Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick I was thinking this morning as I let the chooks out of the coops - maybe you should consider getting an Astralorp? They are beautiful black birds with clean legs ( no muffs/beards), that are iridescent in the light. They are also calm, even-keeled girls, and have a fair amount of fluff on their bottoms! Not unlike Hattie - Astralorps were created from Orpingtons.

Just a thought of a breed to consider! (and, they wouldn't be roosting in the rafters once they hit adult size!)
@BY Bob what do you think?

Based on the couple of girls I have, if I spent the time with them that you do, I am sure they would be lap birds!

They are beautiful. If I could find a breeder I would consider them. The hatcheries it seems have bred them as production varieties and I am trying to avoid that for the health of the bird.
I am not keen on the hatchery experience either so try to consider birds I can drive to get. Am not afraid of a road trip of course!

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick Hector is an australorp (so you have an idea of body shape)

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He's the one who developed bent toes as a chick. Calm, unflappable inspite of having his toes taped (smart, he figured out how to take them off). I can still handle him, but he's and armful.

 

[RoyalChick]

Annie, my flock's alpha hen agrees, although she is not a lap chicken. She is not skittish, but she just minds her own chicken business and prefers that I follow her example and mind my human business as well . I don't make an effort to have lap chickens though, so you may have different results and of course each chicken is an individual.

Annie :

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I am not at all obsessed with lap chickens. Even my cats aren’t lap cats!
But I do like a chicken that I can converse with, and it is a thrill when they voluntarily come near or hop on my arm or whatever.
Mostly I like their company and want them to enjoy mine.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

We call them Chick Days when the chicks come in.

We also call them chick days. I also agree with everything else you say.

 

[Sally PB]

maybe you should consider getting an Astralorp?

Australorps are lovely! Here are some pictures of mine.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I keep pondering the fast moving thread issue.

What if a few of us regular frequenters of the thread volunteer to post a weekly synopsis on a consistent day, say Sunday. Just a brief synopsis of the week, the chicken related highlights. New chicks or chickens, illness, and any other chicken keeping issues anyone has posted about.

The volunteers can take turns to post the synopsis on Sunday this way no one has to do it every week.

Then anyone who cant check in regularly can look for that post to catch up and feel they have a good overall picture of the goings on and those like to chat can keep on doing so.

I volunteer myself, if other folks like this idea and @BY Bob approves of course.

Thoughts?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Very cute picture.

They almost look like babies, except I know they are adults.

Well Peanut, on the left, was still in her molt, and it was very cold out! She and her sidekick Hazel were hanging in the corner between two warming panels.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Well she was until I got a hold of her. I tell you, I shouldn't keep chickens. I have the chicken raising equivalent of a brown thumb.

This isn’t true at all! You take wonderful care of your chickens.

Broody pairView attachment 3419322

Awlll, I love this photo so sweet.

Oh yes indeed.
I have no issue with cockerels being used for meat as long as they live good (short) lives and are slaughtered humanely.
I have more issues with the conditions of laying hens.
Weirdly one of my cats is allergic to chicken so mine live off venison and rabbit.
What I cannot fathom is why there isn’t mouse flavored cat food. I could supply a small production plant from my garage alone!

Ha! I have wondered this as well.

Australorps are lovely! Here are some pictures of mine.
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That last photo is really beautiful POW worthy for sure!

 

[Ponypoor]

Just ran across this article

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

Egg-cellent! And in total agreement.

Is the tire/tyre the container of wild water?

A play toy and a water dispenser!

@RoyalChick I was thinking this morning as I let the chooks out of the coops - maybe you should consider getting an Astralorp? They are beautiful black birds with clean legs ( no muffs/beards), that are iridescent in the light. They are also calm, even-keeled girls, and have a fair amount of fluff on their bottoms! Not unlike Hattie - Astralorps were created from Orpingtons.

Just a thought of a breed to consider! (and, they wouldn't be roosting in the rafters once they hit adult size!)
@BY Bob what do you think?

Based on the couple of girls I have, if I spent the time with them that you do, I am sure they would be lap birds!

Ooooo beauties for sure - I think that is an awesome suggestion!

Annie, my flock's alpha hen agrees, although she is not a lap chicken. She is not skittish, but she just minds her own chicken business and prefers that I follow her example and mind my human business as well . I don't make an effort to have lap chickens though, so you may have different results and of course each chicken is an individual.

Annie :

View attachment 3419534

Oh she is a beauty! Yes I think that would be a great option for RC

They are beautiful. If I could find a breeder I would consider them. The hatcheries it seems have bred them as production varieties and I am trying to avoid that for the health of the bird.
I am not keen on the hatchery experience either so try to consider birds I can drive to get. Am not afraid of a road trip of course!

I would check out Kijiji (or whatever the popular online site there is your way); last night I was up surfing the net and found someone not 20min from me who has Chantecler chicks! Next year I will think about that... they are straight run so run the risk of roos...

Australorps are lovely! Here are some pictures of mine.
View attachment 3419558
View attachment 3419561
View attachment 3419562

Awww! Lovely! just lovely!

Well Peanut, on the left, was still in her molt, and it was very cold out! She and her sidekick Hazel were hanging in the corner between two warming panels.

Mine seem to have finished finally - I don't see anyone hanging out by the overhead panel at any rate.... Sure hope your gals finish theirs soon - they are looking good at any rate!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

They are beautiful. If I could find a breeder I would consider them. The hatcheries it seems have bred them as production varieties and I am trying to avoid that for the health of the bird.
I am not keen on the hatchery experience either so try to consider birds I can drive to get. Am not afraid of a road trip of course!

I would offer to turn on my incubator to hatch chicks for you if you wanted to pick them up after they hatch. That is what I am offering if anyone inquires about chicks. I incubate, they pick them up within a few days of hatching for $4 a chick. There is a risk of boys though and with my flock there is about a 80% chance you will get feathered legs or feet. If we get the pen built in the next month like we are wanting, for about a 2 month span going to separate the pure Maran girls and only let Bubba visit them so I will have pure Maran eggs. Right now everything offered would be labeled as a Marans mix just to be safe.