Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Good night RC
Night night fluffy butt folks

 

[BeastBaby]

***molt pic at the end*** warning for RC

Finally stopped raining and it was warm enough to hang out with the feathered crew. We brought out a new flock block for them. I got one of these last winter and they seem to be money well spent as they last quite a while. Enough chit chat on to the photos.

The Spotty Crew:
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The OG’s are looking good with their new feathers! Flour is my last one and although she still looks rough the worst is over.
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Sugar is super white now but you can see her breast feathers appear pink! Maybe she is part flamingo??
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Flour growing back new feathers as fast as she can!
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Great photos of the flock! And my what a gorgeous roo

 

[Ponypoor]

I think it's great that you are raising your son to learn another language so young ! Yes sometimes younger children will struggle with differences, and differentiating both languages, but I really believe it's worth it.
I learned english when I was in 8th grade, we spent a year in the US and I went to a public school in NY (PS84..still remember that from 35 years ago ), and back in France I attended an international school. It's so much easier to learn a language when you are a child ! I was nearly bilingual in my teens as I spoke english with most of my friends. But then I never got to practice as an adult, except for a three year period when my job required me to. Unfortunately it's something you loose after a while. BYC has been very helpful for my writing, but I never actually speak anymore.
(On the other hand, my younger brother, who was only 5 when we were in NY and 11 when we spent another year in Berkeley, totally refused to learn english as he was very unhappy with moving..he attended a french school.. but then later on he did a PHD in physics and became more fluent in english than I was as he had to speak it daily for three years...)

As others have said, you can't really intervene. It's the not so fun part of chicken relationships. But considering how things have gone in your flock and that Meanie was so mean, maybe you should try to check her once in a while, to make sure she doesn't get wounded. If it's from the cockerel, typically he will grab her comb or grab her feathers to hold once he’s on her back. I realise she is very skittish, but maybe you can look without grabbing her, or check once she is asleep (not easy if she’s hiding).
She could also just be reacting like this because Tres tried to mate her for the first time. Not all hens can put a cockerel in his place, and not all hens switch easily from one male to another. Some of mine were terrified when the two cockerels I had this summer began charging them to mate.
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A Merle serie for Thirsty Thursday
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She always has to step in at some point..
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But then she went back to that
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Merle is such a pretty hen

Well anytime you wish to chat in English let me know and you can Skype or teams or whatever it is this day and age they call it

 

[Ponypoor]

I fear you are right. I got about half way through the blackout, and there was no moon, and I turned off the cameras, and she was still up well before dawn to lay.

It will take at least a month for her system to lower any hormone levels to slow or stop eggs.

If you’re going to try it I would keep at it for at least 5 or 6 weeks.

Have you thought of putting her in a ‘dark box’ - put her in a crate at bedtime and wrap it in a dark blanket, to help keep her in a very dark zone.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Great photos of the flock! And my what a gorgeous roo

Thank you I have two of them, the jr rooster Story (he has a lot of speckles on his head) and Lore, who is in the hormonal idiot phase of his life. I hope to hatch out some babies next spring/summer. If the girls ever decide start laying that is .

 

[RoyalChick]

It will take at least a month for her system to lower any hormone levels to slow or stop eggs.

If you’re going to try it I would keep at it for at least 5 or 6 weeks.

Have you thought of putting her in a ‘dark box’ - put her in a crate at bedtime and wrap it in a dark blanket, to help keep her in a very dark zone.

I think she would be unhappy separated from Bernie. Maybe I should just let her do her thing. It really is impossible to make the Chicken Palace totally dark because of the ventilation.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I think it's great that you are raising your son to learn another language so young ! Yes sometimes younger children will struggle with differences, and differentiating both languages, but I really believe it's worth it.
I learned english when I was in 8th grade, we spent a year in the US and I went to a public school in NY (PS84..still remember that from 35 years ago ), and back in France I attended an international school. It's so much easier to learn a language when you are a child ! I was nearly bilingual in my teens as I spoke english with most of my friends. But then I never got to practice as an adult, except for a three year period when my job required me to. Unfortunately it's something you loose after a while. BYC has been very helpful for my writing, but I never actually speak anymore.
(On the other hand, my younger brother, who was only 5 when we were in NY and 11 when we spent another year in Berkeley, totally refused to learn english as he was very unhappy with moving..he attended a french school.. but then later on he did a PHD in physics and became more fluent in english than I was as he had to speak it daily for three years...)

As others have said, you can't really intervene. It's the not so fun part of chicken relationships. But considering how things have gone in your flock and that Meanie was so mean, maybe you should try to check her once in a while, to make sure she doesn't get wounded. If it's from the cockerel, typically he will grab her comb or grab her feathers to hold once he’s on her back. I realise she is very skittish, but maybe you can look without grabbing her, or check once she is asleep (not easy if she’s hiding).
She could also just be reacting like this because Tres tried to mate her for the first time. Not all hens can put a cockerel in his place, and not all hens switch easily from one male to another. Some of mine were terrified when the two cockerels I had this summer began charging them to mate.
********
A Merle serie for Thirsty Thursday
View attachment 3705201View attachment 3705202
She always has to step in at some point..
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But then she went back to that
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Beautiful photos and the scenery is just phenomenal.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes, you say this NOW - AFTER she has ambled up on that shaky ladder and stared death in the face!

Well, it will help trip her up when she goes to check on them at dusk - in the 'extra dusky' coop! So, there is that!

On a serious note, @RoyalChick - do be careful and be sure to wear your headlamp in the 'enhanced darkness'!

Gosh! Yes be careful! No slips trips or falls allowed.

Remember if you do fall down protect your eyes at all cost! They always go for the eyes.

 

[Ponypoor]

I think she would be unhappy separated from Bernie. Maybe I should just let her do her thing. It really is impossible to make the Chicken Palace totally dark because of the ventilation.

Throw them both in the crate. But I think that she will likely start slowing up this year, that is what my kiddos did. And as Bob stated with any luck she will go broody (and if she does I recommend giving her some chicks to keep her from laying).

 

[BY Bob]

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Thank you.