Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

The two halves are out in the yard, full of seeds and stringy parts.
I just had a snack too, albacore tuna salad sandwich with sweet pickle relish, black olives, lettuce and mayo! I’m really cooking it up today! Yummy

And they don’t like the seeds? Interesting.

 

[featherhead007]

And they don’t like the seeds? Interesting.

I don’t know what they are afraid of?

 

[bgmathteach]

Doesn’t count! She’s standing on one leg.
My only pet peeve is that chickens should stand firmly on both feet.

But then they couldn't walk nor run! I love that it is an action shot!!

 

[Ponypoor]

I don’t know what they are afraid of?

I would eat one in front of them, then they will know it’s safe to eat.

Just reach onto the pumpkin and grab a handful and eat the seeds in front of them, offer some from your hand.




(Just kidding)

 

[bgmathteach]

I will bring her breakfast in bed in the morning. Blueberries I think.

Oh, I'm not sure THAT is a good idea. I think I would 'lounge in bed' regularly if I was treated to one of my favorite breakfasts whenever I 'lounged' in bed in the morning!

What a good human servant you are, though!

 

[Ribh]

Hi guys!
This thread [https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ribhs-dcoopage] was nominated as a BYC favorite!
Please come vote for it here:Week 3 - VOTE For Your Top 3 Favorite Threads Here
Voting ends in a week.

Any fluffy butters who read my thread occasionally & would like to vote, many thanks. I know it's slowed down a lot recently but my situation is close to resolving itself, enabling me to get back to being my normal chatty self.

 

[lightm]

First day at the state fair and they are already champions!

Yep. These babies got a jump start.

 

[featherhead007]

I would eat one in front of them, then they will know it’s safe to eat.

Just reach onto the pumpkin and grab a handful and eat the seeds in front of them, offer some from your hand.




(Just kidding)

I did try that. No effect on them. Dakota picked one seed. But then dropped it on the ground. I tasted some in front of them, to show it was fine to eat.

 

[featherhead007]

Hi guys!
This thread [https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ribhs-dcoopage] was nominated as a BYC favorite!
Please come vote for it here:Week 3 - VOTE For Your Top 3 Favorite Threads Here
Voting ends in a week.

Any fluffy butters who read my thread occasionally & would like to vote, many thanks. I know it's slowed down a lot recently but my situation is close to resolving itself, enabling me to get back to being my normal chatty self.

I did it for you.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

First night on the coop for the Spuds. I am lonely already.

I was thinking they'd need another week since integration was put on hold due to the suspected Coccidiosis (I removed them from the run; I didn't want to put everyone on the treated water, and I was cleaning out run litter to lower the load when they got back). But they've just picked up again where they left off, no setback it seems.

Saw this, below, this morning, this is new. That and how relaxed everybody has seemed the last few days made me think I could try them in the coop. That and the cecal poops. One Spud had cecal poopy feet today for the usual group transport out of the house to the run on my arms and shoulders. I wear an old hooded sweatjacket for it, but still, it was soooo fragrant! That jacket went right in the laundry.

Here Hazel was on a low level still alert because of a momentary warning Popcorn made. But still, the Spuds were not worried about her at all. They had just previously gone for the sardine bits in that left in that bowl and Hazel didn't care. When she does push them around, they usually just move without panic. Popcorn strikes more fear, but it's not too bad.

So here they are. That's Popcorn on the roost with them, and Hazel's in the nestbox.

The Spuds were waiting at the run door to go with me to the house to sleep on the brooder top perches but instead I called them over to the coop front, and crouched next to the veranda. I put my red headband light on low. They came over, got up on me and on to the porch and pecked around. They've been up there a lot this week, it's not unfamiliar, and eventually they climbed on my shoulders and arms to roost and we stayed like that for 20 mins or so. Heard some great very low purring as one was against my head. Sometimes it went up into a lispy blowing-bubbles sound I've heard in the mornings in the house. We heard Popcorn and Hazel move around in the coop too and settle in, a little "buk-bukking" by Hazel. Nobody seemed upset at those sounds.

I stayed there while the auto-door closed, and stayed for yet another 20 mins at least with a few shifts in position so they'd not get alarmed when I moved. Now they all were on my right hand, arm and shoulder. I slowly got up and went out and around to the coop back, and laid my arm on top of the coop for another 20 mins or so, cradling my other arm around them, softly talking every once in a while. Popcorn and Hazel acknowledged me but made no other sounds. Then I opened the coop back and put my arms on the edge for another spell, then moving inside more, little by little. I put the red light on once in a while to check on Hazel and Popcorn, who talked some and got up and looked, then moved further away from the open back and tucked their heads down for good.

I realized it was going to be a big disturbance to get the Spuds off my arm and on to the roost. Also that the roost bars were cold and they probably liked the lumpy warm softness of my sweatjacket. So I decided I can wash it tomorrow and leave it for them to sleep on tonight. I unzipped it and slipped off the left arm, and started getting my right arm out, and bunched up more material under Anna, who was on my hand and didn't have much under her. Slight disturbance but not bad. So there they are.

It's the morning I'm worried about. I've set the auto door for ten minutes earlier, set 50 minutes before sunrise now, and no light going on first, and I'll get up early too.

Wish us all luck!

Here's Popcorn (right) and and Hazel (left) taking a preening break and tossing feathers today. I was thinking how Popcorn is now second in command. The last place she probably expected to be not long ago. RIP Peanut and Butters.

Popcorn is vigilant in watching the skies. @BY Bob she has given serious warnings twice this week, the second one, at 6pm today, she was looking up at the sky over the fields, must have been a hawk sighting. She kept warning, the Spuds stood stock still and one returned the call. Hazel took cover in the coop. It was close to roost time for her anyway. I couldn't see what Popcorn saw. We've been lucky with no Red-Tails bothering much this summer, and the Coopers were hunting mostly elsewhere though they nest nearby. But I'm thinking the hawks are migrating now!