Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I think it was a good one, I felt sad for both of the main guy's. The trouble was I kept so didn't get the whole of it. don't anyone mention I'm getting old

You are not allowed to get old! You have No permission to be senile!

 

[featherhead007]

BY Bob, international handy man.

“International handyman of mystery “!

 

[featherhead007]

“International handyman of mystery “!

(It’s the car !)

 

[rural mouse]

Got a 2nd hidden nest. This one Lark gave away. She's one of the noisy ones when her chosen site is occupied.

Fairly well hidden. Lark was up squawking the other day and I didn't find it. No idea how many eggs, yet, or if someone is going to sit them yet, either.

 

[bgmathteach]

Broody mom #3 had some outside time with her babies this weekend - and the TSC chicks did, too. I put them next to Momma's chicks, hoping they may start to 'get to know' each other. See my 'warm-up' box in the back of the TSC pen? There is a heated brick wrapped in cardboard inside the box. A few would run in their and stand on it for a bit, then run back out.

Unfortunately, when the TSC chicks would run through the wires into Momma's pen, she was less than welcoming! But, other than a quick peck to let them know they weren't welcome, nothing else happened, and they soon learned not to enter her space. (though, one would keep popping in and running with hers - and that ONE, she didn't seem to 'reprimand' )

 

[rural mouse]

I guess future mowing will have to be the fields of wild mustard down below instead of up by the carport. Got the cut bagged this morning.

One on the right still has some squish space, but they'll stay dry. Now I'm wondering how many bags they will go through over the winter.

 

[Ponypoor]

I would leave him with the Grups, if he is sleeping with his Dadda, then he is accepted by him. If you move him to the summer house, he won't have anyone.

Yes that is what I was thinking, during the day he hangs with the Grups because that is what he grew up with. They just accept him.

 

[Ponypoor]

Broody mom #3 had some outside time with her babies this weekend - and the TSC chicks did, too. I put them next to Momma's chicks, hoping they may start to 'get to know' each other. See my 'warm-up' box in the back of the TSC pen? There is a heated brick wrapped in cardboard inside the box. A few would run in their and stand on it for a bit, then run back out.

Unfortunately, when the TSC chicks would run through the wires into Momma's pen, she was less than welcoming! But, other than a quick peck to let them know they weren't welcome, nothing else happened, and they soon learned not to enter her space. (though, one would keep popping in and running with hers - and that ONE, she didn't seem to 'reprimand' )

View attachment 3572452View attachment 3572455View attachment 3572459

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Awwwww they are such cutie pies I love that stage when they start getting feathers.

 

[bgmathteach]

Got a 2nd hidden nest. This one Lark gave away. She's one of the noisy ones when her chosen site is occupied.View attachment 3572475View attachment 3572476View attachment 3572477View attachment 3572478Fairly well hidden. Lark was up squawking the other day and I didn't find it. No idea how many eggs, yet, or if someone is going to sit them yet, either.

I tell ya, it is broody mayhen this year!!! I have yet another one started sitting! So, I have 5 incubating, and 4 with babies - my light barred girl (half BR and half white rock) hatched a chick this weekend - only for me to have one of my young Jersey Giant girls decide Friday to start sitting. So, this makes, now, 9 this year that are broody! Pretty soon I won't have any that are laying! Although, WR girl has given up on her chicks at about 6 weeks old. She started scratching and sitting in the nest box yesterday (no egg yet, though - I suspect she will start laying again by the end of the week.)

And, while you may think I am being a bit dramatic regarding broodiness, I have 5 ducks that either are broody, or (in the case of 1) tried their hand at it, but kept getting kicked out, so gave up.)

 

[ManueB]

There are so many people on this thread that loss is almost constant. It is something you never get used to but are constantly presented with. It is a sure reminder of the fragility of the animals for which we are responsible. The sheer number of chickens I have lost since beginning this journey is staggering.

I still think about many of those that have died while I have been a follower of this thread. Not constantly, and some more than others to be true, but I do keep them in my mind and in my heart, and I know other followers of the thread do too. It sounds really cheezy I know, but it helps me actually to think they are remembered and loved.

I know it's hard to share some of these losses but I believe it's a way to make us better and wiser, even if it doesn't always immediately feel like it.

On a happier though bittersweet note, I've got some mugs and pictures of chicks to share today. Bittersweet because I'm pretty sure we have five cockerels, they are seven weeks and two days old. We have potential homes for two or three- we'll be socializing with folks from our village this week so I hope to place more. But it is possible we end up having to cull one or two.

This cockerel has become my partner's pet. He actually named him which I said was a no no for male chick - pied beau, a bad pun as it means both beautiful foot and lame foot ( he has two color fingers). He's huge compared to the others and will be the hardest one to give up.

This our lone pullet. Named Ann, after Annette who gave us the eggs.

This cockerel has a good home (meaning one where he will free range) waiting for him.

This pretty golden chick unfortunately looks more and more like a he. So if @rural mouse is right he should look like Théo in a few weeks.

These black guys I had hopes for but the one on the left is clearly a cockerel now and the other on the right, though uncertain, has undoubtedly his wattles growing bigger.

We're thinking of rehoming when they will be three months and two weeks. Any advice if we are right on gender, on how to deal with the remaining pullet ? Would it be better to re-home her with one of the cockerel, or would she possibly integrate our adult flock ?