Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Thank you.
I didn't just give her love and freedom. For a chicken that is not enough. I gave her mealworms. That combined with love and freedom is enough. Dominica said so.

HRH Aurora would agree with you, and tell you that you’re a wonderful Hooman

 

[Ponypoor]

Here's our solution. View attachment 3577847View attachment 3577848
Door in the front, easy to open and shut. When chicks are old enough, we can crack the gate enough to let them in and out without the big chickens fitting. The hens can just walk across to the nest boxes....which now they're using both! Video and pics of chick cuteness to come.

I have done that also. Note: put a paver brick or something else with some weight in the middle of the board so if anyone hops on the edge it doesn’t flip (ok so here is were I laugh as I have had that happen), I cannot wait to see the pictures of the wee ones

 

[Ponypoor]

Mama and babies, who we're calling Uno, Dos and Tres. For some reason the husband thinks they should be counted in Spanish.

Cant wait for the feathers on this little one.
View attachment 3577913

The other two may be mostly white? Like Manny?
View attachment 3577914
View attachment 3577915

Gosh they are sooo sweet

 

[Ponypoor]

Watch Tweety's First Flight!

Awwwww such a cutie pie

 

[Ponypoor]

They're taking what they need and will ignore when they don't need.

I was a bit concerned and then frustrated because there I am trying to get feed with lower calcium levels an there they are eating the oyster shells!

 

[Ponypoor]

@Ponypoor this one is for you. I have a couple of head-down sleepers. Looks so uncomfortable!

View attachment 3578087

Hahaha yes I agree - it looks so uncomfortable! Yet they do it.

 

[Ponypoor]

I borrowed your pics to show you what I'm seeing.View attachment 3578101Dos turned the head just right to make the "fat" cheek stand out.

View attachment 3578102The lack of "fat" cheek fluff on the bottom one means this one won't have a beard.


Pics of my lot at near the same age up to about 2 weeks. 2 have the cheecks, the rest don't.View attachment 3578107No cheeks
View attachment 3578108No cheeks

View attachment 3578109Cheeks

View attachment 3578110Cheeks

View attachment 3578111One of each

View attachment 3578112Cheeks

View attachment 3578114No cheeks

View attachment 3578115No cheeks

View attachment 3578116Whole crew. Can you find the 2 cheeks?

View attachment 3578117One of each (ignore the fluffy butt)

Gosh o forgot how tiny they were

 

[Ponypoor]

I’m past service age (and retired )

Do you age out at 60 there?

Our public service civilian employees used to age out at 55, but there was an uproar a couple decades ago and now civilians have no age out date.

Tax
Eli-too seems to enjoy sitting on power tools and cleaning items she is a very handy girl

 

[Ponypoor]

You have a rooster. That means you have fertile eggs. Your broody has done the rest.

My lot got hatched in the incubator, but came from my (and my MIL's birds). We split the hatch....and the broody bug swept through her crew: about 20 chicks (not including the meat chicks) as a result (including the incubator). She had something like 6 broodies....with another starting up the end if June (and determined not to break).

I have 2, with Mera making a go of it (I'm glad nothing hatched: good test for her staying power, but she needs to be more assertive). Storm is trying to equal the numbers all by herself. She's got 13 eggs. I have several more thinking about it (and several aiding in that by hiding eggs). So far no one else has committed to sitting (thankfully). I can coo over the chicks at the store and leave them for others.

Next time the MIL and I want to bring in fresh genetics to our menageries, we're going to place 1 order, and split the chicks. That way neither of us has to bring in more than we can reasonably accommodate. At the moment, we're doing some genetic swapping via 1 incubator loaded with eggs from both groups. We end up with beautiful bitsas with totally unique markings, and as a whole, I think the birds are healthier. We both have breeds on our wish list, but neither of us is ready to bring in more genetics.

With the numbers, chicken math....sigh....chicks are cute. Others can enjoy them. My birds can make my own.

I will buy pullets if I need to get chicks anymore. The Roos are to much drama, and issues with getting rid of them too difficult.

And I will hand rear them rather than with a broody.

I am quite interested in getting some Brahma still.

 

[Ponypoor]

We all know how much PonyPoor loves Barred Rocks and waddles, so here’s Bobo showing off:View attachment 3578209

Hi beautiful lady - I hear you’re getting some TLC