Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

My internet has been troublesome for a few days so I haven't been on...lots to catch up!

Haven't seen any thumpings at all in several days. Unless they are already together, which is happening a lot now, Hazel will run to one or more BO's and Shehnai won't go further after her once she's standing in with them.

This morning he caught her in the run, or she gave up - she wasn't trapped, I saw them after he caught her. He mounted her while she strenuously objected, and I don't think her tail was up.

The run build required me to move the big coop, so I did try a fence of sorts, first one Hazel could see through it and was getting trapped against it by Shehnai yesterday; second one somehow Annie got out of this morning so they were separated and a little upset. They seemed to not like the inability to go where they wanted yesterday, like up into the rhododendron bushes. So instead I made visual blocks between the main run and the aviary area that are working somewhat. All the doorways and passages are open now.

From a couple of days ago, there are more blocks now -

Hazels preferred hidey -corner
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And then the view opposite is the big coop where Shehnai was hanging out a lot. Once Hazel saw he wasn’t visible and he couldn’t see her she eased up a lot.
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Not arguing exactly but the leader role is far out of her reaches right now, though it could be in the future - Diane is bottom ranking, but definitely thinks she shouldn’t be. Both Annie and Tedi successfully correct her. She does seem to be campaigning for the lieutenant job in multiple ways (hanging & foraging with Hazel, the most willing to push Shehnai away, actual fighting with Shehnai prior to this week).


Shehnai is harassing and dominating the pullets but I don't see any attempts at mounting or grabbing necks.

The pullets screams don’t inspire any BO’s to action either. Maybe because they aren't laying? The BO's are only concerned with Hazel and go with her according to her wishes or do their own thing and come over when she calls. There may have been more physical fighting prior, as now Shehnai is totally afraid of them. Hazel, if she's alone, runs to them if she can when Shehnai comes around.

Tidbitting? Very cute to see - a BO was growling this morning, Tedi I think, advancing and trying to push Shehnai off, and he was backing up from her with hackles raised, but then suddenly he was picking at the ground and picking up a weedy stem and dropping it a few times, tidbitting for her I think! Then he ran away. First time I've seen what really looks like tidbitting!


No crowing yet, I’m waiting!

I did see a couple pullets standing by him when he was snuggling down into the litter which may have been a dust bath. Not clear yet what that was.

A bit upsetting to see was that some pullets are following his lead and joined in with pecks and jumps when she ran by them while he was chasing her. This morning I saw a pullet run after her briefly. It must appear to them that he is driving her away.

He’s all over the place behaviorally. He acts like he used to act, an average chicken, and then seems to get waves of antsy-ness and he’ll charge at a pullet who usually runs. Sometimes a standoff ensues with everyone’s hackles raised, sometimes he’s jumping at them, and they’re screaming and running. But then this pullet action is like a preview to try for Hazel and he goes looking for her.

Here below is a quiet time not long after chasing Hazel, she knew he was sort of “safe” for awhile though she’s not relaxed. The two groups were remarkably close. It is noticeable that the groups aren’t mixing like they used to. The pullets stay generally near Shehnai, and the BO’s with Hazel. They did relax together in a sense, but with the main run wire separating them, mid-day yesterday.

While I was working day before yesterday - the Littles group on left, Bigs group on right, with Hazel using the BO’s (and the cinder block) as blockers
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Our boy
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A couple pullets relaxing on perches, they find that up on things is definitely better!
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The BO's & Hazel's butt
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He is a very handsome boy!

 

[BY Bob]

There’s me talking about us having no rats, I go outside and find a rat hole that was dug last night under the concrete slab we have the chicken waterer on! I guess it’s eating the eggshells I have for the chickens calcium. I can’t put it out in the open because of the crows and I can’t hide it because of the rats. One of our cats had a dig at the rat hole but gave up as obviously the rat is safe deep down. It will be up to the rat traps, if it doesn’t move on tonight after being disturbed. When we had rats under the coop they were there for a bit before I noticed and then I went out at night put the cat on one side and I pushed a stick under from the other. Walked round to see how the cat was doing just in time to see her pull it out and the rat run in the wall just as she had it! We have black cat rat trap and another one they are very good quality. Now I’m wishing I had a trail cam sort of thing to see if the rat is using the treadle feeder.

Use dry ice. If you know where they are, dry ice will kill them all in their warren.

 

[BY Bob]

Missy eats the head and leaves the rest -

More Cervelles for kitty.

 

[BY Bob]

Yup. I think I got several that way.

I got them all that way.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Plan ahead now IMO. Line up one or more rescue persons now. Our rescue persons have moved out of the state so our option is to keep each bird down to the last one then dissassemble the coop at the end. I don't want to give up a last surviving bird to confuse it in another environment if it has spent its lifetime here. Yes, chickens are flock birds, but rehoming changes may be more harmful to an aged bird... & Silkies are easily picked on so I won't do that.

Maybe if all alone she could be a house chicken and live with you!

 

[bgmathteach]

I don't know what it is about Tilly, but something about her SCREAMS 'Mrs By Bob's house companion'

Maybe the sweet but wild - 'up for a party look?

 

[BY Bob]

13 week baby update.

Made for the nieces who saw mamas take babies off nests, so bird names got left out.

I just love watching yours spill out when you open the door. By the way, that door looks pretty good. Nice job.

 

[BY Bob]

Well Petra has learnt that the screen in the office door is no problem at all, she flew out of the crate while I was putting Leah in Lulu’s old stall.

When I tried to catch her, Leah got loose, so there I was 4:30am cursing ‘darn chickens that can fly’ (although have to say the flying is less traumatic to me - and the bird- than those silkies that launch themselves into the abyss…), so I said some choice words and let her and Leah just run amok with Mr P’s group.

FYI I have had them out in the run with them after work as the weather has been so lovely. Mr P introduced himself and then ignored them. Marty came around checked them out and also ignored them.

So I wasn’t worried about them getting hurt, but darn, quarantine has been a failure. But as they are still on the Tylosin I figure bacteria load will be next to zero, and I have not heard either of them coughing since last week.

Soooo, come the weekend I might try seeing if they can stay with Mr P and His gang during the day in the Summer House. Not a hardship if not, they can stay in Lulu’s stall as long as needed.

But wow I am laughing at how easy Petra figured out she could push through the screen! Of course she’s likely seen Tippy and Muffy doing it to get into the feedroom.


Hahaha they want to break in and the chickies want to break out! That will change once they figure out where the treats are!

They have all the energy, intelligence, and escapability of leghorns. Without the laying issues. I think that's why I like them so much.

 

[BY Bob]

I don't know what it is about Tilly, but something about her SCREAMS 'Mrs By Bob's house companion'

Maybe the sweet but wild - 'up for a party look?

I imagine Niamh will have all 3 of them in the house eventually. I have conceded as she consistently beats me through the door.

 

[RoyalChick]

I just love watching yours spill out when you open the door. By the way, that door looks pretty good. Nice job.

I agree. Was going to say the same thing @rural mouse.