Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Went out to close up the coop this evening. Guess what I found

Spoiler: I found....

All 6 of them.

 

[bgmathteach]

I was trying this afternoon to get updated comb pictures on the marshmallows. They were infuriatingly uncooperative and difficult.
I did get this though. Comb and action shot all in one.
View attachment 3538161
I have some seriously deep holes on the creek bank now. The dogs are not to blame either.

That is a very cool action shot. I think you should submit it for the caption contest! I just LOVE that flying dirt! (kind makes me think of pigpen!)

 

[bgmathteach]

Went out to close up the coop this evening. Guess what I found

Spoiler: I found....

View attachment 3538333View attachment 3538334All 6 of them.

How in the heck did they fly up there? They aren't even 2 weeks old!

Thing seems to be watching them quite closely.

did you put them back in their tote to have the warm mamma tonight? Where they aren't fully feathered, I am wondering if you think they would be okay out of the tote/away from the heating pad or not.

 

[RoyalChick]

I tried. Not sure if they came out good enough to really see - it just wouldn't hold still when it's head was up so you could see the beak.

This one is blurry, but you can see the cross beak here, even though it is a fuzzy pic.
View attachment 3538318


This one is just because - it is the cross beak girl, but you can't really see it in this photo. (@RoyalChick : See the green legs on the bottom one! ) And @Ponypoor notice the little round bump on the inside of it's leg? That is where the spur will be if it grows one.
View attachment 3538320

This is another one of the cross beak girl. Out of 15 photos of her - this is really the only decent one of her face/beak.
View attachment 3538323

My understanding of cross-beaks is it can have 3 causes: genetics, positioning in the shell, and feed ( some nutritional deficit)

I am sure it is not feed, otherwise more than one would have at least a little cross beak. So, that leaves genetics or positioning in the shell. I'm hoping it is not genetics. I haven't had any chickens with cross beaks - I had one chick from a set of ordered chicks that had it, but I did not keep her. I had to hand feed her multiple times a day as hers was bad enough she couldn't really eat on her own. It was really hard to let her go, as with all the handling for feeding, she became very friendly...and when I would go out to check on the chicks (or because I was going to get her for feeding), she would fly up onto my arm or shoulder while I was bending over filling he waterer or feeder. I tried to see if I could get it to be aligned better - at night I would put an elastic on her beak (think retainers). However, she wouldn't keep it on - so that was a real bust. When I finally gave up, she was less than half the size of her hatch mates, and she was the same size as them when she arrived.


It is looking more and more like she is the only pullet - and her beak is bad enough that she can't eat grass, etc. She tries, but she never gets anything - she can only eat the crumbles when it is in a dish (i.e. not spilled on the ground - darn scratching chickens!) so she can push her beak far enough in that she can get the food.

Those green legs are amazing!

 

[Ponypoor]

I tried. Not sure if they came out good enough to really see - it just wouldn't hold still when it's head was up so you could see the beak.

This one is blurry, but you can see the cross beak here, even though it is a fuzzy pic.
View attachment 3538318


This one is just because - it is the cross beak girl, but you can't really see it in this photo. (@RoyalChick : See the green legs on the bottom one! ) And @Ponypoor notice the little round bump on the inside of it's leg? That is where the spur will be if it grows one.
View attachment 3538320

This is another one of the cross beak girl. Out of 15 photos of her - this is really the only decent one of her face/beak.
View attachment 3538323

My understanding of cross-beaks is it can have 3 causes: genetics, positioning in the shell, and feed ( some nutritional deficit)

I am sure it is not feed, otherwise more than one would have at least a little cross beak. So, that leaves genetics or positioning in the shell. I'm hoping it is not genetics. I haven't had any chickens with cross beaks - I had one chick from a set of ordered chicks that had it, but I did not keep her. I had to hand feed her multiple times a day as hers was bad enough she couldn't really eat on her own. It was really hard to let her go, as with all the handling for feeding, she became very friendly...and when I would go out to check on the chicks (or because I was going to get her for feeding), she would fly up onto my arm or shoulder while I was bending over filling he waterer or feeder. I tried to see if I could get it to be aligned better - at night I would put an elastic on her beak (think retainers). However, she wouldn't keep it on - so that was a real bust. When I finally gave up, she was less than half the size of her hatch mates, and she was the same size as them when she arrived.


It is looking more and more like she is the only pullet - and her beak is bad enough that she can't eat grass, etc. She tries, but she never gets anything - she can only eat the crumbles when it is in a dish (i.e. not spilled on the ground - darn scratching chickens!) so she can push her beak far enough in that she can get the food.

Poor wee lass, maybe euthanize might be kind? one needs to have nerves of steel to have pets

 

[Ponypoor]

Went out to close up the coop this evening. Guess what I found

Spoiler: I found....

View attachment 3538333View attachment 3538334All 6 of them.

That’s hilarious they sure can fly, the wee little monsters!

Did you put them back into their tote?

 

[Ponypoor]

SHRA Tax

For asking a duplicate question

Tippy and Rico - full siblings (Sophia is mum) and Martina

 

[rural mouse]

Good for him! Is he doing a trade? Or just a general infantry?

chicken tax
The little dark grey I like

View attachment 3537884

Navy. No idea how much of what he learns cn be used in civilian sector, but he does know to keep documentation of every bit of learning he gets so he has proof later.

 

[rural mouse]

that could be POW worthy...

X2 @RebeccaBoyd

 

[BY Bob]

Ok I am making a announcement, Twig is going to have to be rehomed. I tried, thought things had got better and he just attacked and cornered Branch. If I had not gotten him off Branch he probably would have killed him. As it is Branch is limping and shaken up. I love Twig, he is beautiful. Branch is my baby though and he comes first.

I'm just now catching up on this story. I'm so glad you were there to save Branch. That must have been terrifying.