Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Not to offend any Polish owners plz correct me if I'm wrong...it appears to me Polish are way too laid back to be a #1 flock roo & that other standard breeds are more assertive...I mean, even Branch, a Silkie roo(?), showed flock courage that I'm not seeing in sweet Polish roo's. Just thinking out loud again...

Or would you say Mr P is just an unusually laid back Polish roo? The way I'm reading about flock roo's they are all different as all birds are, but Mr P seems extremely mellow & unassertive as a roo or even just as a chicken. Polish roo's seem nice to chicks but other than happy Bert who has a smallish flock to lead I don't see Polish roo's as very assertive.

Or maybe Polish are similar to Silkies where they might have a tendency to mostly form their own Polish tribe away from other breeds the way Silkies seem to form their own tribe when in a mixed flock. Both Silkies & Polish have gentle temperaments & similarly will have vulnerable vaulted open skulls to protect which may be a reason they protect themselves w/ gentle temeraments to avoid altercations? In Europe, owners love their Polish so much they keep a "Polish only" flock who obviously get along well w/ each other as a same breed flock.

Birds are such cannibals & beat up sometimes to the death on weaker flockmates to ensure none of the flock members are weak against predators ~ flock mentality seems cruel but it's survival of the fittest !

(So, now, why did I agree to keeping chickens ?)

Open top Polish skull
View attachment 4115586

Open Silkie skull
View attachment 4115587

Domestic closed chicken skulls
View attachment 4115623

Well Mr P is definitely good with the hens, but he is a moron with the other Roos, he is the instigator for the fights and then he loses as he is an old man and doesn’t move as fast anymore. Not to mention seeing too well when his crest is too long.

Bert was also very good with the hens and babies, and even Shirley (oh excuse me Sir Surely) is good with the ladies and he was good with Georgie’s chicks.

As for sticking to a group, Mr P has the silkies but he also has the older ladies - Blanche, Sophia, Dorothy, Rose and Penelope when she was living. He also likes the Azurs and they like him - a little too much the cannibals! Oh and he has this thing for Laverne - those two hang out together but she is a terrible cannibal! So she is no longer allowed near him. And now Betty will no longer be allowed to roost with him at night. She picked him tonight the brat!

Soooo that only leaves the silkies, even Sophia will pick at him if she is in with him. Sheesh!

 

[Ponypoor]

Clyde

Well I didn’t kill him with the prednisone, and dare I say his breathing seems easier. So we will see what he is like in the morning.

Good night all!

 

[Ponypoor]

Tax for the comment View attachment 4115584

I see you have eye protection and a head protector on - hahahaha good planning!

 

[SimpleJenn]

Out sitting with my birds as the sun sets. The turkeys are gobbling away in the forest out back, there are a few little birds scooting around the woods next to the coop.

Hubby got to hold sweet Chocolate for a bit. Once I catch her she cuddles in for a bit, I just need to scoop her up.

Breezy spends much of the day laying down, he's just so heavy.

Look how close Cemani got to me! I hummed to him and we just looked at each other for a bit.

The blanket rack next to where I am sitting.

Roosting time drama. Looks like they still manage to fit in that coop...barely. gosh, they will need to spread out soon!

Breezy is the last boy in.
Goodnight

 

[Sylvester017]

Out sitting with my birds as the sun sets. The turkeys are gobbling away in the forest out back, there are a few little birds scooting around the woods next to the coop.
View attachment 4115801
Hubby got to hold sweet Chocolate for a bit. Once I catch her she cuddles in for a bit, I just need to scoop her up.
View attachment 4115802
Breezy spends much of the day laying down, he's just so heavy.
View attachment 4115803
Look how close Cemani got to me! I hummed to him and we just looked at each other for a bit.
View attachment 4115804
The blanket rack next to where I am sitting.
View attachment 4115805
Roosting time drama. Looks like they still manage to fit in that coop...barely. gosh, they will need to spread out soon!

Breezy is the last boy in. View attachment 4115806
Goodnight

Is Breezy a Cornish-Cross? My friend had 12 CX's of which 6 survived to processing date. They grow so fast & heavy & lethargic ~ she lost 1/2 of them by 8 weeks old

That blanket rack is getting great use.

 

[featherhead007]

Maybe the chickens are safe out in the rain since most predators might not fly well in the downpours? Even our neighborhood Crows which we love are not airbound today in our rain.

“All flights are cancelled due to weather conditions!”

 

[rural mouse]

Round 2 with the poncho. Birds all headed into the coop early (heat stayed on all day, so a warm lure)....and kicked up a fuss when I stepped I for a head count and closing the hatch. Eggs can wait til tomorrow.

 

[featherhead007]

My other neighbor has problems with the neighbor next door too, I said that we have to use a 2x4 to get his attention, before he will listen to reason.
The neighbor said “if we use a 2x4, it might split his head open and his seed will spread out and grow even more of his kind!”
That’s nightmare fuel for me.
(But I thought it was funny)

 

[featherhead007]

My other neighbor has problems with the neighbor next door too, I said that we have to use a 2x4 to get his attention, before he will listen to reason.
The neighbor said “if we use a 2x4, it might split his head open and his seed will spread out and grow even more of his kind!”
That’s nightmare fuel for me.
(But I thought it was funny)

Tax:

 

[knoturavggrl]

And Then They Were on Their Own

So the cheeping started a little after 8 pm tonight. They started calling for me to come get them for bed.

So I went out and talked them through the roosting process. Several times they walked over to me and waited for me to pick them up. Each time I rubbed their chests and told them they were big girls and were ready to sleep outside. They went back to searching and then finally settled on the big roost.

View attachment 4114674

After they roosted they them started chatting about their exciting day.

Listening to them chat and purr made me feel better about it all. I am going to miss them dearly even though they are just across the yard.

I was glad to hear they slept through the night without issue. I understand, I will miss the trills and chirps when my wildlings head outside. They grow up so darn fast!