Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Hmm but do roosters know the purpose of a time-out? Sorry, bad joke...he's driven by his hormones, and only another experienced well-behaved rooster, or an assertive hen when the rooster is young enough can teach him, is my understanding. You have to wait it out. So maybe a divided run or area might work, where he can "be with the flock" but not get at them. Separating him totally without company would be hard on any chicken. But remember I know nothing here, this is only what I've gleaned from others!

Agree. He won’t learn from hit. He will learn from getting floggged by the hens.
But giving the hens some space by separating him for an afternoon or a few hours a day may reduce their stress.
I am not being an enabler here, but do you have enough hens for him?
OK, I am being an enabler!

 

[knoturavggrl]

Dead.
Abigail.
I am still crying.

Oh no! I will save the what happened till later for now just

 

[Ponypoor]

Caturday update.

Trixie is just plain mean. Holding those kittens hostage.

I was going to ask as I hadn't heard anything if she had them or not

 

[Ponypoor]

Butters update - still hanging in, weighing now 2 lbs 12 oz, versus 15 oz last week, so maybe she's holding on. She is acting much more hungry and and wanting to eat more, and telling Popcorn to keep away from whatever she's eating, but still not ending up eating very much. I am still tube feeding her 30ml once a day now, with added coconut oil.

I set up a little feed bowl for her after I saw her standing in the treadle and looking unsure about eating, or leaning in to eat. She likes the bowl. Since then I've observed her using the treadle okay. She is very picky about eating. Might try a mash with her today, from your and @BY Bob 's recommendation earlier today.

I found more fibrous pieces, but dried this time, in the poop tray and roost bars the other day (Edit - Aug 3), took pics and I hope she's done with that, if that's what was or is the problem. Her spirit was very much improved that day, so it helped at least to pass them. The one I didn't get a picture of, picture a woman's pinky about two inches long, then it quickly narrowed to six inches of stringy fiber.

Three groups of poop on the poop tray, though there was stringy fiber in two places as if she moved, and I put that together for the picture. Two angles.
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Oh wow that just looks like it definitely shouldn’t be there. I sure hope she has pooped it all out and that was the issue. Poor wee lady.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Oh no! I will save the what happened till later for now just

SHRA tax: I am so sorry

 

[Ponypoor]

You are a kindred soul in the anxiety department
So I was just checking on them again before going out to exercise, thinking about the air, and wondering - wouldn’t there be air circulation brought about by the brooder plate on one end warming the air against the plate, causing it to rise and so bringing about a rotation in the air going up and out by the plate- side and replaced by cooler air coming down from the other side going under it?

That’s very scientific !

I have used a water tub to brood chicks. And a dog crate - prefer the water tub. Easier to access the chicks.

 

[Lilion]

Hmm but do roosters know the purpose of a time-out? Sorry, bad joke...he's driven by his hormones, and only another experienced well-behaved rooster, or an assertive hen when the rooster is young enough can teach him, is my understanding. You have to wait it out. So maybe a divided run or area might work, where he can "be with the flock" but not get at them. Separating him totally without company would be hard on any chicken. But remember I know nothing here, this is only what I've gleaned from others!

Agree. He won’t learn from hit. He will learn from getting floggged by the hens.
But giving the hens some space by separating him for an afternoon or a few hours a day may reduce their stress.
I am not being an enabler here, but do you have enough hens for him?
OK, I am being an enabler!

I'd say he absolutely does NOT have enough hens. One of the reasons we let Eenie hatch, hoping for more pullets. But they take time to grow. And that won't happen if he kills them. I don't know that he WILL, just that he was aggressive toward them.

He wouldn't be separated to the point of not seeing the others, next to them. The small coop is portable and we could put it right by the run.

There are no older roosters or hens to teach him a lesson. I got four "pullets" and one ended up being Manny instead. They were all hatched more or less together.

He's not a bad boy. He doesn't peck or spur me. He wants to take care of the girls...but I can't let him hurt the chicks.

If he were a pure-blooded something, I might find him a home. But he's a mutt. If I give him away he'll be in a stew.

I have to do something though. The triplets are just too big to keep out of the flock much longer.

 

[Ponypoor]

Eli’s spirit is strong.
Here is Calypso who somehow landed on top of my shade canopy and was eyeing the roof.
I don’t know how she got there - I was working hard digging a path to the chicken shrub.
Only Babs, the gardener, seems to appreciate my hard work.
By the way, does anyone know if this is a honey bee?

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Eli-too is flying up onto the 6’ panel between the two halves of the summer house at night. 6’ straight up! Easy peasy!

 

[RoyalChick]

I'd say he absolutely does NOT have enough hens. One of the reasons we let Eenie hatch, hoping for more pullets. But they take time to grow. And that won't happen if he kills them. I don't know that he WILL, just that he was aggressive toward them.

He wouldn't be separated to the point of not seeing the others, next to them. The small coop is portable and we could put it right by the run.

There are no older roosters or hens to teach him a lesson. I got four "pullets" and one ended up being Manny instead. They were all hatched more or less together.

He's not a bad boy. He doesn't peck or spur me. He wants to take care of the girls...but I can't let him hurt the chicks.

If he were a pure-blooded something, I might find him a home. But he's a mutt. If I give him away he'll be in a stew.

I have to do something though. The triplets are just too big to keep out of the flock much longer.

Oh yes - you need to integrate - I am just questioning whether he will really kill them.
I wonder if you could pen him up nearby and let them out to get to know the lay of the land and where they can escape and hide.
Then let them mingle but you there to rescue if there is actual blood (some pecking is OK).
Then pen him up again so they can roost in peace.
Something along those lines?

 

[Ponypoor]

I wonder whether they are wild or belong to someone with a hive who sells honey.
I always worry about someone selling honey because they spend a lot of time here - currently on the mint and later on the garlic chives. They love both, and neither seems like a good flavor for money!

Or honey for that matter!

But I have had Goldenrod honey before and it’s marvellous!