Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I just wanted to scream tonight with the hens being bullies. I have thought long and hard about which possible hens I could use who would be a buffer for the chicks at this age. None, I have none that I would trust not to do exactly what Goose was doing tonight. The only other trustworthy hen who would not be mean to young chicks just learning to roost was Chiquita and she is gone too. Branch really will be my only option tomorrow if I have to use him. I really really do not want to have to move him though. He hates the coop. He shows his displeasure of being locked up in it every time by starting to crow around 3 am. He does not stop either until he is let out in the morning. On the big roost, not a peep out of him until about 5:45 when the alarms start going off through the week. On weekends when no alarms are set he is quite until about 6:30. I guess I just have to hope for the future one of these girls will one day be gentle with young chicks when they are learning the ropes. The rocks are already out of the question. They have shown they love to peck their siblings on the roost too much. That will leave either Owly or the speckled suspects. I guess technically for the time being I could move the trouble making girls out of the coop onto the big roosts but that will also cause drama. Goose, Perdita, Lilly, Ducky and the one leghorn sleep in the coop simply because they do not get along with the other hens at night. If I tried moving them out they will just fight with the rest of the flock and at some point I will have hens refusing to stay on the roost at night to avoid the drama. Perdita and Lilly never tried sleeping on the big roost. Goose, Ducky and the leghorn have and caused trouble. Easiest solution was take the trouble makers and lock them in the coop.

Oh boy!
Could a roost divider help (maybe temporarily)?
@BY Bob did one and it helped and I have seen lots of posts where folk stuck a piece of cardboard across the roost so one hen couldn’t peck at her neighbors.
I am wondering if you figured out how to fix it during the day you could insert it to protect the littles once roosted.
Maybe worth a try.

 

[RoyalChick]

Sometimes she'll be purple, too.

I just love that. I find the color changes in the black chickens just mesmerizing and very beautiful.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh boy!
Could a roost divider help (maybe temporarily)?
@BY Bob did one and it helped and I have seen lots of posts where folk stuck a piece of cardboard across the roost so one hen couldn’t peck at her neighbors.
I am wondering if you figured out how to fix it during the day you could insert it to protect the littles once roosted.
Maybe worth a try.

Oops. Late start to day and I already owe SHRA tax as @bgmathteach already suggested using roost dividers.
I still think it is worth a try.

SHRA tax: The odd couple tanking up in the early evening. That is the refill after supper and before the bedtime refueling.

 

[rural mouse]

No, no, if it was a sea bright, it would be sitting at SEA, not land lubbing! (Unless, of course - it is waiting for the 'mess' of 'mess hall") That is probably a SEbright.




Okay, I'll just take my chair and hide now:


What ever possessed me to think I could compete with Alex on this front?

Good job. You succeeded.

 

[Ponypoor]

@micstrachan

Just checking in to see how you are and if that weather warnings down there are affecting you.

 

[rural mouse]

This morning has been so peaceful. Took Sherlock and navy son (arrived Friday evening) over to see grandpa. Good visit. Lots of family has arrived. LATE dinner. Sherlock was nervous about being there at first. Then he played with the German Shepherd (@10 months).

The both of them even settled with bones (She's usually territorial about the bones, except when MIL distributed them)

Then he played with the heeler (a year, who bonded with MIL). The heeler had a tough time at first. Sherlock decided FIL was pretty special and hung out with him for a bit, then the kids found him. Sherlock wrapped all the kids (and several adults) around the tip of his tail. Had kids hinting about needing another dog at home, adults commenting on how sweet he is, and another offering to "let him go home with them on loan for a month or 2". That offer came from the 20+ hour drive crew.

Sherlock mostly ignored the chickens, got several opportunities to practice sitting off to the side while vehicles drove in or out, and completely missed dinner last night. He also slept the whole way home and went back to sleep here, inspite of me putting out food for him. He brought home "his" bone (deer or antelope", and is asleep again under my chair.

