Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[CCsGarden]

Thanks. I didn’t. I got home around 12:30am and she was long gone. RIP, sweet, curious Minnie. My dear friend just came by and buried her for me because I’m still recovering.
View attachment 4229105

Oh she was beautiful!!

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks. I didn’t. I got home around 12:30am and she was long gone. RIP, sweet, curious Minnie. My dear friend just came by and buried her for me because I’m still recovering.
View attachment 4229105

So sorry. She was a lovely and much loved lady.


Do take it easy and focus on your own recovery.

 

[Sally PB]

Fly high and free, dear, sweet Minnie!
Hugs for you, @micstrachan.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RebeccaBoyd @rural mouse @bgmathteach and @anyone else willing to join my rooster care coaching team: I need some advice.

Things are getting a bit unsettled in the Chicken Palace.
Both Calypso and Pooh are beginning to discipline the Littles who steal food from them. This is not specific to Mr. Chips, but he gets the brunt of it because he is the most daring at snatching food.
Tassels then goes for Calypso or Pooh and gives them a good thumping for attacking her chicks.

None of this is too serious - just some pecking and squealing and flying around.

My question is about how to handle Mr. Chips. He is very food oriented and will rush to me - sometimes jump on me - because I am the source of good treats. He will grab food from my hand just as he does from the older hens' beaks. And if I don’t have treats he will try and eat my fingers instead (ouch!).

I am pretty sure I could grab him and subject him to @RebeccaBoyd's enforced holding and wattle rubs. BUT, if I do that at the first squeal Tassels will come running and try to rescue him.
Should I just wait until Tassels loses interest (which she is showing little sign of doing) to try and get him used to me?
Or should I risk her wrath and try and grab him and carry him around?

 

[CCsGarden]

@RebeccaBoyd @rural mouse @bgmathteach and @anyone else willing to join my rooster care coaching team: I need some advice.

Things are getting a bit unsettled in the Chicken Palace.
Both Calypso and Pooh are beginning to discipline the Littles who steal food from them. This is not specific to Mr. Chips, but he gets the brunt of it because he is the most daring at snatching food.
Tassels then goes for Calypso or Pooh and gives them a good thumping for attacking her chicks.

None of this is too serious - just some pecking and squealing and flying around.

My question is about how to handle Mr. Chips. He is very food oriented and will rush to me - sometimes jump on me - because I am the source of good treats. He will grab food from my hand just as he does from the older hens' beaks. And if I don’t have treats he will try and eat my fingers instead (ouch!).

I am pretty sure I could grab him and subject him to @RebeccaBoyd's enforced holding and wattle rubs. BUT, if I do that at the first squeal Tassels will come running and try to rescue him.
Should I just wait until Tassels loses interest (which she is showing little sign of doing) to try and get him used to me?
Or should I risk her wrath and try and grab him and carry him around?
View attachment 4229119

Hope you don't mind me jumping in. I would hold him on your lap close to the coop and talk to him gently patting his back. I did this when my rooster started to attack me. It took a couple weeks and now he knows not to bother me. I would also tell him "No" every time he tried to force the hen or when he was pecking them to show me he was "in charge".

 

[Ponypoor]

@RebeccaBoyd @rural mouse @bgmathteach and @anyone else willing to join my rooster care coaching team: I need some advice.

Things are getting a bit unsettled in the Chicken Palace.
Both Calypso and Pooh are beginning to discipline the Littles who steal food from them. This is not specific to Mr. Chips, but he gets the brunt of it because he is the most daring at snatching food.
Tassels then goes for Calypso or Pooh and gives them a good thumping for attacking her chicks.

None of this is too serious - just some pecking and squealing and flying around.

My question is about how to handle Mr. Chips. He is very food oriented and will rush to me - sometimes jump on me - because I am the source of good treats. He will grab food from my hand just as he does from the older hens' beaks. And if I don’t have treats he will try and eat my fingers instead (ouch!).

I am pretty sure I could grab him and subject him to @RebeccaBoyd's enforced holding and wattle rubs. BUT, if I do that at the first squeal Tassels will come running and try to rescue him.
Should I just wait until Tassels loses interest (which she is showing little sign of doing) to try and get him used to me?
Or should I risk her wrath and try and grab him and carry him around?
View attachment 4229119

Oh he is turning into a handsome wee man

As you know I am very hands on, and if mama wants to attack me she is fine to do so. It’s not a horse attacking me (yep mama horses can be vicious too).

