Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

My barn is 30' x 60' - that a big air purifier!

I closed up the windows, much better now - it's darn chilly here anyways. We are not getting summer like you guys! Brr!

My school chicks are all huddled together for warmth, poor wee chooks. But they are too big for the brooder plate and I am not dragging their stuff back into the office. I have a blanket over their crate, they will be warm and toasty all cuddled together.

No, they will escape, run into your office, and scare you by hacking your laptop and getting on Beakbook.

 

[Ponypoor]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Want to clear chooks from your office?

Have someone send you a text while your phone is on vibrate sitting on top of your tea mug.... hahahaha - I bet they cleared out of here in 2 seconds flat !

Too funny! Oh look they are all back again - beasts! I don't get much work done here...

 

[Ponypoor]

The boys all sounded off alerts, the girls in the open ran for overhead cover and EVERYONE froze.........

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...bird disappeared.......

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Boys sounded OK (not all's well: crowing). Girls started edging back out to browse some more, cautiously. They definitely know the kestrels are threat potentials. They're also staying fairly close to the coop. Not entirely sure if because of the babies or because of the kestrel. It was several days ago, but I'm still not really seeing ladies going off alone, either. Dunno if I'll ever know. I'm just glad the boys are so vigilant.

Good boys! Mr P has been doing well also since I trimmed up his coiffeur

But I still don't let them run amok without me around due to that bald eagle around here. That is a honking big bird! I bet it would look at me and say - puny human!

 

[GregnLety]

Hammer... Or Dozer - we did that for charity on one job site - ran over a printer with a dozer - had to get all sorts of enironmental permits - sheesh!

But it sure was fun

Did someone say run?? Oh fun! sure!
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Bounced a cell phone off the floor one time and it felt great! I spiked that son of a gun like Rob Gronkowski in the super bowl, lol. It had given me problems for months and I couldn't talk the boss into a new one. I was ordering food online as usual when I worked in Dubai and my order never showed up. Took an hour to get an English speaker on the phone. My phone chose this moment to reboot! Hence the spike! I waited till I calmed down to call my boss on Skype to tell him my phone died

 

[Ponypoor]

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I am at risk of getting kicked off if I do not do as the Empress says. She said to make sure it is engrained in everyone's mind that she is a Exchequer Leghorn, not a Anacona.

Now that is some awesome fan tail on that hen - she is such a gorgeous girl - just love her. I checked but we have none around here. Just as well I am at my max with hens

 

[Ponypoor]

Anyone who eats ANY meat is part of the 'machinery' that causes animals to be killed and processed for food. At least with @Ponypoor , they will have a good life until then, and be processed humanely. In the wild, Red Jungle Fowl generally 'ran' in packs of 3-5. 1 Roo, 2 hens, or 2 roos, 3 (or 4) hens. SO, that ratio would be anywhere from 28-40% Roo, yet they hatch at a rate of 50% (unless, of course, you are @RebeccaBoyd ) Why that 2 disparate ratios?

And it is even worse with our own flocks. (in general - some who almost completely free range like @rural mouse could still use a ratio close to that) Since they (hens) need less protection and less escorting, the roos end up with too much energy to expend, and far too much time on their hands. In close quarters, too many roos will overly breed and harass the hens and WILL fight, and a painful death by fighting is more barbaric than a humane processing and using as food - only one step better than organized cock fighting - as that is what it boils down to. Death by fighting is painful, prolonged, and nothing is gained by it. Remember what @rural mouse went through recently with a couple of her boys - and she free ranges with TONS of space.

This should be a peaceful thread, many people on here have very different keeping arrangements and have chickens for different reasons: growing their own food, for eggs, pets, and for show. As long as no one is abusing or neglecting their animals, we should all agree to be civil and to politely choose to disagree but still be cordial. @BY Bob has been very gracious to all of us, and accepting of many different keeping situations and beliefs. We should honor this and be respectful of others - or choose to not stay. Please don't be disrespectful. This thread has been a safe haven and judgement free zone for CHICKEN related chat and sharing - and it should remain as such.

Thank you bg - I do apologize for starting this and will promise to behave going forward.

I am being watched so I must comply.

 

[bgmathteach]

I had a really long scathing reply to your comments and then I thought - why bother - you obviously are way too good to be told, and know everything. I know of a 100 horse people like you.

Every time someone here makes a suggestion to you, there is always a snippy ready reply that you know what you are doing - no you don't I think.

I would never give any of my Roos to you, your standards of care are substandard to mine.

While my barbarically treated Roos are living with me they will live a carefree life eating bugs, roaming at large and getting all the attention that I can throw upon them.

Your way of animal husbandry, I actually find barbaric

I will reiterate that while we can give suggestions, and may disagree, we should still try to be civil.

I have to say that when I came on this thread, I REALLY enjoyed it, and found it a safe, peaceful, informative space. I really hope that everyone can both give and take suggestions politely. Suggestions can be very informative, and/or can sometimes jump-start your own creative process. It doesn't mean you have to follow all suggestions given - but accept them as just that - suggestions, and use them or not.

True wisdom is humble. There is no need to be protective. False wisdom is fierce/deceitful - it needs to protect itself so it isn't found out. I love to think I can help, and offer suggestions - it doesn't always mean I am correct, or have the only correct option/information. Many different keeping situations require different solutions. We can suggest what we think is right or what the general wisdom it but it is ultimately up to the keeper to make sure it is humane.

I really want this space to stay positive - a respite from the crazy, stressful world, and a place where I can get good information, am offered really good suggestions, and am supported when I need it (like Crop Girl's surgery. I could not have done it without the support of some very smart and empathetic people on here!) I do process my 'extra roos', I eat them. Processing is not easy for me, I cry each time I do it. But I do it as humanely as possible, and when I have a good dinner, I know it came from a chicken who was treated well, and had a reasonably quick passing with kind hands and love. I eat meat - I am not ashamed of that - but I am ashamed at how our factory farms treat animals - and I am doing what I can to lessen my part of that 'machinery' that treats chickens like they are machines with no thoughts, feeling, needs (other than feed and water) To have my way of life attacked as Barbaric when it is vastly more humane than how most people who either can't afford it or are uninformed acquire their meat is hurtful. I don't condemn people who buy their food from the local grocery and the meat there is from factory farms. I don't even hold any ill will to them - it is part of society. Many do not have options for one reason or another. I expect to have the same level of respect or at least 'agree to disagree - politely' attitude here.

I have not caught up yet, but I am logging off because I am upset at the moment.

 

[Ponypoor]

Bounced a cell phone off the floor one time and it felt great! I spiked that son of a gun like Rob Gronkowski in the super bowl, lol. It had given me problems for months and I couldn't talk the boss into a new one. I was ordering food online as usual when I worked in Dubai and my order never showed up. Took an hour to get an English speaker on the phone. My phone chose this moment to reboot! Hence the spike! I waited till I calmed down to call my boss on Skype to tell him my phone died

hahahahaha - that's awesome.

too funny - but ya technology can be stressful to deal with.

Chickens too it seems - get off my chair you brat! Ugh poop....

 

[ValarieF]

i love watching my chooks on camera. I turned on the volume to listen geez they are noisy. Especially madhatter Hattie, thats her name now she never stops talking.

 

[Ponypoor]

And just like that Twig has a home when I have tried to give madea away for weeks. While I was angry I listed both boys. Twig is going to the person who bought my original boy Toothless almost 3 years ago. Hopefully tomorrow when she gets here I can talk her into madea as well.

OH that is wonderful - Poor Branch - hopefully he is ok.