Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Not today. Today is all about avoiding the wind and wet.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I’d like to chime in on the philosophical discussion of the merits and difficulties in chicken keeping from a newbie’s perspective. I am new to chickens however I kept ferrets for over 11 years and they face similar issues in terms of longevity, poor breeding practices, and by mostly unintentional poor care being provided by those that do own them. Vets can be found that will see them BUT most vets have little in the way of accurate information about them and treat them as though they are cats which they are decidedly not. Most only live 3-5 yrs if they are lucky.

All that to say my perspective is born from knowing the loss and the joy of sharing my life with animals that just do not have a long lifespan. My thoughts are; that all of you here give these beautiful birds a glorious life that hundreds of thousands of chickens thet get raised for food could never ever dream of having. I think that alone makes it worth the sadness we incur. I know it amounts to only a small handful but the ones we keep do know love, experience living in a community, feel the sun on their feathers and the soil and grass under their feet! I can’t nor can any of us change the fate of all chickens BUT we sure can love the heck out and spoil the ones we do have and do right by them no matter how short that time may be.

So a resounding yes on keeping chickens is my vote! The only caveat I have would be to encourage anyone thinking about it; is to learn and then share your lessons so others can learn too. Participation in sites and threads like this one IS part of stewardship and it matters to the chickens being kept and the people that are trying their best to keep them.

Gets off soapbox and promises to only drag it back out again a few times a year at most.

 

[rural mouse]

Winter storm update

Snow on the heights. Leaves on the ground are soggy.

Last night's wind precursor to the storm.

Before

After


Pear came out of the coop for breakfast

Kren is VERY interested in her. She's evasive, understandable with all the new feathers growing in on her back.

So Horus tried grabbing her (she's got her wings out). Kren is heading to the rescue, and Whiskey goes running too (off frame to the right of the pic, farther away). She retreated to the coop to grow feathers in peace. The hormones are still raging. Honestly, I'm surprised Kren didn't try. He certainly circled her a bunch, tried herding her, but respected her evasion. And responded to the hen in distress call. There's hope for him yet! Horus.....has been a good boy around Pippa, but a rotten brat around the older ladies.... Winter, please come cool the hormones on these idiots!

 

[ValarieF]

I’d like to chime in on the philosophical discussion of the merits and difficulties in chicken keeping from a newbie’s perspective. I am new to chickens however I kept ferrets for over 11 years and they face similar issues in terms of longevity, poor breeding practices, and by mostly unintentional poor care being provided by those that do own them. Vets can be found that will see them BUT most vets have little in the way of accurate information about them and treat them as though they are cats which they are decidedly not. Most only live 3-5 yrs if they are lucky.

All that to say my perspective is born from knowing the loss and the joy of sharing my life with animals that just do not have a long lifespan. My thoughts are; that all of you here give these beautiful birds a glorious life that hundreds of thousands of chickens thet get raised for food could never ever dream of having. I think that alone makes it worth the sadness we incur. I know it amounts to only a small handful but the ones we keep do know love, experience living in a community, feel the sun on their feathers and the soil and grass under their feet! I can’t nor can any of us change the fate of all chickens BUT we sure can love the heck out and spoil the ones we do have and do right by them no matter how short that time may be.

So a resounding yes on keeping chickens is my vote! The only caveat I have would be to encourage anyone thinking about it; is to learn and then share your lessons so others can learn too. Participation in sites and threads like this one IS part of stewardship and it matters to the chickens being kept and the people that are trying their best to keep them.

Gets off soapbox and promises to only drag it back out again a few times a year at most.

I love this. My vote is also yes on keeping chickens. I know we endure some heartache along the way but it outweighs the life and love we give these feathered friends of ours. They are worth everyday of life they get to free range and forage and have fun pecking at the bugs. They bring a calmness to my life that helps settle my bipolar, PTSD, anxious mind and actually help me sleep. They also help alleviate a lot of pain that courses through my body on a daily basis. So yes I will always give the chickens a home away from poverty. They may bring heartache when they go, but they bring an unusual amount of love and calmness.

 

[Ponypoor]

Operation Hawk Thwart

I have a plan, and seeing as how I have noting better to do on this splendid gorgeous day, I am going to implement that plan

So, stay tuned!

 

[Ponypoor]

Winter storm update

View attachment 3299302Snow on the heights. Leaves on the ground are soggy.

Last night's wind precursor to the storm.

View attachment 3299306Before

View attachment 3299304After


Pear came out of the coop for breakfast
View attachment 3299310View attachment 3299311
Kren is VERY interested in her. She's evasive, understandable with all the new feathers growing in on her back.

View attachment 3299313So Horus tried grabbing her (she's got her wings out). Kren is heading to the rescue, and Whiskey goes running too (off frame to the right of the pic, farther away). She retreated to the coop to grow feathers in peace. The hormones are still raging. Honestly, I'm surprised Kren didn't try. He certainly circled her a bunch, tried herding her, but respected her evasion. And responded to the hen in distress call. There's hope for him yet! Horus.....has been a good boy around Pippa, but a rotten brat around the older ladies.... Winter, please come cool the hormones on these idiots!

Oh that tree was lovely And will be again next Autumn.

Just like Pear and her feathers, everything old is new again at some point

 

[BY Bob]

Do not be sorry for me that they are not yellow. I may have wanted it to turn out yellow but I am ok with white. Rosie is not the only one who misses Cricket and her cute Dalmatian spots. Black will always be my favorite color, but, I'm open to other colors in my flock as well. I'm even now planning on getting white silkie eggs in the spring. White mind you, what I would say is my least favorite color in the breed. There is a reason though, she shows her chickens, and has several from her breeding pens being shown. Rosie is interested a little bit in showing chickens. My chosen silkie breeder, white is her best line as far as showing, followed closely by her blacks. That is why I'm splitting my egg order in half for 6 white, and 6 blacks. Now, I know nothing about showing chickens, but if we go that route she offers up advice and help on preparing them for a show. We will have to see what next year brings.

That sounds like a fun project for the two of you. I hope it happens and we get to follow along.

 

[ValarieF]

My IBS is acting up today and I bruised a rib yesterday falling on the tub.

Tax

Egypt and Dottie

Tax

 

[ValarieF]

Had a possum visit last night the dogs scared it on the roof of the shed and my hubby sprayed it with the hose until it ran off. Chickens are safe.

 

[RoyalChick]

Operation Hawk Thwart

I have a plan, and seeing as how I have noting better to do on this splendid gorgeous day, I am going to implement that plan

So, stay tuned!