Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I like that big black nipple waterer. Did you make it?

Yes. Rubber bucket, set of nipples (feed store had them), and a drill with the bit a little smaller than the nipples. Had to rotate the drill a bit to shove the nipples in, but no glue was used. 2.5 gallon bucket

 

[featherhead007]

Oh Alex

I get you, I was exactly the same when I lost my dog just before 9/11 . Stupidly I went on a holiday about a month later and did nothing but cry, that holiday was pointless. Try concentrating on all the good things you have left. You sure have a lot to be happy about to. All those little ones and the rest of your flock

I get you. But I also think I need this vacation. And I already spent the $3K on the reservation for the weekend, so I’m hoping that my solitude and fresh ocean air will help dry my tears
I have been alone for a long time and prefer it over being in a relationship. But not until I lost my buddy Sir Jaffar, that I have felt truly alone in this confusing world. Even losing Chaco was not as bad as losing him. Chaco, I was prepared for.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Congratulations @BY Bob

@BY Bob Congratulations!!! The community you have created is truly amazing.

 

[featherhead007]

Best of the past. But I try not to live in the past anymore. Life is for the living. But part of that is remembering the ones I loved.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Ok. I watched to 6:45. Here's what I'm seeing.

1. You're afraid of him and doing a good job of masking it, but he knows it.

2. In his mind, you're another rooster coming into his territory.

3. The way you're petting the girls, you're trying to MATE with his girls, IN FRONT OF HIM.

4. The girls see you as a better rooster than Pastel.

5. The way he's going for your toes is the same way any chicken would tell another to back off or give ground. They peck toes and/or heads, whichever is more accessible.


Solutions (some of these MUST be implemented if you're going to keep ANY rooster).

1. Change the way you pet any of the birds. Running your hand down their back is a familiar gesture, especially if you have any experience with furry critters. HOWEVER in chickens, it's MATING. Instead, bring your hand in low and in front and rub their breasts/wattles. In rubbing their breast, you can also do a but of crop massage and get a pretty good idea of how well/poorly each is eating. You can also get an idea of if they're gaining /losing weight through their keel. An added benefit of petting this way (its more like scratching behind a dog's ears) is the hen stands up more which shows any rooster watching that you're NOT attempting to mount HIS ladies. If you do NOT make this change, 100% guarantee that you will eventually have problems with every rooster you have.

2. Toss Pastel the choice treats. HE will call the ladies to him, raising him in their eyes and helping reassure him that you aren't trying to steal his girls. Choice treats for this: walnuts (break them into chicken bite sized pieces), banana chunks (they split into 3rds lengthwise and break up nicely after that), blueberries, grapes (split big ones in half). Do NOT expect Pastel (or any roo) to eat out of your hand in front of his girls.

3. Spend time out there just sitting. Read a book, color or draw something. Don't be the center of their attention. They will swarm you, but when they realize you don't have goodies (or rather Pastel has them), they will go back to their regular activities. At first, sit just outside their run, as getting them to ignore you will take some time and he needs time to see you as a lesser threat. While Pastel is still considering you another rooster after his girls, make sure your back is to something solid. And read a hardback book. That way you have a shield if he does fly at you (which is a possibility with his current thought process).


4. When chickens tell each other to back off, they peck. They don't understand the word "no" at this point. You need to "peck" them (a sharpish finger into their shoulder will work, but needs to be FAST) when they (the girls) do things like hop up on the bucket. Getting the ladies to give you a but more space will also help Pastel recognize you're not trying to steal the girls.

Sorry for the dissertation, but from what I saw, he's actually a very good roo, who is acting as a proper rooster. He simply needs to be reprogrammed to not see you (and your mom) as roosters out to steal his ladies. The reprogramming may or may not work. I don't know if you'll be able to work past your fear of him. Changing the way you interact with the hens is imperative if you don't want to have the same thing happening with your cockerels when they reach the idiocy phase.

@Pastel the Rooster
Thank you for posting the video. As someone who is also having issues with a rooster at the moment, I found this video very helpful. It allowed me to look at your interactions and compare it to my own and my daughters to see what I could change to improve the situation here. I understand the fear, my current roosters do not induce the same fear but Oreo sure did and I now have a deep respect for the amount of fury a 8-10 lb critter is capable of unleashing. I find carrying something, anything really, like you did so I can block (not hit) takes away most of the anxiety I might project. Rural mouses advice is spot on and I am right with you in learning from her.

@rural mouse

Excellent advice. The video analysis of the little details was very helpful. I really appreciate that you took the time to do so. I am going to show and read it to my daughter as well, to reinforce previous discussions. She is brave and really loves em like Pastel does and wants to continue to work on bettering the situation.

 

[RoyalChick]

@BY Bob Congratulations!!! The community you have created is truly amazing.

True dat.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Morning feathers

 

[Ponypoor]

0:300 and I woke up to a dream that I didn’t want to wake up from.
Sir Jaffar was with me, on a flight to the coast. Sadly it was just a dream. I awoke realizing that I was only dreaming about him and I started crying all over again. . It’s not fair that the sadness haunts my dreams. View attachment 3854987

He should be happy memories for you, I am sorry this causes you distress

I hope one day you can remember him and smile.

 

[Marie2020]

I get you. But I also think I need this vacation. And I already spent the $3K on the reservation for the weekend, so I’m hoping that my solitude and fresh ocean air will help dry my tears
I have been alone for a long time and prefer it over being in a relationship. But not until I lost my buddy Sir Jaffar, that I have felt truly alone in this confusing world. Even losing Chaco was not as bad as losing him. Chaco, I was prepared for.

Hopefully you will heal your mind being in peace and solitude.

With you on the relationship part too, it would be incredibly hard to adapt to someone else's way of life. I most definitely couldn't live with anyone, relationship or not.

You could always go to dinner or theatre though that would be pleasant
It's rare in my life to have a good conversation. That's been a rarity for so many years.

 

[Marie2020]

Best of the past. But I try not to live in the past anymore. Life is for the living. But part of that is remembering the ones I loved. View attachment 3855121View attachment 3855122View attachment 3855124View attachment 3855125View attachment 3855137View attachment 3855135

Beautiful memories