More gathering today, so....I'm going to figure it won't be a 3-4 hour visit and bring his dinner with us.

Everyone is still getting tossed about rough waves in little dinghys, but we got some good laughs and comfort out of the day.

 

[Ponypoor]

Pony Sunday

Missy was annoyed that I wouldn’t let her inside - she doesn’t like mosquitoes I guess
View attachment 3613668View attachment 3613675

Pony Sunday

I just want to clarify that yesterday was Caturday Saturday not Pony Sunday - silly me!

Today I give you some photos of my friend’s horses in Cairo

October 2000

Solomon a half Arabian gelding he was 30 yrs old on this photo

Maleka Arabian mare

Fatima (I think) Arabian mare

Edit- gosh I feel so old now!

 

[Ponypoor]

This morning has been so peaceful. Took Sherlock and navy son (arrived Friday evening) over to see grandpa. Good visit. Lots of family has arrived. LATE dinner. Sherlock was nervous about being there at first. Then he played with the German Shepherd (@10 months).View attachment 3614654View attachment 3614655View attachment 3614656View attachment 3614653


The both of them even settled with bones (She's usually territorial about the bones, except when MIL distributed them)View attachment 3614658


Then he played with the heeler (a year, who bonded with MIL). The heeler had a tough time at first. Sherlock decided FIL was pretty special and hung out with him for a bit, then the kids found him. Sherlock wrapped all the kids (and several adults) around the tip of his tail. Had kids hinting about needing another dog at home, adults commenting on how sweet he is, and another offering to "let him go home with them on loan for a month or 2". That offer came from the 20+ hour drive crew.

Sherlock mostly ignored the chickens, got several opportunities to practice sitting off to the side while vehicles drove in or out, and completely missed dinner last night. He also slept the whole way home and went back to sleep here, inspite of me putting out food for him. He brought home "his" bone (deer or antelope", and is asleep again under my chair.

More gathering today, so....I'm going to figure it won't be a 3-4 hour visit and bring his dinner with us.

Everyone is still getting tossed about rough waves in little dinghys, but we got some good laughs and comfort out of the day.

Getting together with family at these times is what it’s all about

And a really great day for Sherlock - who can resist a puppy?

 

[bgmathteach]

This morning has been so peaceful. Took Sherlock and navy son (arrived Friday evening) over to see grandpa. Good visit. Lots of family has arrived. LATE dinner. Sherlock was nervous about being there at first. Then he played with the German Shepherd (@10 months).View attachment 3614654View attachment 3614655View attachment 3614656View attachment 3614653


The both of them even settled with bones (She's usually territorial about the bones, except when MIL distributed them)View attachment 3614658


Then he played with the heeler (a year, who bonded with MIL). The heeler had a tough time at first. Sherlock decided FIL was pretty special and hung out with him for a bit, then the kids found him. Sherlock wrapped all the kids (and several adults) around the tip of his tail. Had kids hinting about needing another dog at home, adults commenting on how sweet he is, and another offering to "let him go home with them on loan for a month or 2". That offer came from the 20+ hour drive crew.

Sherlock mostly ignored the chickens, got several opportunities to practice sitting off to the side while vehicles drove in or out, and completely missed dinner last night. He also slept the whole way home and went back to sleep here, inspite of me putting out food for him. He brought home "his" bone (deer or antelope", and is asleep again under my chair.

More gathering today, so....I'm going to figure it won't be a 3-4 hour visit and bring his dinner with us.

Everyone is still getting tossed about rough waves in little dinghys, but we got some good laughs and comfort out of the day.

It sounds like it was a wonderful day for all, despite the reality of why everyone was gathered. Great action shots if the pups - it looks like they were having great fun together. Probably the company was just as important for the dogs as the humans.

 

[Ponypoor]

Has anyone ever seen a soft shelled egg with an appendage attached to it like this one??

I accidentally pulled it off the egg when I was inspecting it. But this what it was like.