Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

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I didn’t know there were Barred Rock cats!

 

[knoturavggrl]

I have never dealt with a broody hen. I would be terrified!

Me too a bit they sound fierce on the videos I have seen. One ornery Rooster has me in fits let alone adding a broody to the mix.

 

[RoyalChick]

The Princesses and I are having a lovely afternoon. It is 60 degrees - a bit concerning for February but lovely nonetheless. It is nice and sunny and the wind is getting a bit less.
I am not sure if any of this lot understands the fence. Possibly Bernie, but maybe not even her. So I am keeping an eye out.
I have created some monsters. Everyone now accepts me at some level and all will eat out of my hand. But Bernie is really rough and when the treats run out I have to pull my fingers into my sleeve or I get a nasty peck. She has schooled Eli on the deliciousness of fingers, and Eli can fly. So now just as I walk about I am in danger of Eli launching herself at me and clamping down on my fingers.
Ouch!

 

[featherhead007]

I didn’t know there were Barred Rock cats!

Where? I don’t have any cats!

 

[featherhead007]

The Princesses and I are having a lovely afternoon. It is 60 degrees - a bit concerning for February but lovely nonetheless. It is nice and sunny and the wind is getting a bit less.
I am not sure if any of this lot understands the fence. Possibly Bernie, but maybe not even her. So I am keeping an eye out.
I have created some monsters. Everyone now accepts me at some level and all will eat out of my hand. But Bernie is really rough and when the treats run out I have to pull my fingers into my sleeve or I get a nasty peck. She has schooled Eli on the deliciousness of fingers, and Eli can fly. So now just as I walk about I am in danger of Eli launching herself at me and clamping down on my fingers.
Ouch!

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Such things are “The way of the Chicken”

 

[bgmathteach]

Yes that is my thoughts also - I figure I will be home in April anyways likely due to Spring breakup here in the North.

Now if my Silkies and other gals behave and go broody I will be all set

I figure I need 3 broodies and divide the between them all, and if lucky enough to get a couple of Welbar/Legbar/Brabanters...

Oh, 2 broodies can easily handle 10 chicks! You need 3 broodies, though - 2 to handle the 10 chicks, and then Marty to hatch 3-4 of her own (@RebeccaBoyd - what is this, only suggesting 2! one might not hatch!! AND, I say 4 is better - hopefully 3 will hatch and she gets at least 1 pullet. Gotta work the numbers!)

 

[bgmathteach]

@bgmathteach - would you expect her to be a prolific layer, or is 3 eggs in 4 days just a sign she is learning? I like having eggs but really hope my Princesses don't wear themselves out laying every day!

So, she is half DC and half EE. DC are NOT prolific layers, EEs are good, but not like ISA Browns or anything. So, I would expect that she will probably lay5-6 eggs a week through the spring (spring flush and her first year laying), taper off as things heat up...and probably lay 4 eggs/week in the fall. With her tight/hard feathering, she will most likely slow down dramatically in the winter if it is a normal winter (this year, with the exception of a couple of days, has been warmer than average.) and, stop altogether if there is an extended cold snap. Then next spring, I would guess 4 eggs a week,

That said, she is a first gen. 'mutt/cross', and there is something called hybrid vigor, so I don't know for sure.

This is a decent snapshot of the DC breed. That said, DC, I have found, lay a bit more than the 100 listed per year, unless they go broody; probably closer to 150.

By the looks of the egg you showed previously, it is shaped like an EE egg. (DC eggs tend to be more pear-ish shaped, and are small to medium sized.)

 

[bgmathteach]

The Princesses and I are having a lovely afternoon. It is 60 degrees - a bit concerning for February but lovely nonetheless. It is nice and sunny and the wind is getting a bit less.
I am not sure if any of this lot understands the fence. Possibly Bernie, but maybe not even her. So I am keeping an eye out.
I have created some monsters. Everyone now accepts me at some level and all will eat out of my hand. But Bernie is really rough and when the treats run out I have to pull my fingers into my sleeve or I get a nasty peck. She has schooled Eli on the deliciousness of fingers, and Eli can fly. So now just as I walk about I am in danger of Eli launching herself at me and clamping down on my fingers.
Ouch!

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I'm sorry @RoyalChick , but that image your description brought was just so hysterical, I almost wet my pants laughing!

Laugh was for the image your words conjured up,
but these are for the lovely pics.

 

[GregnLety]

Blackie and Itty Bitty playing hide n seek

 

[Ponypoor]

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I had to backtrack to find the 'barred rock cat' hahaha! awesome!