Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Lilion]

They never go in it during the day.
They are out and about in the Chicken Palace, in the yard. Then they file in there at night. I was worried because it is more enclosed space than the rest of the Palace - it is inside the Palace but has a roof inside so other chickens wouldn't roost on top of the brooder.
So I was worried about it getting hot and not great ventilation. It is fine for one adult as a sick bay, or a bunch of littles, but it is getting really cramped with these 5 big ones.
I should have just left them to figure it out for themselves. I think I really stressed them (and me!).

There's always tomorrow. If you let them in tonight you can always block it with plywood tomorrow.

 

[RoyalChick]

There's always tomorrow. If you let them in tonight you can always block it with plywood tomorrow.

I managed to stop myself going out to intervene. One more bad fall from the rafters and I was going to go in. They have settled but in a very uncomfortable looking way.
I think I know how to make them happier about it tomorrow. I think they are so used to being inside the brooder house with a roof over their head they find the big height above them and the space on either side of them unsettling. They are huddled using maybe 20% of the space on the roost they finally settled on and two of them are squished on some metal brackets.
I think I can put up some cardboard temporarily creating more of an enclosed feel for them.
I am betting that will make them feel happier.
I will also cover over the walls to their brooder house so they can't see in.
My poor little babies - I feel so bad!

 

[Ponypoor]

Someone crowed.
Pooh is now braying like a donkey but it wasn’t that sound. Piglet has got the goose honking thing going on. But it wasn’t that either.
It wasn’t a full on adult rooster crow. More like practicing.
I can’t figure out who it could be and whether it is actually a little cockerel or just poor voice control.
It could have been Bernie who certainly has other roostwr-like behaviors. Or even Babs who may honestly be the noisiest chicken I have ever encountered.
Or Tassels.
But @RebeccaBoyd thought I would see gold or red by now if Tassels was a boy. Tassels is big, but no red or gold.
The Pentagonists are 12 weeks old.

Here is Tassels looking alert and on the left. Pooh is in the foreground and Calypso head-down on the right.
View attachment 3570704

I don’t see anything that says Roo to me. I have my three that are 12 weeks and Rico and Martina both have been crowing and you definitely know it.

 

[Ponypoor]

I managed to stop myself going out to intervene. One more bad fall from the rafters and I was going to go in. They have settled but in a very uncomfortable looking way.
I think I know how to make them happier about it tomorrow. I think they are so used to being inside the brooder house with a roof over their head they find the big height above them and the space on either side of them unsettling. They are huddled using maybe 20% of the space on the roost they finally settled on and two of them are squished on some metal brackets.
I think I can put up some cardboard temporarily creating more of an enclosed feel for them.
I am betting that will make them feel happier.
I will also cover over the walls to their brooder house so they can't see in.
My poor little babies - I feel so bad!

They will get used to it. Mine were like that the first night in the Summer House. Now they enjoy the space and roost beside each other but not crammed together.

Not sure why they let their heads hang down though- do yours do that?

 

[rural mouse]

I managed to stop myself going out to intervene. One more bad fall from the rafters and I was going to go in. They have settled but in a very uncomfortable looking way.
I think I know how to make them happier about it tomorrow. I think they are so used to being inside the brooder house with a roof over their head they find the big height above them and the space on either side of them unsettling. They are huddled using maybe 20% of the space on the roost they finally settled on and two of them are squished on some metal brackets.
I think I can put up some cardboard temporarily creating more of an enclosed feel for them.
I am betting that will make them feel happier.
I will also cover over the walls to their brooder house so they can't see in.
My poor little babies - I feel so bad!

Can you set up their "roof" so you can raise it a couple of inches every few days?

 

[RoyalChick]

Can you set up their "roof" so you can raise it a couple of inches every few days?

I think so. I am just going to tape cardboard to the walls/window. I am hoping after a few days they won't need it in order to feel secure. Right now they clearly think they are in an unsafe place and that makes me sad.

 

[RoyalChick]

They will get used to it. Mine were like that the first night in the Summer House. Now they enjoy the space and roost beside each other but not crammed together.

Not sure why they let their heads hang down though- do yours do that?

View attachment 3570967

No. Not since they moved from the cardboard box and started roosting at night. Right now they are set up so there is no room for anyone to sit down so they are sleeping standing upright. I think they are too scared to spread out enough to sit down.

 

[featherhead007]

They never go in it during the day.
They are out and about in the Chicken Palace, in the yard. Then they file in there at night. I was worried because it is more enclosed space than the rest of the Palace - it is inside the Palace but has a roof inside so other chickens wouldn't roost on top of the brooder.
So I was worried about it getting hot and not great ventilation. It is fine for one adult as a sick bay, or a bunch of littles, but it is getting really cramped with these 5 big ones.
I should have just left them to figure it out for themselves. I think I really stressed them (and me!).

Coin flip next time

 

[Lilion]

No. Not since they moved from the cardboard box and started roosting at night. Right now they are set up so there is no room for anyone to sit down so they are sleeping standing upright. I think they are too scared to spread out enough to sit down.

They might relax and spread out later. Mine start every single night in a pile in the corner. They have ever since we moved them to the big coop. So weird. They're up on the roost when we go let them out though.

 

[bgmathteach]

The door to their brooder house is closed and latched. I don’t think even Piglet could open it.
I am of course nervous about what will happen.
Their first move is this. It will not end well.

View attachment 3570823

They will learn. One or two reprimanding pecks and all will be clear to them. Just like a momma dog cuffing her pup if it gets out of line.