Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I’m so sorry for your loss!

Thank you.

 

[RoyalChick]

You must be very tasty. Mine don't try to eat me.

I think my chickens have really bad manners.

 

[RoyalChick]

It is posts like this that make me anxious about Mr. Chips.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-this-typical-for-cockerels.1680154/

 

[rural mouse]

It is posts like this that make me anxious about Mr. Chips.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-this-typical-for-cockerels.1680154/

#1. The cockerels in that post did NOT have older ladies to thump the stupid out of them. You have ladies who are quite willing to do that.

#2. You have years of experience with hens and a reservoir of knowledge to access when it comes to cockerels. You're one to observe a behavior, then come ask questions about the behavior, then observe some more, verifying then answers/suggestions before acting. You're also going to ask questions early. I suspect there were behaviors in that thread that were early warning signs the people never noticed.

#3. You do not have young children around the chickens to complicate raising him.

#4. You have 1 (ONE) cockerel and multiple hens. This also makes a huge difference.

#5. Stay off of threads like that for the next 6 months.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

We lost Dana last night. She was 8-1/2 & fell asleep in DH's arms. She was eating & drinking right to the last day. She jumped off her perch at roost & DH kept checking on her every hour & finally at about 1:00 a.m, brought her in. DH was Dana's human so it was a bittersweet end. DH is really missing her. We'll miss how good she & all the other Dom's were w/ our littles over the years. We were preparing ourselves to eventually lose an older hen but it's still so sad when they're gone

We are now officially an all-Silkies flock remaining. This will be our last flock as we are no longer spring chickens ourselves any more!

View attachment 4250648

I'm so sorry you lost a beloved hen, but what a nice way for Dana to go - to just fall asleep in her human's arms.

 

[notabitail]

@RoyalChick Read this out loud to your hens. Ensure Mr. Chips can't hear.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27672653

Edit to add: You can also print out a picture of Dominica and remind your hens to be like her. Don't tell them about her not-so-heroic strategy of smacking the Empress for a quick bite of food.

 

[BY Bob]

I think my chickens have really bad manners.

Mine are just mean to each other.

 

[BY Bob]

#1. The cockerels in that post did NOT have older ladies to thump the stupid out of them. You have ladies who are quite willing to do that.

#2. You have years of experience with hens and a reservoir of knowledge to access when it comes to cockerels. You're one to observe a behavior, then come ask questions about the behavior, then observe some more, verifying then answers/suggestions before acting. You're also going to ask questions early. I suspect there were behaviors in that thread that were early warning signs the people never noticed.

#3. You do not have young children around the chickens to complicate raising him.

#4. You have 1 (ONE) cockerel and multiple hens. This also makes a huge difference.

#5. Stay off of threads like that for the next 6 months.

There is much wisdom in this post.

 

[bgmathteach]

It is posts like this that make me anxious about Mr. Chips.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-this-typical-for-cockerels.1680154/

* Sigh* you just keep looking for reasons to worry!

They may well have been trying to mate him, since that is about the age (especially if they were more heritage leaning and tend to mature later...)

don't go looking for trouble - can't it find you easily enough as it is????