Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

Actually I was more worried that he wouldn’t learn anything because she wasn’t upset at him at all.
If he tried that with Calypso he wouldn’t learn anything be nursing his wounds.

@SimpleJenn makes a great point. With Mama he'll learn it's easier with a willing hen: less struggle, less running, everybody's happier and maybe he can "get it on" more often. With Calypso he'll learn an unwilling, mad hen is dangerous! Hopefully he'll figure out the art of invitation.

 

[featherhead007]

Maybe not white-water rafting! The kayak down the waterfall was pretty hilarious though. Soundtrack is good.

Maybe not white water.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sometimes I am so disappointed in my chickens. They have been so mean to Tilly that she was too afraid to come in out of the rain today.

View attachment 4257097

The big girls were in the big run.

Niamh was in the porch talking to Tilly. Tilly came over to the porch but would not go in. She is too afraid of Aster and Lady Featherington to be in the same small space with them.

Why do they have to be so darn mean?

Yes, it is hard to see. Hopefully it is temporary. At one point Shehnai was standing out in the rain because he was getting so harassed in the run. I did think though his feathers were keeping most of him dry (just his head was wet, and it was summer). Is she getting ambushed? Can she see it coming, or is her head poof grown back too much? When will she come into lay, as that might help?

 

[BY Bob]

Depends on your aerial predators, and your tolerance for loss. All hawks are pretty smart and can evade any barriers that leave space for them to fit through. Woodland hawks actually are totally suited to flying in between things like string & branches. @BY Bob has video (I think) of a Cooper’s hawk hopping down through a tall bush going after finches. As one who lost a hen to a Red Tail hawk that flew around the edges of a piece of aviary netting set above like a rain tarp and trapped the hen against fencing, I recommend aviary netting secured on all sides.

Actually, Mr. Chips may stick with his most willing, non-combatant hen (his mom). He might get better at grabbing others if he’s really amped up, or he may learn his manners with them and respect their wishes. From what I’ve read it depends on how high his hormones drive him, and that is very individual to the roo. Meanwhile, his mom is doing the others a favor taking the heat off!

This is how a Coopers Hawk can hunt. They will walk into a chicken run to kill.

 

[BY Bob]

Petra really wishes I would get everyone to bed so she can also go sleepy-time

Look how cute she is. What a wonderful lady.

 

[BY Bob]

Remember, he has to mess up to receive correction! If he doesn't jump on a girl who isn't happy with it, he'll never learn the difference between willing and unwilling. As sucky as it is to see, we can't really let human morality label a rooster as bad when he is acting appropriately for his species.
I'm saying this because Riddick had a two week period where he jumped the ladies and even though I never saw him get thumped, he started asking them instead of chasing. He still runs them around in the morning, but if he catches one he doesn't do anything, just lets them go and chases someone else. And he doesn't bother Buffy at all, he saw her and Marble thumping his brothers.

Tax
View attachment 4257061

He is so handsome!

 

[BY Bob]

I really really wanted to put a chuckle emoji but I know you’re worried, if he’s going to learn the facts of life who better than his mama

I did put a chuckle.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

I Got Another Twofer
This chicken... Parmesan just can't get the memo that I want to take a photo of Mozzarella by herself but she insists on being in the photo with her twin. Good Lord...

This is definitely not the photo I envisioned but close enough.