Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Another Fine Mess

Roosting was a mess tonight.

At first I did not know how but here is Joy cut off by Sydney, behind the bird bath, going into the wrong coop.

Sydney did not harass her. She just roosted. Top right.

This however had Joy trapped as she would not go past Sydney when Sydney could jump on her so Joy hunkered down here, in nest box 1.

Well Aster was not going to let that stand and she rooted Joy from the nest box. At this point, I knew what was up and had opened the side door. Out came Joy and I left her to find the Cluckle Hut.

While this has been going on, Tilly had gotten into the roost in the Hut.

What caused all this? The big girls were backed up. Aurora was messing with them tonight. The net effect of that was Lady Featherington was standing in front of the Cluckle Hut porch. Joy was not going near that.

While lady was there blocking the entrance, the door closed. So I went around opened the door and in the process pushed the big girls to bed.

It's getting pretty dark at this point and Joy is now eying the magnolia tree. She started up the woodpile decided that I needed to help. I gathered her up, she did not fight me, and took her to the Hut. She decided to forgo the roost and went straight into the nest box to sleep.

When I put Niamh on the roost, I will move Joy next to her.

Niamh, of course, is no help as she is in the grape vines again.

 

[Ponypoor]

Another Fine Mess

Roosting was a mess tonight.

At first I did not know how but here is Joy cut off by Sydney, behind the bird bath, going into the wrong coop.

View attachment 4235896

Sydney did not harass her. She just roosted. Top right.

View attachment 4235897

This however had Joy trapped as she would not go past Sydney when Sydney could jump on her so Joy hunkered down here, in nest box 1.

View attachment 4235898

Well Aster was not going to let that stand and she rooted Joy from the nest box. At this point, I knew what was up and had opened the side door. Out came Joy and I left her to find the Cluckle Hut.

While this has been going on, Tilly had gotten into the roost in the Hut.

What caused all this? The big girls were backed up. Aurora was messing with them tonight. The net effect of that was Lady Featherington was standing in front of the Cluckle Hut porch. Joy was not going near that.

While lady was there blocking the entrance, the door closed. So I went around opened the door and in the process pushed the big girls to bed.

It's getting pretty dark at this point and Joy is now eying the magnolia tree. She started up the woodpile decided that I needed to help. I gathered her up, she did not fight me, and took her to the Hut. She decided to forgo the roost and went straight into the nest box to sleep.

When I put Niamh on the roost, I will move Joy next to her.

Niamh, of course, is no help as she is in the grape vines again.

I have said it before and will say it again - I am glad I am not the only one having bedtime drama!

 

[featherhead007]

I have said it before and will say it again - I am glad I am not the only one having bedtime drama!

While you guys say it’s getting dark, I still have two hours before my chooks decide to head to the coop. Still bright and sunny here. I have Dakota in the house with me.(hard molt) she prefers to stay away from the other birds.

 

[featherhead007]

I was tempted! At the grain mill, the guy had a cage full of Barred Rock Pullets, maybe a month old. Very tempting to get new layers. But I feel that I have enough birds now.

 

[featherhead007]

I was out with all the birds just now. They are heading slowly to the coop. Mr Wyandottey came over to me, and I asked him nicely if he could be sure everyone makes it safely back to the coop. He obviously agreed. He’s a good rooster who knows his position and authority in the tribe. And he listens to me. I will check on the coop just before the sun retires for the day. I’m tucking in Dakota for the evening in the chickens room.
It has been a gloriously fun day for my birds and myself.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Excavation hopefully done, at least the major work. It was exhausting. Now need to get the big coop on the right turned 90 degrees to the right and the little coop on the upper left down to the excavated space and attached once the run extension is finished, which I estimate is one more days work. I decided they will be switching coops, to give the five Buckeye's more room, particularly by summer when they all will be bigger. Hazel and the BO's may remember they used to be in the little coop, so hopefully at least one group's transition won't be too traumatic.

The Buckeyes have been spending the day up on the field & forest areas, pretty happily, though Shehnai looks wistfully down at the Big Run on the right where Hazel is hidden but can be heard now and then.

He usually crows about five crows in the late morning, and then nothing more, unless there's been an upset of some kind, like today's excavation with the tractor, which is very scary to them (they run up into the forest area). When the tractor stopped and we were just digging and hauling soil and talking, he decided all was well, came down to us and crowed 2 times.

The brown tarp is covering the Big's tunnel to the large coop, so Hazel can traverse in private.

Hazel is mostly hanging in the run, sometimes coming out with the BO's to the far end outside, even with that large coop, where I've been working on the run extension.

Here's from two days ago, Hazel dustbathing with the BO's, don't remember if I posted this already

Here's a shot of the Buckeye's today, three pullets lounging under the new camo & furniture shelter.

 

[bgmathteach]

No wattles, hidden in beard. Comb is that half pea thing

color of pea comb?? how many weeks now??

 

[rural mouse]

color of pea comb?? how many weeks now??

Roost time. 15.5 weeks

comb is really odd. Sort of straight, sort of pea, not really either...

this afternoon hang out for color comparison

 

[rural mouse]

Excavation hopefully done, at least the major work. It was exhausting. Now need to get the big coop on the right turned 90 degrees to the right and the little coop on the upper left down to the excavated space and attached once the run extension is finished, which I estimate is one more days work. I decided they will be switching coops, to give the five Buckeye's more room, particularly by summer when they all will be bigger. Hazel and the BO's may remember they used to be in the little coop, so hopefully at least one group's transition won't be too traumatic.

The Buckeyes have been spending the day up on the field & forest areas, pretty happily, though Shehnai looks wistfully down at the Big Run on the right where Hazel is hidden but can be heard now and then.

He usually crows about five crows in the late morning, and then nothing more, unless there's been an upset of some kind, like today's excavation with the tractor, which is very scary to them (they run up into the forest area). When the tractor stopped and we were just digging and hauling soil and talking, he decided all was well, came down to us and crowed 2 times.

The brown tarp is covering the Big's tunnel to the large coop, so Hazel can traverse in private.
View attachment 4235948

View attachment 4235949

Hazel is mostly hanging in the run, sometimes coming out with the BO's to the far end outside, even with that large coop, where I've been working on the run extension.

Here's from two days ago, Hazel dustbathing with the BO's, don't remember if I posted this already
View attachment 4235951

Here's a shot of the Buckeye's today, three pullets lounging under the new camo & furniture shelter.
View attachment 4235950

Great progress! And they're looking good, all of them!

 

[bgmathteach]

Roost time. 15.5 weeksView attachment 4235996

View attachment 4235998comb is really odd. Sort of straight, sort of pea, not really either...

View attachment 4235999this afternoon hang out for color comparison

This is a good pic (the previous one, I wasn't sure who was who.). Well, at 15 weeks, comb is very pink for a part Brahma pullet...so even more pointing to Roo. That actually l ooks like a very small straight comb! He will be a handsome boy