Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Great picture!

She is fitting in really well. Still no eggs that I know of - Bob says white but I have not had any white eggs yet.

She even snags a good roosting spot at night

That’s her in the middle

 

[Ponypoor]

@RoyalChick please tell Geronimo! that she's the bestest, most gorgeous girl and I completely agree that you must be a monster for not giving her all of the treats or anything else she wants (sorry, sometimes the truth hurts )

The look of her face really reminds me of my Polly parrot. She loves to be up in my face, checking she's not missing out on anything edible, too

Polly 5th Dec 2025

• kattabelly
• Today at 1:38 AM

View attachment 4309349

I really like my barred rock, she’s a good hen, not overly bossy and fits in well. And lately she’s become very chatty, she wasn’t this way last year, gosh I hope she doesn’t go broody

 

[rural mouse]

This is good then!
Pertinent observations today. The divider was open from about 10am to 5:30. I hung out with them for an hour first thing and then from 3pm to 5:30-6.

I think Tedi is queen, not Annie. Tedi pecked Annie away from pellets in my hand, she didn’t want to share, and Annie was quick to comply.

Annie and Diane were sticking near Hazel a lot. All of them were often sticking together as a group while foraging around the run and Hazel was using them as blockers. Tedi was there too, but wanted a lot of lap time with me when I sat with them in the afternoon.

Bea sometimes seems to accompany Shehnai when he comes around to see if he can mate Hazel or any OG and today I definitely saw Annie protect Hazel. Not from Shehnai, who was taking No and inaccessibility for an answer, but from Bea. Annie chased off Bea and then returned to stand next to Hazel.

Shehnai has figured out that when Bea goes after Hazel and successfully pushes her out from a safe spot, he can anticipate the direction as she runs around run furniture, move into position and stand there ready to meet her. He then gets a shot at mating her. A couple of times I saw him urgently run towards the sound when Hazel would squawk from a scuffle, as if he was going to help, but only to do this. Bea essentially drives Hazel into him.

Not clear if this is intentional tag-teaming or the convergence of interests. Today Hazel did get her comb cut at one point, a small wound. I was in the run but couldn’t see how Shehnai grabbed her when it happened, or if Bea was pecking her during it.

Considering your remarks, if Hazel can stand Shehnai’s attentions, running to him could be a good thing. Whether Bea will eventually be satisfied she’s asserted her standing enough and back off is unclear.

When a hen squawks, a roo should investigate. Frequently here, a idiot grabs, she squawks, several more roos come running. I'm not seeing as much hen defending as I did when the idiots were first getting going. The boys have figured out she wants help. Mating her after is frequently his (whichever male successfully rescues her) reward. (The spat in the last video I posted caught some of this). She isn't always receptive to the rescuing male which leads to more squawks, more males, sometimes a flaring of hackles and the lady in question slipping off while the guys are occupied with the squabble of who rescued her first/best.

Will a healthy, balanced, multigenerational flock with one or more roos not have any squabbles? No. There's always minor spats. The roo(s) job includes settling the worst ones. Shehnai is getting it. Hazel is gaining some trust in him. The length of time spent with the gate open is wonderful. It's coming!!

Bea playing wingman or enforcer on a viewed weakness/threat to "her" family....could be either way...if it bring Hazel and Shehnai into mutual trust and respect, it's a useful tool at the moment. Addressing it can wait...and ultimately may sort itself out.

 

[kattabelly]

I think what I meant got asked again later: is he joining the orps in protecting her.....

Hazel opting to go through him to avoid Bea is a good thing. I've seen hens dive through a roo's legs ON THE ROOST to escape another hen during the "you're not allowed to sleep near me and I want that spot" shenanigans. Hazel used Shehnai as a pursuit blocker. Many times that's the only interference a roo needs during a hen spat. The hens generally won't pursue over/under/around the male obstacle. Shehnai is certainly young enough to take advantage of the opportunity to vent his hormones, but Hazel turning to him for protection is HUGE.

I cannot stress that enough.

SHE (at least at that moment) VIEWED HIM AS FLOCK PROTECTOR AND TURNED TO HIM FOR HELP.

So what does it mean that last night I looked in and saw my fat girl Wednesday sitting side-saddle on top of Rognvald - like a human doing a wall sit is the best way I can describe the position - while my little Fayoumi pullet burrowed in to try and roost under Wednesday?

 

[rural mouse]

So what does it mean that last night I looked in and saw my fat girl Wednesday sitting side-saddle on top of Rognvald - like a human doing a wall sit is the best way I can describe the position - while my little Fayoumi pullet burrowed in to try and roost under Wednesday?

They both want the best roosting spot: next to him. They're each willing to do anything short of attack to get it. He's doing his best imitation of a rock, "I'm not really here, I don't exist" trying to stay out of it while one of the ladies eventually ended up moving. I suspect Wednesday got shifted as the Fayoumi had the strategically superior location.

 

[kattabelly]

They both want the best roosting spot: next to him. They're each willing to do anything short of attack to get it. He's doing his best imitation of a rock, "I'm not really here, I don't exist" trying to stay out of it while one of the ladies eventually ended up moving. I suspect Wednesday got shifted as the Fayoumi had the strategically superior location.

My interpretation is that they're all just daft. He'll try to burrow in underneath one of the girls just as often - that's probably how he ended up under Wen, in fact. That whole group of hatch mates is so strange - they'll roost properly if I take away all other options, but really they still prefer to sleep in a big pile like tiny chicks

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick please tell Geronimo! that she's the bestest, most gorgeous girl and I completely agree that you must be a monster for not giving her all of the treats or anything else she wants (sorry, sometimes the truth hurts )

The look of her face really reminds me of my Polly parrot. She loves to be up in my face, checking she's not missing out on anything edible, too

Polly 5th Dec 2025

• kattabelly
• Today at 1:38 AM

View attachment 4309349

Oh my! How she closes her eyes while you stroke her wattles.
Adorable.

 

[Ponypoor]

I can picture this in my mind. Simply fabulous.

I need a go- pro so I don’t miss all this stuff

 

[Ponypoor]

PonyPoor, a question for you:
What part of my life, with all I’ve done hasn’t been dangerous?

You need a lawn chair! Sit, relax, with a cuppa tea (or coffee). Put your feet up….

 

[Ponypoor]

Polish are regular pilots. They fly fabulously. I love that about them.

Yep definitely need a go-pro to get footage of those moments!