AND...the mystery deepens. Eenie is definitely laying.

I only have 3 hens and I picked up a blue and a brown yesterday and a blue the day before. Broody hens don't lay, right? This is the 2nd time since Sunday I've gotten 3.

Also, I just went to shut the others out just now. Usually, I toss them a treat to keep them busy as I close the door. Today, it was a few cherry tomatoes. Eenie came down the ramp like her tail was in fire and nabbed the first tomato she saw. Meanie was having NONE of it! She puffed up like a Tom turkey and chased Eenie back inside with Manny joining in! I closed the pop door and Eenie was back on the nest. She jumped out and gobbled down the two tomatoes like she hadn't eaten in a week (bit my hand on the way) and got right back on the nest as soon as she was done.

So now I'm wondering if she's being picked on. Would she hide in the box they ALL use? That doesn't make a lot of sense, when there are boxes she'd be left alone in, but what do I know? I'm not a chicken.

I thought she was my dominant hen...as much as any are. I've never seen any fights. If not her, then Sheba. I've literally never caught Manny "attending to his job" with Meanie whereas he's on Eenie abd Sheba all the time. She's the only one with all her back feathers; pretty unruffled. But she was a scary chicken for a minute there. They REALLY like those tomatoes!

This is maddening. I can't afford to put in video cameras to figure out what they do all day while I'm at work.

You are likely all tired of this saga. But it's such a mystery to me! I suppose though, worst case scenario, I've wasted 6 eggs and I'll have to figure something else out.

I really hope someone more knowledgeable on chicken behavior can chime in.

 

[rural mouse]

I think that bgmathteach or rural mouse or RebeccaBoyd would be better able though to let you know.

@Lilion

Broody hens can pluck out their breast feathers so they can tuck the eggs in against their skin more easily. When feathers are damaged on back/shoulders, my first thought is rooster attention. If her feathers break easily, insufficient protein when she was growing them (some birds simply need more/different nutrients) could make them fragile. Some genetically have fragile feathers.

I believe someone mentioned the possibility of lice or mites. I haven't had to deal with those, but I would think sheltered locations such as under the wings would be more apt to have those issues. That being said, checking for both would be wise.

It's early in the year for a hard moult, but soft moults can occur in the spring. It's a bit late for that, however there are several bird on this thread who have moulted in December/January.

You certainly have a puzzle. I've found that more observation is useful when I'm puzzling out chicken behavior. I work 5 days a week. When I'm baffled, I try to sit out and observe for at least an hour at a time, multiple times over the course of my days off (do some house work, go watch, back in for more chores, back out to watch). My best observations seem to occur when I don't appear to be watching them (looking at a book, playing with yarn). My eyes aren't pointed directly at them, but I'm very aware of what they're doing rather than whatever happens to be in my hands.

Sorry, no certain answers, but list of possibles to start checking off. Others may have some other things to add to the list.

 

[bgmathteach]

No...just her feathers. She didn't look so bare yesterday. I'm probably really overreacting, but I'd not noticed the wing feathers before the picture and it kind of freaked me out. I suppose it might be the chicken equivalent of a bad hair day and I'm being stupid.

We have started locking the others out of the coop for a half hour or so once or twice a day, so we can get her out to eat and drink unmolested by Manny and then we can get any extra eggs out.

I would not be worried if it is JUST the feathers. That said, it really wouldn't hurt to do a close inspection of feathers/feather shaft to be sure she doesn't have mites or lice. If it is just from overbreeding - she will be fine. Like you said - giving her peace twice a day to come out and eat/drink/poop unmolested is the best course of action if there isn't anything wrong. They WILL lose condition while being broody - you want to minimize it as much as possible.

I think that bgmathteach or rural mouse or RebeccaBoyd would be better able though to let you know.

Honestly, my concern is more that she (Lillion) stated she thought she looked unwell. Sometimes, you get that impression, even though you can't put your finger on it - and usually you are correct - either she is having a bad day, or she is ill and trying to hid it.

Just keep observing her closely over the next few days to be sure all it is is her feathers - and no mites/lice nor anything else. And, of course, employ your idea of locking everyone out of the coop 2X a day for 1/2 hour so she can come off the next, do her stuff, and go back. If she wants to be off longer occasionally for a dust bath - that is actually a good thing, too. Keeps creepy crawlies in check.

 

[Ponypoor]

AND...the mystery deepens. Eenie is definitely laying. View attachment 3553401
I only have 3 hens and I picked up a blue and a brown yesterday and a blue the day before. Broody hens don't lay, right? This is the 2nd time since Sunday I've gotten 3.

Also, I just went to shut the others out just now. Usually, I toss them a treat to keep them busy as I close the door. Today, it was a few cherry tomatoes. Eenie came down the ramp like her tail was in fire and nabbed the first tomato she saw. Meanie was having NONE of it! She puffed up like a Tom turkey and chased Eenie back inside with Manny joining in! I closed the pop door and Eenie was back on the nest. She jumped out and gobbled down the two tomatoes like she hadn't eaten in a week (bit my hand on the way) and got right back on the nest as soon as she was done.

So now I'm wondering if she's being picked on. Would she hide in the box they ALL use? That doesn't make a lot of sense, when there are boxes she'd be left alone in, but what do I know? I'm not a chicken.

I thought she was my dominant hen...as much as any are. I've never seen any fights. If not her, then Sheba. I've literally never caught Manny "attending to his job" with Meanie whereas he's on Eenie abd Sheba all the time. She's the only one with all her back feathers; pretty unruffled. But she was a scary chicken for a minute there. They REALLY like those tomatoes!

This is maddening. I can't afford to put in video cameras to figure out what they do all day while I'm at work.

You are likely all tired of this saga. But it's such a mystery to me! I suppose though, worst case scenario, I've wasted 6 eggs and I'll have to figure something else out.

I really hope someone more knowledgeable on chicken behavior can chime in.

Hmmm as far as I know broody hens do not lay eggs but she could still be thinking about being broody. How long has she been on those eggs?

 

[Lilion]

Hmmm as far as I know broody hens do not lay eggs but she could still be thinking about being broody. How long has she been on those eeggs?

Just a day on those 6. We'd been gathering them and only leaving a golf ball or two this week. She started spending all her time on the nest last week while we were on vacation and the neighbors were taking care of them and gathering the eggs.

 

[Ponypoor]

I would not be worried if it is JUST the feathers. That said, it really wouldn't hurt to do a close inspection of feathers/feather shaft to be sure she doesn't have mites or lice. If it is just from overbreeding - she will be fine. Like you said - giving her peace twice a day to come out and eat/drink/poop unmolested is the best course of action if there isn't anything wrong. They WILL lose condition while being broody - you want to minimize it as much as possible.


Honestly, my concern is more that she (Lillion) stated she thought she looked unwell. Sometimes, you get that impression, even though you can't put your finger on it - and usually you are correct - either she is having a bad day, or she is ill and trying to hid it.

Just keep observing her closely over the next few days to be sure all it is is her feathers - and no mites/lice nor anything else. And, of course, employ your idea of locking everyone out of the coop 2X a day for 1/2 hour so she can come off the next, do her stuff, and go back. If she wants to be off longer occasionally for a dust bath - that is actually a good thing, too. Keeps creepy crawlies in check.

I know what you mean by ‘having a feeling’ - for sure lilion knows her girl best, we have all been there I am sure.