Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Thank you! Pastel and Bolt are my most special chickens. I love them all, but these are the two where I would become 100% depressed. I do know that he would protect the hens, and as weird as this sounds, that is a problem to me. If there was a predator and he tried to fightit, he would most likely be killed. His spurs are thick and long, but not sharp. I don't think that I am going to let them out. If I can convince my dad to help me finish the big part of my coop, they can go out there. Last Christmas I got an automatic chicken door, so I am ready.
No doubt Pastel, Bolt, Splotch, and BBQ are too!

A good roo is a great miracle!

 

[rural mouse]

Okay, I have a very serious question about my chickens health. I don't free range my chickens. They have a decent sized run. It could probably fit 8 chickens, if not more. I only have 4 chickens, but I have had 6 chickens in there. Three roos, three hens. I gave two of the roos away, they were just too aggressive towards me. Pastel is fine though. Should I start letting them out? They are all over a year old, and I am just terrified that something will happen to them. We are working on my coop, and we will have a large area to let them out during the day. They seem happy, but I live on 14 cleared acres, and I own 50 acres total. 50 - 14 = How much non-cleared land I own. I have had to chase my guineas all around in the woods to try and save their life. I love my guineas, but they are no chickens. I would die if anything were to happen to my chicks. What do you guys suggest to do? Wait until they can be let out into a big coop and stretch their legs and wings that way? Or just let them out with my guineas and hope that everyone survives? They are not trained to go back into the coop, but they could learn. I just would hate myself if a predator came and got one.
Another thing... is BBQ a RIR or a Brown Leghorn? She lays pinkish-tan eggs. Could she be a mix of both? Her comb makes me think a Leghorn, but her color makes me think RIR
View attachment 3364095

Brown leghorn hen (Nellie)

Half Brown leghorn, with pure coloring

Bottom left.

Roos are black breasted red. Hens are brown/tan/salmon breasted, darker back, gold tones on the head.

BBQ is definitely NOT leghorn. Hens of any straight comb breed can have a "floppy" (stylish) comb, especially breeds with larger combs. Roos combs don't get the jaunty angle on the comb.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I am jealous of your acreage. What size is your run? Right now they are sleeping in the run? Do you know how long until your actual coop is built (when they also have a bigger area to be let out)?

Do you have a better picture of BBQ? I think she is RIR from this picture.

My Farmstead is nothing special! I would rather have neighbors half a mile away rather than not having any neighbors for 8 miles ( I think ) I don't know exactly how large the run is, but I do know that it is large enough. It is a big rectangle. They do sleep in the run. They have a large, raised wooden box that they can sleep in. That was the best my dad could get to a coop. I like it though. I'm not sure the chickens think so though The plan was for the big coop to be done by February, but I'm not sure that is going to happen. I hope it is though. My dad works 6 days a week, and is hardly home.
I may have a better picture of BBQ. RIR's used to be my favorite breed. They are still up there though.

Is this picture good enough? The picture is from a while back. The run is not that dirty, I promise.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Brown leghorn hen (Nellie)
View attachment 3364191View attachment 3364192

Half Brown leghorn, with pure coloringView attachment 3364188View attachment 3364189View attachment 3364190Bottom left.

Roos are black breasted red. Hens are brown/tan/salmon breasted, darker back, gold tones on the head.

BBQ is definitely NOT leghorn. Hens of any straight comb breed can have a "floppy" (stylish) comb, especially breeds with larger combs. Roos combs don't get the jaunty angle on the comb.

Ah, okay. I forgot what Brown Leghorna look like. Yeah, I can tell now that she is not. Thank you!

 

[RoyalChick]

My Farmstead is nothing special! I would rather have neighbors half a mile away rather than not having any neighbors for 8 miles ( I think ) I don't know exactly how large the run is, but I do know that it is large enough. It is a big rectangle. They do sleep in the run. They have a large, raised wooden box that they can sleep in. That was the best my dad could get to a coop. I like it though. I'm not sure the chickens think so though The plan was for the big coop to be done by February, but I'm not sure that is going to happen. I hope it is though. My dad works 6 days a week, and is hardly home.
I may have a better picture of BBQ. RIR's used to be my favorite breed. They are still up there though.

Is this picture good enough? The picture is from a while back. The run is not that dirty, I promise.
View attachment 3364201

I think RIRs have some black feathers in their tail - I can't see her tail in this picture.

Maggie's black tail feathers to show you what I mean. And thank you for the excuse to post pictures of my beloved Maggie who I miss terribly.

 

[Ponypoor]

My in-laws had a horse who would take his rider into all the trees with pinecone. On trail rides, they didn't do horse turd fights. They had pine cone fights. He loved being in the middle, but riders didn't always expect being suddenly thrust into the middle of a tree so they could pick cones at the behest of a horse.

Hahaha!

My old stallion trained me to gather apples from his back

Of course he got the choice ones!

Really miss that old horse, I have his daughter and grand daughter though

 

[bgmathteach]

And, yes, leghorns are speedy!

Right @rural mouse ?

I think @BY Bob can attest to their zippiness, too.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I spent a good amount of time outside today just sitting on the back porch with my flock. I was keenly observing Goose's behavior when she was around. She is starting to vocalize more like a adult hen then chick. The boys are starting to show interest but she avoids them. She hopped up beside me a few times on the bottom step and when I went to pet her each time she squatted. If I had to guess, that first egg is around 2 weeks away. Once she accepts the boys I'll start looking for that egg any day.

 

[bgmathteach]

I think RIRs have some black feathers in their tail - I can't see her tail in this picture.

Maggie's black tail feathers to show you what I mean. And thank you for the excuse to post pictures of my beloved Maggie who I miss terribly.

View attachment 3364233View attachment 3364234View attachment 3364235View attachment 3364236

What a lovely girl she was!

 

[Ponypoor]

Okay, I have a very serious question about my chickens health. I don't free range my chickens. They have a decent sized run. It could probably fit 8 chickens, if not more. I only have 4 chickens, but I have had 6 chickens in there. Three roos, three hens. I gave two of the roos away, they were just too aggressive towards me. Pastel is fine though. Should I start letting them out? They are all over a year old, and I am just terrified that something will happen to them. We are working on my coop, and we will have a large area to let them out during the day. They seem happy, but I live on 14 cleared acres, and I own 50 acres total. 50 - 14 = How much non-cleared land I own. I have had to chase my guineas all around in the woods to try and save their life. I love my guineas, but they are no chickens. I would die if anything were to happen to my chicks. What do you guys suggest to do? Wait until they can be let out into a big coop and stretch their legs and wings that way? Or just let them out with my guineas and hope that everyone survives? They are not trained to go back into the coop, but they could learn. I just would hate myself if a predator came and got one.
Another thing... is BBQ a RIR or a Brown Leghorn? She lays pinkish-tan eggs. Could she be a mix of both? Her comb makes me think a Leghorn, but her color makes me think RIR
View attachment 3364095

I don’t let mine roam free without me watching, I usually let them out for a couple hrs while I sit on a lawn chair and read a book or check out FBA