Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

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ChicoryBlue said:
Diane Ida-Biter has been a handful. She follows me around and pecks or tries to peck the back of my boots now. I'm disciplining her at least 2-3 times when I go in to see them and do chores. She calms down and then goes at it again a little while later. She's more wary of pecking my hands (she pecked twice today though), and the boots are a new target.

Popcorn has been interesting to watch with this Diane stuff. She usually comes over and stands near, as if: "You want any help with that?" I'm careful to not hold Diane down close to Popcorn because she will jump her. And yesterday there was a scuffle right behind me, I looked back and there was Popcorn chasing Diane off right at my boot heels, I think she was charging (chasing) me as I walked away. I don't recall if I felt a peck or not, but Popcorn was on the case.

I keep looking at her wondering if she's a roo but nothing physically nothing points to it. She does have an abnormal pupil shape in one eye, she has had it ever since Anna was sick, and maybe before then. but that's when they were getting their adult eyes and I began really examining them, 5-7 weeks. The bottom blackness is not round, it bulges down into the iris. So I'm looking at her iris band too, thinking how the pupil is like a symptom of optical Marek's. There are no other signs though her iris could be slightly lighter near it. They were vaccinated, but it's possible. I've got no pictures but will try tomorrow. In any case I've never heard of this aggressive urge being a symptom.

Lastly, the Spuds are 26 weeks old tomorrow and Tedi half-squatted for me, and Popcorn did today, so laying may be starting up / again soon. Yesterday I put a couple of ceramic eggs back in the nestbox to try heading off any interest in egg eating. I'll add more tomorrow. Glad I did. Diane explored them today while I was cleaning, so the coop back was open and there was good light for her. The Spuds often come in to look around the nestbox when I have the back off. She lightly pecked one, then really laid into it, putting her weight behind her pecks. Nothing. She walked away, yay! Hopefully that was a good lesson. Also, she did not try to peck my hands while I worked, another win (though that was after two earlier disciplined episodes where she did).
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Oh gosh, sorry you’re having such a tough time w Diane Roo. How many safe minutes does a disciplining get you?

For best results with dogs, it’s helpful to start correcting a behavior when you see the intent, rather than waiting for them to actually misbehave. For example, a dog on a leash should get a correction when they start walking faster than they’re human- rather than waiting until they’re pulling on the leash. Or, you’d be better off nipping barking in the bud by correcting a pup when their ears perk forward and their body tenses, rather than waiting until they’re full on lunging at the neighbor’s cat, etc.

Could you try the same with Diane Ida? Do one of those “disciplines” when she gives you side-eye, rather than waiting until she pecks you?

Good call getting those ceramic eggs in! Especially with such a curious hen about.
And yay a squat- so something like two weeks to wait now then? What do their wattles look like?
 
Okay, I measured my chicken runs today and they seem perfectly roomy to me.
In theory, nine chickens (my current seven plus two new Spring chicks) should do fine.
Would you all humor me and reassure me they have enough space to be happy? (Certainly looking to avoid stress, feather picking, etc.)

I do let my chickens free range in the yard, but it’s ultimately just two to three times a week, for a 40-60 minute chunk of time. That’s not a ton of time out, which means the runs are where most of their lives are lived.

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When they first come out of the coop there is this little 5.5’ x 7.5’ space. It’s not well utilized (no clutter or perches, and the chickens don’t hang out here) but has the main food and water stations.

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That little space opens up to this main run, 14.5’ x 7’. It has the dust bath, perches, and roofing so is nearly always toasty dry.

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This run extension is 18’ x 10.5’. It has the most clutter, although it needs some work to become raccoon proof.

This is a total of roughly 330 sqft. The main pinch point is the doorway between the covered run and the uncovered extension. Especially since the old girls usually camp out by the dust bath, just waiting for a pullet to pass by so they could pinch them.

So, green light on Chicken math?

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The three pullets tonight, with Whiskey so asleep her wing unfolded teehee.
 

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