Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[SimpleJenn]

Wednesday photo dump
All boys, they do this little dude flock during the day. Owl usually joins them too.

Vuitton looking like a model.

She's almost grown back what was pecked. She'll definitely need another trim and blue dye job before we reintroduce them.

CowSpots is filling out

And BlackJack is really filled out. He's a CHUNK

 

[rural mouse]

I agree. @ChicoryBlue you have created a really got set up for them.
Now that I am back I need to turn my mind to how to create some more vertical places for scared little hens to escape from Mr. Chips for when he grows out of his tiny peep-peep stage. At the moment almost everyone bosses him around but he is growing fast!

My granite boulders seem to work incredibly well. They're a solid surface, so you'd think mating could occur on them. Surprisingly it NEVER does. Even the lowish flat one in the middle

that rock is only about 12 inches high at its high point, sloping to about 4 inches at the low end and is roughly 27 x 39 inches across the surface of it. Still, no mating on it.

none on the completely level one between Cheetah and Cumulo either. Come to think of it, I don't think they've ever tried on the stairs or the steeper slopes either.

the area in front where Lark is happens to be a prime mating location, but next to the bush where Shan, not so much. On the boulders where the chicks are....not at all. The narrow space between the boulders has been used by hens to hide from randy cockerels: too narrow (6 inches wide, i think), although the guys have tried in the past.


I'm heading out to open the coop, so will take measuring tape with me just to see how good my eye and memory are.

 

[rural mouse]

@RoyalChick

Took measurements on video, warning it contains some rather miserable looking birds.

While waiting for the upload, I heard a kazoo....twice....same one...pitch around/slightly below middle C. No idea which of the lads, but as Hawthorne has been so quiet/shy since hatch, and Mortimer is so much smaller that I expect his to be near Cheetah's dulcet operatic soprano, flip a coin on Jax or Tundra (who has sounded the most goose like). 16 weeks old.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I agree. @ChicoryBlue you have created a really great set up for them.
Now that I am back I need to turn my mind to how to create some more vertical places for scared little hens to escape from Mr. Chips for when he grows out of his tiny peep-peep stage. At the moment almost everyone bosses him around but he is growing fast!

Yes me too, lots more in the Buckeye's run to do. There's a couple low logs on cinder blocks and a couple chair/tables now, need much more.
The great vertical stuff is mostly in the Bigs' side right now, where they don't actually need it presently, except to better view what's going on from a higher point!

 

[RoyalChick]

My granite boulders seem to work incredibly well. They're a solid surface, so you'd think mating could occur on them. Surprisingly it NEVER does. Even the lowish flat one in the middle

View attachment 4241368that rock is only about 12 inches high at its high point, sloping to about 4 inches at the low end and is roughly 27 x 39 inches across the surface of it. Still, no mating on it.

View attachment 4241371none on the completely level one between Cheetah and Cumulo either. Come to think of it, I don't think they've ever tried on the stairs or the steeper slopes either.

View attachment 4241375the area in front where Lark is happens to be a prime mating location, but next to the bush where Shan, not so much. On the boulders where the chicks are....not at all. The narrow space between the boulders has been used by hens to hide from randy cockerels: too narrow (6 inches wide, i think), although the guys have tried in the past.


I'm heading out to open the coop, so will take measuring tape with me just to see how good my eye and memory are.

Oh that is interesting. I have an almost unlimited supply of cut tree stumps - I am sure you have seen in my pictures I have them around and about in the Chicken Palace. I could add some more placed near each other - I could even create a square that only smaller hens could get in to.
Lots to think about - I was thinking about drilling something like a hanging plant bracket into one of the upright beams holding up the roof so little chickens could jump up and perch. I have one good perch in the run - but was thinking about whether I could figure out another 1-2. Tree stumps will be easier.

 

[Candiru09]

Here's almost all of my flock

 

[ChicoryBlue]

My granite boulders seem to work incredibly well. They're a solid surface, so you'd think mating could occur on them. Surprisingly it NEVER does. Even the lowish flat one in the middle

View attachment 4241368that rock is only about 12 inches high at its high point, sloping to about 4 inches at the low end and is roughly 27 x 39 inches across the surface of it. Still, no mating on it.

View attachment 4241371none on the completely level one between Cheetah and Cumulo either. Come to think of it, I don't think they've ever tried on the stairs or the steeper slopes either.

View attachment 4241375the area in front where Lark is happens to be a prime mating location, but next to the bush where Shan, not so much. On the boulders where the chicks are....not at all. The narrow space between the boulders has been used by hens to hide from randy cockerels: too narrow (6 inches wide, i think), although the guys have tried in the past.


I'm heading out to open the coop, so will take measuring tape with me just to see how good my eye and memory are.

Very interesting, maybe a high-ish flat spot feels too exposed and not safe from potential aerial predators to them?

The pullets here have used the low side table to go under to get away from Shehnai (@bgmathteach and you recommended?) but he's not really pursuing them yet.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick

Took measurements on video, warning it contains some rather miserable looking birds.

While waiting for the upload, I heard a kazoo....twice....same one...pitch around/slightly below middle C. No idea which of the lads, but as Hawthorne has been so quiet/shy since hatch, and Mortimer is so much smaller that I expect his to be near Cheetah's dulcet operatic soprano, flip a coin on Jax or Tundra (who has sounded the most goose like). 16 weeks old.

Very helpful. Thank you.
I have some ideas percolating. I think specifically for Cookie I want some more 'up' spaces as her instincts seem always to levitate upwards. That may modify as she grows - I think partly she is so tiny that when she energetically flaps, her feet just leave the ground and she just goes with it!

 

[featherhead007]

Good job!

Your trees look to be about were mine are re: leaf loss. It’s a wonderful playground in those leaves with the chooks - not sure what they are finding in there. More baby turtles likely!

I rake up my leaves in a pile, so the chooks have something to play in. They tear down the piles faster than I can rake them.

 

[featherhead007]

My granite boulders seem to work incredibly well. They're a solid surface, so you'd think mating could occur on them. Surprisingly it NEVER does. Even the lowish flat one in the middle

View attachment 4241368that rock is only about 12 inches high at its high point, sloping to about 4 inches at the low end and is roughly 27 x 39 inches across the surface of it. Still, no mating on it.

View attachment 4241371none on the completely level one between Cheetah and Cumulo either. Come to think of it, I don't think they've ever tried on the stairs or the steeper slopes either.

View attachment 4241375the area in front where Lark is happens to be a prime mating location, but next to the bush where Shan, not so much. On the boulders where the chicks are....not at all. The narrow space between the boulders has been used by hens to hide from randy cockerels: too narrow (6 inches wide, i think), although the guys have tried in the past.


I'm heading out to open the coop, so will take measuring tape with me just to see how good my eye and memory are.

“Love on the rocks, ain’t no big surprise….” (Neil Diamond)