Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Desertvalleychickens]

These birds.... I don't get it! Stormfeather and Ijak usually get along nicely, no impromptu squabbles or kerfuffles-EXCEPT when Stormfeather does his little rooster dance (That looks like a bunny with feathers hopping around). Ijak will chase him into the next desert when he does that. I don't know why!!!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

These birds.... I don't get it! Stormfeather and Ijak usually get along nicely, no impromptu squabbles or kerfuffles-EXCEPT when Stormfeather does his little rooster dance (That looks like a bunny with feathers hopping around). Ijak will chase him into the next desert when he does that. I don't know why!!!

Also-A mugs Monday I almost missed!
BFTP

 

[BY Bob]

Babies


Curly chick - you can see her black spot on her back
View attachment 3692709

Up and about
View attachment 3692706

Little darlings.

 

[BY Bob]

I made history. 764 ft landing before turning on asphalt runway.

I take it that's good.

 

[BY Bob]

I have a question for you all. Have any of you had a hen actively stalk you, growling like only a chicken can head down looking like a rooster ready to attack? I have never even had a cockerel full in his idiot phase act this aggressive. One of the speckled sussex's is doing this. Fairly certain it is Dottie. This behavior has been building up for about a month now. It started as simply following me around. Then the growling while following. Now she is got her head down and hackles slightly flared. This IS a pullet I am sure of it. I grabbed her yesterday and inspected her hackle and sickle feathers. Rounded pullet/hen shaped. I asked and I am the only one she is doing this too. I am very very close to treating her like a do a stupid teenage roo and snatch her up and start carrying her around while I do chores.

I have never experienced that. Interesting.

 

[BY Bob]

Hmmm well Twister will follow and peck my legs - hard! But she doesn’t growl, and when I pick her up she snuggles and seems to enjoy being held.

Flopsy will also do this to a small extent. But none of my others - I wonder if her hormones are all crazy!

Now I have a question for you. So I caught Mr P making out with Tippy, she was more then willing. But she is not squatting at all for me, and I don’t see her laying any eggs. What’s up with that?

Why would she squat for you when she has Mr. Pompeii?

 

[BY Bob]

Diane-Ida has been strangely aggressive with my bare hands, if I reach near her to do something, she growls, whines and pecks, pretty hard. Specifically the back of my hand upsets her. If I turn it over and show her my palm and fingers she stops.

I had thought she was looking for any treats I might be holding, but now I'm not sure. I know she's quick to react if I touch her without enough warning or accidentally, she will swing her head in that direction as if to bite, she pulls back usually. But with warning I can pick her up with my hand sliding under the front of her, and she's perfectly fine, legs all hanging down, very relaxed.

She's quite familiar with me, is that part of it? If I am crouching down she will leap on to my back and walk up to my shoulders and head. Its actually the best spot if the Bigs are around, very safe there. If any treats are getting handed out she'll get a hand with treats held up for her there in turn with the others. But she'll do that often whether there's treats involved or not. Just a change in the view?

I'm not certain what to say about this behavior. I think I would only show her my palm moving forward.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes. As long as Little isn't bullied, I won't mind the change in the pecking order too much. But I can't see Little allowing anyone to bully her.

Could she not be feeling well? The pecking order does not usually change without violence or some significant event.

 

[BY Bob]

Little may not be feeling well? That could explain some nestbox sleeping. Robin may just be keeping her own status assured, it's not necessarily the top hen that chases. Here, and I think Bob said this was the case at FBA, the second-in-command is often the enforcer. Peanut was definitely above Hazel, but Peanut rarely put the hammer down on anyone. Hazel did it.

Yes, discipline is usually the job of the number 2 hen. That way the lead hen does not risk her position by getting in a fight. Have others do that for you.

Hattie once fought with Aurora when Aurora had been excessively abusive to the rest of the tribe. Hattie was number 2 and Lilly was Queen at the time. Aurora was number 3 in the order back then.

 

[BY Bob]

I see tiny bubbles in one of Hazel's eyes, ;( we got a vet appointment but the earliest they could do is Thursday. If it progresses to really bubbly I'll bring her in on an emergency basis.

No need to panic. You are doing the right thing. Keep an eye on her.