Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[lightm]

They are lovely !! Your Inky looks like my barnyard mutts who likely have blue Maran or EE/olive Eggers in their background, they too are broody!

She is RIR X Australorp. She quit on her own yesterday (day 30). I don't know how she does it, but she is still the hen that's in best shape; feather, body and everything.

 

[lightm]

What a lovely introduction to your chickens. I will let Maggie know she has got in your head (I hope she isn’t too noisy in there!).

Thank you. I have refrained myself from commenting on your Bella's situation as I was not caught up. You are such a good care taker/chicken mama and Bella is a fighter. I was really happy to read that she had pooped better on Saturday. I am so sorry that you've had a hard time with your babies this year but I am hopeful that all is going to be better.

 

[lightm]

Wonderful introduction! Welcome! It’s great to meet you and your flock.

Thank you Michelle

 

[Ponypoor]

She is RIR X Australorp. She quit on her own yesterday (day 30). I don't know how she does it, but she is still the hen that's in best shape; feather, body and everything.

I drag my broodies off the nest at least twice a day to poop and eat/drink, fluff in the dirt…. More often when I am home all day.

 

[Ponypoor]

I do not believe that she can run. She got stuck walking today when she stepped on her own foot and could not pull it out out from under the other so she could take another step. It was so sad. She almost fell.

I'm beginning to fear that she may never be right. She is around 10 weeks old and doesn't walk well, doesn't roost, she just lays on the ground all day.

Well if it neurological then more activity while she is young should help. Just give it time, being out and about is excellent physiotherapy and good for the mind. She is very young still.

 

[Ponypoor]

The new kid on the block

Well I went to take a look at the Polish Roo, and immediately took hm, he is full of lice, and could use some weight. And one of the other Roos has tore his right wattle and pecked his poor scalp - poor wee little man.

Anyways a shot of ivermectin will cure the external parasites and take care of any internal ones, and some away time from bossy birds will help him gain weight and grow back feathers.

So there he sits in the garage separated from the rest like Typhoid Mary, I stripped my clothes when I got home not sure if I could carry lice to my gang or not….

He is just over a year, and the lady who had him hatched him out. And while he seeems very docile I imagine most of that is likely because he is poorly. In a couple weeks I am sure he will be a randy Roo

I give you- Pom Pom (I think I will call him Pompei), he is a bit stressed from the drive so I have just kept him in the garage…

 

[Ponypoor]

Bad Kelly…

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Today is an appropriate day to talk about our new chicks because two out of four got adopted this morning.

This April my friend who also has chickens (Let's call her W) wanted eggs from our chickens to hatch. W was particularly interested in Inky's eggs. So I had been collecting eggs for her. When Foggy was rehomed on April 17th, we decided that we want some of his babies too! So I gave her 17 eggs and she started her incubator on April 24. Some of the eggs were collected after Foggy's departure but I know the eggs can remain fertile for a while.

Foggy is Rhode Island Blue, which is a cross between Australorp and RIR. Out of these 17 eggs, 15 hatched and thrived! Interestingly enough, the only two eggs (one is not fertile, one developed but never hatched) that did not make it are the only two eggs from golden comets. In fact, they are all from Light since she is my husband's favorite. Is there some theory behind this?

So we took 4 chicks (In fact, we took three eggs that was zipping and one hatched chick from W two days later, but this is another story). We already knew that we will have to rehome the boys and we were hoping that at least two were girls. They were hatched on May 15th and May 16th.

Jumbo (top left), Foxy (top right), Coco
View attachment 3207186

1. Foxy (daughter of Tina). Foxy behaved like Foggy as a baby and was really really sweet, adventurous and brave. Hubby really likes her but was certain Foxy was a roo. But we named the "roo" Foxy anyway. Today she remains super sweet and inquisitive. She is going to challenge Ginger's crown.
Notice her tail is gray lavender, not black like a true RIR.
View attachment 3207191

2. Coco (son of Inky, rehomed today). Lazy and sweet boy. Not like his father as a baby. Since Inky is also RIR X Australorp, I think it makes sense that they can produce an Australorp roo?? He is a pretty boy with a purple sheen.
View attachment 3207198

3. Jumbo (son of Wendy, rehomed today). Right out of the shell he was huge (Wendy always lay huge eggs). He also had a visible comb and big feet. I remember Rebecca mentioned this is a good sign of a boy, which is why I went to W's place and got a 4th baby. GOOD THING I did. This past week he has been crowing in the morning already, but really really funny and pathetic. He is not like his father either.
@Ponypoor This is the mutt that I mentioned looks like one of your chickens. Sorry forgot her name.
View attachment 3207200

4. Meimei (daughter of Tina or Wendy, she was hatched at W's place and W wasn't sure...)
View attachment 3207201


So our chicken math works out to be 8-1+4-2 = 9. We have 9 sweeties now! I really wish I could see how Jumbo or Coco would turn out. My dream is to move to more rural area one day and surrounded by farmers...

The new chicks are lovely. Glad you found all your boy's homes. I don't care where you are it is very hard to rehome a rooster. I am also jealous of your roo to hen ratio. 12 chicks and only 3 boys total, that is pure heaven. If that were me, it would be reversed, with only 3 girls total. Yes with the majority of chicks I hatch if I catch them wet and see combs and big feet I peg them as boys, never fails. This works for me because for the most part I hatch Marans and Marans crosses. Big chickens with eventual big combs even for the hens. Silkies and the 2 silkie crosses I have hatched that theory is thrown out the window and it is a wait and see game. Your flock being RIR, RIB and black Australop based the theory would also work, big single combed chickens eventually. I also hope one day you have a place where you can have and enjoy a nice Rooster. I love all my girls, really I do. My heart though, belongs to my boys. If I had the space, and no neighbors, I would take in every single unwanted rooster and live happily to the music of never ending crowing.

 

[Ponypoor]

The new chicks are lovely. Glad you found all your boy's homes. I don't care where you are it is very hard to rehome a rooster. I am also jealous of your roo to hen ratio. 12 chicks and only 3 boys total, that is pure heaven. If that were me, it would be reversed, with only 3 girls total. Yes with the majority of chicks I hatch if I catch them wet and see combs and big feet I peg them as boys, never fails. This works for me because for the most part I hatch Marans and Marans crosses. Big chickens with eventual big combs even for the hens. Silkies and the 2 silkie crosses I have hatched that theory is thrown out the window and it is a wait and see game. Your flock being RIR, RIB and black Australop based the theory would also work, big single combed chickens eventually. I also hope one day you have a place where you can have and enjoy a nice Rooster. I love all my girls, really I do. My heart though, belongs to my boys. If I had the space, and no neighbors, I would take in every single unwanted rooster and live happily to the music of never ending crowing.

And drama!

Of course if no hens around it likely would be fine!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Bad Kelly…

No Good Kelly. Thank you so much for giving this boy a chance. He is over a year old, so the first initial surge of hormones has already passed and you get to skip some of the idiot stage. The tlc he is going to need, that will be good for both of you to create a bond. I cannot wait to see and hear how he has turned out in a few weeks time.