Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Yes. I have had Lyme a couple of times and found a tick on me on Tuesday. I really hate those things. It is why I keep toying with the idea of some fully free ranging Guinea fowl.

You with free range guineas would create some fun stories for certain.

 

[Ponypoor]

That is an interesting theory.
It seems more likely than anything else I have read. So far my reading suggested two possibilities. One was that their shells can get lighter and lighter in color and then reset when they molt. It feels a tad early in the year for that to be the case.
The second was various mineral deficiencies but that too seems very unlikely.

I went to feed the horses last night and there were black feathers everywhere - of course I ran freaking out to count everyone - 13 all good. Ok raccoons are stressing me out.

Then my next thought was darn someone else going broody and fighting. Who would that be?

Then this morning I noted more black feathers in the Hen House - what?! Molting this early??

So I guess it’s not too early, now to figure out who it is, I think it’s Penelope.

 

[RoyalChick]

You with free range guineas would create some fun stories for certain.

I would have to get my head around them not being pets. I would need a lot of them and there would be high losses.
I am not sure I could handle that.
And then what if they were wildly successful and took over the neighborhood? Would I have to deploy Guinea-hunters to control the population?
It feels complicated!

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes. I have had Lyme a couple of times and found a tick on me on Tuesday. I really hate those things. It is why I keep toying with the idea of some fully free ranging Guinea fowl.

Great idea!

Surprisingly I have not seen any ticks on me, and only a few times on the horses, the cat a few times every year.

Which got me thinking of chickens a ticks.

 

[Ponypoor]

I would have to get my head around them not being pets. I would need a lot of them and there would be high losses.
I am not sure I could handle that.
And then what if theybwere wildly successful and took over the neighborhood. Would I have to deploy Guinea-hunters to control the population?
It feels complicated!

I suggest asking Pastel about Guinea she has a bunch.

And Greg has some also. I would love some but I am really not set up for wild things.

@Pastel The Rooster
@GregnLety

 

[Ponypoor]

I'm certain they eat them if they were to ever get one.

Yes that is my feeling also.

 

[Ponypoor]

I would have to get my head around them not being pets. I would need a lot of them and there would be high losses.
I am not sure I could handle that.
And then what if theybwere wildly successful and took over the neighborhood. Would I have to deploy Guinea-hunters to control the population?
It feels complicated!

In Vancouver they have a problem with Peacocks running at large gone feral.

I don’t think they would survive a snowy winter outside though same with Guinea fowl.

 

[RoyalChick]

In Vancouver they have a problem with Peacocks running at large gone feral.

I don’t think they would survive a snowy winter outside though same with Guinea fowl.

I need to learn more about them. The feral issue was high on my concern list. Like planting invasive plants it felt irresponsible.

 

[Ponypoor]

It has slowed egg laying down but this started a month before Betty was lost.

Hmmm back to square one.

What would Sherlock say?

 

[Ponypoor]

I need to learn more about them. The feral issue was high on my concern list. Like planting invasive plants it felt irresponsible.

Have a ‘home base’ they return to at night to roost that way you can control and feral behaviour. And get only hens.