I say catch him up and snuggle him. Oh he will scream blue murder because he is not in charge, but as soon as he stops and settles put him down and walk calmly away. Ignore mama attacking you. Then return and give him a treat.

The next time he hops on you repeat. Snuggle, struggle, calm, down he goes, then a treat.

This is how you would desensitizing all animals to human handling. I generally start day one, but with my Polish they have been here a couple weeks now and I can hold them with them struggling. Catching them is still fun, but they know they am not going to hurt them when I catch them up eventually.

I don’t have time to wait and see what they do, and they are always smart enough to know how to be in charge. I make sure they know I am in charge. Of course they also know that there are always treats to be had when I am around. But! They must do as I ask or no treats!

This is why I never hand feed the horses when they young, treats are for when they do something good. Be bad no treats.

Of course the trick is the always end on a good note. If the chooks are just not into hanging around with me, then I think of some else that will result in treats. Sometimes it’s as simple as backing up a step and they follow. Immediate treat for that!

I am enjoying watching your and CB’s boys growing up. Be patient and plan your sessions for when you’re not rushed and make them no more than a few minutes.

 

[rural mouse]

Thanks. I didn’t. I got home around 12:30am and she was long gone. RIP, sweet, curious Minnie. My dear friend just came by and buried her for me because I’m still recovering.
View attachment 4229105

 

[Ponypoor]

Cough update

I now have 6 I am actively treating, cayenne’s breathing is hopefully better, I don’t hear the strident respirations she was having.

Clyde was coughing and wheezing so he immediately was started on a treatment course.

Everyone has been going to bed when I tell them - of course it’s easy when it’s getting darker earlier. Once everyone was settled I went around listening to everyone’s breathing to see if anyone else was starting to get wheezy. I’ll check Mr P and his gang when I head out now to do evening chores.

It’s time consuming to treat one let alone 6. But it what one must do when one has livestock otherwise one would quickly have non-livestock!

Edit:

Now have 3 more
Goldie, Butters, and poor Mr P

Full on doses for all of them. Sheesh! Wish I had the injectable Tylosin, I’d just jab the whole darn flock and be done with it.

Hmmmm another rabbit hole to fall down. But not at the moment - need sleep…

Ok all have a lovely evening/night/day!

Oh and the rat came back….

There it is beside the water bowl. Grrrrrr!

A two for

 

[rural mouse]

@RebeccaBoyd @rural mouse @bgmathteach and @anyone else willing to join my rooster care coaching team: I need some advice.

Things are getting a bit unsettled in the Chicken Palace.
Both Calypso and Pooh are beginning to discipline the Littles who steal food from them. This is not specific to Mr. Chips, but he gets the brunt of it because he is the most daring at snatching food.
Tassels then goes for Calypso or Pooh and gives them a good thumping for attacking her chicks.

None of this is too serious - just some pecking and squealing and flying around.

My question is about how to handle Mr. Chips. He is very food oriented and will rush to me - sometimes jump on me - because I am the source of good treats. He will grab food from my hand just as he does from the older hens' beaks. And if I don’t have treats he will try and eat my fingers instead (ouch!).

I am pretty sure I could grab him and subject him to @RebeccaBoyd's enforced holding and wattle rubs. BUT, if I do that at the first squeal Tassels will come running and try to rescue him.
Should I just wait until Tassels loses interest (which she is showing little sign of doing) to try and get him used to me?
Or should I risk her wrath and try and grab him and carry him around?
View attachment 4229119

If she's still mothering them, my advice is wait until she's done. If the others are starting to discipline, the time is coming. She may wean them off, or she may go cold turkey. Currently. Sounds as if she's the helicopter mom, "my precious baby would NEVER do something so heinous as steal! How DARE you suggest such a thing!" This will change. Is she full on moulting, yet?

 

[The Sniper]

Cough update

I now have 6 I am actively treating, cayenne’s breathing is hopefully better, I don’t hear the strident respirations she was having.

Clyde was coughing and wheezing so he immediately was started on a treatment course.

Everyone has been going to bed when I tell them - of course it’s easy when it’s getting darker earlier. Once everyone was settled I went around listening to everyone’s breathing to see if anyone else was starting to get wheezy. I’ll check Mr P and his gang when I head out now to do evening chores.

It’s time consuming to treat one let alone 6. But it what one must do when one has livestock otherwise one would quickly have non-livestock!

Ok all have a lovely evening/night/day!

Oh and the rat came back….

There it is beside the water bowl. Grrrrrr!
View attachment 4229141

A two for
View attachment 4229142

if ya need something to take care of that rat I hear rat poison works great, almost like its made for rats. wild huh