Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[lightm]

I've had to play "what breed of chicken is this chick?" I've also played "where did this trait come from?" In the process, I've read some of the breed histories. Those frequently spark curiosity about a breed used in development. I also tend to retain much of what I read (not everything). Example: Storm (pardon the moult).
View attachment 3386280 She hatched out blue. Her parents: blue laced red wyandotte and olive egger. Her brothers were also blue. The wyandotte was pretty light....so had to be splash laced to produce all blue babies. He was rose comb, but she isn't so he had to be Rrpp to produce a straight comb. Neither parent had a crest. When she popped hers, I had to go back and check genetics of olive Eggers (varies from location): where did that come from? Concluded one of her grandparents had to be cream legbar. Other one likely a cuckoo marans as mom was black with thin white stripes and brothers all barred. The whole curiosity bug led me down the rabbit trail of assorted breed development. In the process, I found the kippenjungle (or however it's spelled) genetics calculator which was helpful in figuring out how Whiskey and Kren got their speckled breasts (Colombian wyandotte can pop it in some cross breeds.....who'd have thunk that!) I've run across some other genetic info like this

https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-anatomy/poultry-genetics-an-introduction/

Wow. Thanks for the answer. Very impressive. I have bookedmarked your post for the link.

This makes me realize that it might never be for me... My breed knowledge used to be at RC level, but I think she's gone off to a new (higher) level now.

 

[lightm]

Whew, what a day it has been. You know what happened?

SNOW!

And a lot of it. Here are some photos of snow.
I am making a story so yes, I really did insert a picture of the door to start the story.
So when you first approach the chicken area, you'll notice a green door.
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When you open the door, here's the area you've all seen before.
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Where you'll meet Tony, Parmesan and Mozzarella.
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Who try to avoid the snow as much as possible because it's too cold for their feetsies.
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I don't know what's happening here but Tony likes to bite Parmesan and Parmesan is supposedly getting too close to the enemy.
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So, you're probably wondering where Grandma is... She's not in the coop.
She's in the house! With a snowball by her side.
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She cried for what felt like the dozenth time today so she headed to the room to learn some math... chicken math to be precise, while covering her head with a blanket.
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Parmesan came by before this to remind every chicken to eat their vegetables.
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And no, she did not eat the entire stack of spinach in one go.

Lovely!

Impressive that you were able to stage Parmesan with the spinach long enough to take a picture.

 

[lightm]

Would-a, could-a, should-a.... Hard things to not do as a human: dwell upon things that we can't change. I have plenty of those also, to this day I blame myself for my father's death 100% - as a Nurse I should have known; could have done something; or would have done better. And while I know that I can't go down that path - I do.

I am not going to tell you to not feel guilty - because you will - even though you shouldn't.
I am not going to tell you it wasn't your fault - you won't believe me - but you should believe me - it wasn't.

I am also not going to agree with you that Mal was the only chicken that really liked you - that just isn't true - all your gals like you, and you know how I know this?

All I have to do is look at the photos of them waiting by the back door, jumping for blueberries, sitting near you.... being around you. The smile on your face, the stories you tell.

All your chickens - yes even Aurora think of you as part of their flock, they just show it in different ways - the same as people show friendship or affection in different ways. Everyone is different and animals are no different.

Should you forget 24 January? Nope absolutely not - it is a defining point in your life. But please be gentle with yourself - non of us can predict the future.

And remember - it's always ok to get misty eyed when thinking of loved ones. Just don't dwell on the sad too much - try to think of the good most of the time.

Great post!!!

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

Lovely!

Impressive that you were able to stage Parmesan with the spinach long enough to take a picture.

The entire time Parmesan was in here, she acted like she was fossilized. Didn't move a muscle other than if I wanted to pet her she would brace herself, thinking I was going to hit her.

 

[featherhead007]

Xzit

 

[bgmathteach]

Well you know, it’s good for us all to be reminded that we are only human. And I also need to remind myself that I am just human and can no more predict the future, than I can change the weather.

We can talk about it all we want but no changing it.

Thanks for the kind words, you know that this is the best chat thread on here and it’s because you are honest direct and set good humane rules of conduct

It’s all of us that are encouraged to maintain that standard and I thank you for setting it. It also helps me remember to be kind here with others in my work world even when I am having a bad day.

 

[bgmathteach]

Thank you for your kind words. I am not in a full leg cast, not really a cast at all. Just a hard plastic splint that goes along the bottom of my foot and the part-way up my calf, then wrapped to my foot/leg with an ace bandage.

I finally got in to Ortho today. They have scheduled surgery for next Wednesday at 6 am to screw everything together the way it should be. Then it will be no driving and no weight bearing for 6 weeks.



I am so very sorry for your loss, especially when you are so far away and couldn’t say a proper goodbye. She obviously had a very good life with you.

Surgery and heartbreak tax
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I am going to miss my girls so much by the time I can go see them.

I"m so sorry it is taking so long to get it fixed. My one experience with that was by the time the ambulance got to me and got me to the ER, I was told that I did need surgery, but that it was far too swollen to do it then. They booked me out 2 weeks - but at least I had a 'proper/real' cast on it. Do try to be very careful until you get the surgery done. Hopefully the pain levels are tolerable - but I know full well that if there is any movement, it can be unbearable at times.

You will have to have hubby bring you in a 'lap chicken' once you have surgery and are feeling up to it! Maybe you will find that one of your girls enjoys watching TV with you, like Jaffar & Alex, or Branch & Rebecca!!

 

[bgmathteach]

I don’t know if this link will work for everyone but it made me chuckle.
https://apple.news/ACoO85EUkQpCZpXA6KM9tRw

Tax
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Hmmm synchronized eating as well as drinking!! They are truly 'in sync'!

 

[RoyalChick]

Two very short videos that made me giggle today.
First is Babs walking in the early dawn followed by her bodyguard, Eli. There is something about how Eli looks from side to side that made me think she was looking out for snipers or other security threats (maybe Bernie). I am glad to see Babs is so well protected!

And here is Bernie expressing her disgust at me putting a camera up in the blind spot.

I must say my chickens really do make me laugh!

 

[rural mouse]

Wow. Thanks for the answer. Very impressive. I have bookedmarked your post for the link.

This makes me realize that it might never be for me... My breed knowledge used to be at RC level, but I think she's gone off to a new (higher) level now.

That link is one of the best resources I've found. My knowledge was also at "it's a chicken...the feathers are pretty."