Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValarieF]

Great our heat went out. Hubby is trying to figure out what is wrong just what I need more stress.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Dear Aurora,
I cannot tell you how excited I am that you responded to my letter. I really am your number one fan and pay close attention to your every word! I am so flattered that you see me as a kindred spirit and will always try to be worthy of that honor.
I do my very best to follow The Way of the Chicken, and I always ask myself WWAD (what would Aurora do).
It was very helpful to receive your letter before today's publication date and it came not a minute too soon - because as you suspected my human went ahead and did it.
SHE GOT MORE CHICKENS!!
As you said at first she would not let me touch them so I did my best to go chicken hunting from the other side of the fence.

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But then Diana showed me a video on Beakbook and it really helped me hone my technique (who would think sweet Diana would be so helpful in this enterprise?!).
This is the video she showed me it is very short but highly instructive:

I have done my best to copy his approach

I must say it is very satisfying to chase them around - but they haven't tried to fight me through the fence. Strangely they sometimes seem to want to chat!

The next development just happened and is truly wonderful. I am allowed to terrorize them as much as I want inside the Chicken Palace. No fence any more!
I have not had such fun EVER.
Sometimes I just look at them and they run away. I could not be happier right now!

I cannot thank you enough for helping me see the opportunities for me in Chicken Math, I feel like the possibilities are endless! Maybe she will get even more chickens? Maybe even tomorrow. I am a bit tired from all the running around, but I am ready to take on any challenge!

Yours in adoration,
Bernadette

Wonderful post, RC!

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

They have a while yet! Their 'older siblings' are about 9-10 weeks older, and 3 of the 7 have started laying, one 2+ weeks ago, one about a week ago, and one laid their first egg Sunday.

Pictures of sibling's eggs:
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Note that these eggs in the images look a touch more brown in the pictures than in person. In the last picture, the middle egg is really a deep olive color. I suspect that your girls will lay eggs similar in color to the right one in this last picture.

Those are pretty eggs! The right egg in the last picture looks like Bolts eggs.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Great our heat went out. Hubby is trying to figure out what is wrong just what I need more stress.
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Awe I'm sorry! I did not mean to put the laughing emoji.... Pretty hen! Which one is that?

 

[ValarieF]

Awe I'm sorry! I did not mean to put the laughing emoji.... Pretty hen! Which one is that?

Thats Maleficent

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Those of you who follow 'Ask Aurora' will have noticed that Bernadette has given away my secret. I have been holding out on you all and spent Christmas and New Year introducing new chickens to the Chicken Palace.

Bernadette gave you only fleeting glimpses of them running away
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26430083

But now it is time for me to introduce them properly to everyone at Fluffy Butt Acres.

Before I do so, I want to say a huge thank you to @bgmathteach who really succeeded in pushing me past the sadness of all my recent chicken losses to expand my flock, and who really went above and beyond to share two beautiful members of her flock with me. Thanks also to @BY Bob who provided wise advice and @MaryJanet who by sharing the stories of her laundry chickens helped me realize how I could make quarantine practical for these grown ladies - I too now have a chicken room!

Please meet the new Princesses in residence.

Eli (Elinor)
Elinor is flighty but also very food motivated. She will hide behind or underneath her sister as long as doing so does not cut off her access to the food.
She is named after Elinor Smith who was a stunt pilot in the 1920s. In 1928 she flew under all the bridges on the East River in NYC - she did it on a dare and nobody has achieved it since. This capture's Eli's character perfectly!

Babs
Babs is larger, fluffy, comfortable, and inclined to be friendly. She is still wary of me, but settles when held. She is very vocal and is constantly talking to whoever is interested. She is no pushover will scream blue murder when I first try to touch her. She seems inclined to want to be friends with Diana and Bernie. Her name is partly inspired by Barbara Walters - a pioneering female news broadcaster in the US (and Babs can certainly broadcast) and partly in recognition of @bgmathteach, but mainly just because it suits her!

The main issue right now is that they are both roosting 10' up in the rafters of the Chicken Palace run. Getting there is no small feat, and when they come down they sometimes land right in front of Bernadette who does not appreciate when it rains chickens from the sky.

Here are a few pictures by way of introduction - more to follow I am sure.

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Hello, you two!
Very interesting snuggling there with Bernadette and Diana. Making a claim for the best spot already!

Rafter roosting looks even better - warm, high up, safe in a new place. They can fly pretty well, that landing looked okay. I don't know how or when they will roost with Bernie or Diana but I think they will, at least nearby, not too long from now.

Also - coming out of the nestboxes in the previous video - the up, over-and-out escape was classic, perfectly executed and award-worthy!

 

[RoyalChick]

Hello, you two!
Very interesting snuggling there with Bernadette and Diana. Making a claim for the best spot already!

Rafter roosting looks even better - warm, high up, safe in a new place. They can fly pretty well, that landing looked okay. I don't know how or when they will roost with Bernie or Diana but I think they will, at least nearby, not too long from now.

Also - coming out of the nestboxes in the previous video - the up, over-and-out escape was classic, perfectly executed and award-worthy!

Yes - the up-over-and-out was nicely done!

They have also perfected the going each side of a tree stump or other obstacle so poor Bernie has to pick which one to chase.

I could watch it for hours - it is one new thing after the next!

 

[featherhead007]

This hen is driving me crazy and had me seeing things. I have been stalking her from the window all day. She knows this and likes to rearrange the leaves while I am staring at her looking for any sign of a chick. Several, several times I've thought I have caught a glimpse of a blonde something. I've also sworn to myself I have saw this blonde thing move. I just went and took pictures. Yes I have been seeing something blonde, and it has moved. The blonde thing is not a chick, it is her chest feathers. Very soon I will be carted off to the looney bin over this girl.View attachment 3367904View attachment 3367905View attachment 3367906

What size straitjacket do you wear? ‍

 

[BY Bob]

1 week yea i will wait to see if her eggs get bigger. And ill need to by an incubator

Don't buy an incubator, wait for a broody. It won't be too long till they want to hatch their own.

 

[rural mouse]

@rural mouse you're right fayoumas are flighty and want to range. I didn't read how well they thrived in the colder climates!
Bielefelders would be great.

The bielefelders at my in-laws are doing really well. (Roughly an hour from us). Anyone liking barred birds and/or colorful birds will enjoy them. Bonus: they're autosexing