Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Hahaha I need to show Mr P to ensure he does know what that is, I have only seen him breeding the hens twice!

With Pangoo it was twice every 5 min

That's the difference in hormone levels.

 

[bgmathteach]

You have more acreage than we do. We just have neighbors on 10-20 acreage parcels. Our corner used to be part of a 20 acreage lot that included the down below neighbors with the gray horses. He is the son of the original owner, so when they "retired" the lot was redrawn, splitting off the parents' corner. That's the part we bought.

In other news, bought a pumpkin the other day. As we don't see much (any) trick or treaters, and the chances of freezing are high, I see no reason to waste a pumpkin by carving and setting it out. Rather than carve it, I cut it open, cleaned out the guts, cut it into 3-6 inch chunks and roasted it like an acorn squash. This year I took the raw stem and bottom piece out to the chickens along with the seedless guts.View attachment 3300513Stem, in the rocks next to the stone steps

View attachment 3300515Bottom, in the coop with the heavy moulters, appears to be more popular.

The guts are mostly untouched, but crops are all stuffed and it's just after lunch.

Seeds are currently getting roasted in the oven and the meat is cooling so I can skin it without scorching my fingers. (They'll be getting the skins, too, but NOT the seeds. Those are my favorite snacks).


Nellie, displaying her growing tail.View attachment 3300517Looks like she still has a wing feather trying to fall out.

I know most people don't, but I at least partially cook the pumpkin for them...I find they eat it better....though with my gang, unless they were given multiple large pumpkins at once, they clean it all up anyways. I do sometimes hang a pumpkin with a few strips of skin pared off, but otherwise, when pumpkins are on sale at the end of the season, I always get some for them, cook (bake whole in oven when I'm cooking something else), then cut it onto chunks so everyone can get some (the lower ones would get shut out otherwise). I'm sure they will eventually go for it, unless there are more appetizing bugs around.....

I do also either save a bunch of seeds, or get some pumpkin seeds that are roasted (or raw) but not salted...chop them up & mix with other veggies and their powdered feed to make a mash. Do this a couple of times close together/back to back as my 'natural fall wormer' so they go into winter with a low load. Speaking of which.. now that we have had a frost, time to do that!!! Thanks for reminding me

 

[bgmathteach]

Would the gallop be worth the aching back/knees the next day?

From my past experie nce with a horse....absolutely...but once a year would probably do it!

 

[Kris5902]

He is worrying me, he is tidbitting with the gals and seems fine, I don’t think he is molting, and he is eating fine. He make purring and growling noises and the cluck cluck for tidbitting.

But he is quiet otherwise I am worried that he sees me as dominant bird and now won’t crow. I am going to try an experiment where I walk away from him if he walks near me. See if he actually is feeling submissive.

Also when he goes to bed tonight I will check him form lice or ticks - I don’t see them digging at themselves any more than usual…

He might be the strong silent type. I usually find the crowing is from my younger boys when they have some sort of “competition” around. My more dominant Roosters, Sammy, Dean, Hawk, and Mr Marans crow once or twice a day. It’s when you have a pack of unruly cockerels trying to figure out their pecking order that you have a noise problem. Most often the older guys are crow when the break up some sort of young hormonal idiocy activity like hen chasing or mini pecking order fights.

 

[rural mouse]

I know most people don't, but I at least partially cook the pumpkin for them...I find they eat it better....though with my gang, unless they were given multiple large pumpkins at once, they clean it all up anyways. I do sometimes hang a pumpkin with a few strips of skin pared off, but otherwise, when pumpkins are on sale at the end of the season, I always get some for them, cook (bake whole in oven when I'm cooking something else), then cut it onto chunks so everyone can get some (the lower ones would get shut out otherwise). I'm sure they will eventually go for it, unless there are more appetizing bugs around.....

I do also either save a bunch of seeds, or get some pumpkin seeds that are roasted (or raw) but not salted...chop them up & mix with other veggies and their powdered feed to make a mash. Do this a couple of times close together/back to back as my 'natural fall wormer' so they go into winter with a low load. Speaking of which.. now that we have had a frost, time to do that!!! Thanks for reminding me

I usually cook the stem and bottom pieces too, but they're a HUGE pain to skin/mash later. I figured to try them with the chickens just to see. Tonight's frost should soften those up nicely anyway.


What are you bringing us now?

BTW, the rest of the family is lucky if I share the seeds. I have been known to make pumpkin drop cookies (aka Pumpkin Poop with flies for Halloween) and pumpkin snickerdoodles.

 

[RoyalChick]

Lilly has been laying for a week now, 3 eggs in total so far. Personally considering she is a descendant of Daisy who I lost to reproductive issues if she has to have a few days break between each egg I am thrilled. Marans are not supposed to be high production breeds anyway although my girls do average 5 eggs a week. This morning both she and her Mom Corona laid. Corona's eggs used to look like Lilly's before she went through her molt. They are still speckled, just covered in tiny speckles now instead of the blotches that Lilly's have. It makes me wonder now if each time these girls take a egg break to molt or go broody if the speckling pattern will change when they resume laying.
Today's eggs.
View attachment 3300477View attachment 3300478

Ooooh - I love a speckled egg!

 

[Ponypoor]

He might be the strong silent type. I usually find the crowing is from my younger boys when they have some sort of “competition” around. My more dominant Roosters, Sammy, Dean, Hawk, and Mr Marans crow once or twice a day. It’s when you have a pack of unruly cockerels trying to figure out their pecking order that you have a noise problem. Most often the older guys are crow when the break up some sort of young hormonal idiocy activity like hen chasing or mini pecking order fights.

I miss his crowing, he wasn't a frequent Crower but in the morning he would.... Just hope it's just the darker hours...

 

[Ponypoor]

Would the gallop be worth the aching back/knees the next day?

I am already dreaming of some Tramacet, but seeing as how now I don't have a drug plan to pay for that expensive med I will just have to dream on.... Bad Kelly bad bad Kelly and her bad bad temper

 

[Ponypoor]

From my past experie nce with a horse....absolutely...but once a year would probably do it!

My sciatica and my hip/buttock are agony just agony... And I have no strong meds so it will be a 'suffer silly girl' night.

Oh I should explain I left my job - became fed up with being badgered up and gave the CFO my phone, security badges and told them I quit... Friday... Thus more drug plan, thus no more being able to afford the good stuff

Bad Kelly bad bad Kelly, shoulda just said yes ma'am how high ma'am....

Tax

 

[rural mouse]

I am already dreaming of some Tramacet, but seeing as how now I don't have a drug plan to pay for that expensive med I will just have to dream on.... Bad Kelly bad bad Kelly and her bad bad temper

Think of it this way. You saved yourself from having a stress induced heart attack with your resignation.

And think of the chaos tomorrow with all the "ask Kelly. We can't. She quit."