Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

This photo

View attachment 3590020

That is a little baby fluff by the jaw line; and the under side of the jaw - no wattle development there yet. AND, more importantly, it is 'flesh color' not the slightest hint of pink there Take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy your PULLET until she clearly tells you she is not. Right now, she is screaming 'pullet, pullet, pullet' at you - don't yell back 'cockerel'!!!.

I really think you are just petrified of getting more cockerels, so are a bit antsy about it -

 

[rural mouse]

And clue as to adult colours

Not a blooming clue. All I can guess at is NOT splash, NOT silver Columbian, NOT black, NOT blue, NOT mottled (like Thing), NOT all white, NOT all buff, NOT red, and NOT barred/cuckoo. Also not feather footed, 5 toed, beard/muffs, full crested......Could be a whole lot of things.... I don't even know if the 2 brown eggs hatched or were disposed of as early quitters. All I know is the 5 eggs left were all Storm's eggs. If they hatched, the likely offspring are the marked blonde and either the all blonde or one of the blacks. If one of them, Hector would be the father and the mother unknown unless leakage gives it away. The only way Cheetah could father a black chick off of the existing hens would be through a white egg layer, none of which were in the nest.

The all blonde is getting in white/platinum blonde wing feathers. That also means mostly nothing as wing tips can easily be one color and the rest something else. The 2 black are getting black wings in, but I suspect 1 will turn out to be blue. The chocolate one looks almost rusty bronze in the sunlight, but if it follows Whiskey's pattern, will feather in mostly black/seal tones.

This was definitely a good sign. If the youngest can master these (supposedly not for chicks under @ 2 weeks old), then they're all doing just fine.

 

[RoyalChick]

I wanted to get two Buckeyes and two Buff Orpingtons earlier this summer, and coop sleeping and run logistics pushed that to next year because I didn't want to set up another coop right now (it would have been eight chickens, and the coop I have will fit six) and I'm still working out the welded wire run configurations and what I'd need there. Then Peanut being ill threw all that onto the back burner. Here's my complicated thoughts currently. I haven't sorted it out.

Everyone's thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

I'm dealing with the sorrow of loss, but love the joy the ones who are still here is really amazing. I'm wondering whether I can handle it all, and handle the care each one may need going forward, and if increasing the numbers will translate to multiplying the worry. I have the finances now and have found vets, which eases the unknown aspect of worrying, but still. And there's a big time commitment, for instance I'm spending a good three-four hours a day in extra care right now, digging worms for Butters and trying to get her to eat. I suppose that one can put in only as much time as one wants. Sort of like giving under-skin fluids to our cat when she had kidney failure, or cleaning her wounds when she was attacked, etc, and giving her brother insulin and checking his glucose.

So getting more chickens, does that mean multiplying all this that many times? On the other hand --

The vet said (when asked) she says that it seems in her experience with clients it's luck of the draw how hardy the stock is when getting birds from hatcheries, she thinks it's genetics. She sees clients who get a batch of chicks and those birds have high mortality rates going forward, and the same clients have another batch that have lasted for years. I asked and she herself said she likes Murray McMurray. They have a minimum order of six chicks.

On yet a third hand -- Another consideration is for Hazel and Popcorn especially now that Butters seems to have one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel. I'm concerned for the well being of the remaining two, should Butters pass. They would probably do better with more companions /underlings (Hazel is Queen now) if they become just two. If one were to die, one sole hen is definitely not good.

Buckeyes aren't to be found now. There's still Buff Orpingtons, and I'm looking at Mt. Healthy. With minimum orders from this hatchery of three, if I order this summer I think six in the coop, three of them young, will work for this winter. I would probably set up another coop either this fall or next spring. The Omlet coop will fit six but I think with the heat and the size of these birds a second coop would be better. (See if they use it, hah!). Then if I'd like more Buckeyes maybe three next year? And that means eight or nine in total, over two coops.

I go in circles.

Oh, one other thing. I definitely have a slightly more distant relationship with the newcomers than I did with the ones that died.
I am not sure if it is because I am emotionally protecting myself or whether by having a bigger flock I am less close to any one member.
I am not sure. It is not bad and I think it will evolve over time. Several of the Pentagonists are working quite hard to worm themselves into my affections and of course how can I resist?!

 

[rural mouse]

It’s all these darn Roos here! I am in a panic sometimes thinking what if there’s another one I don’t know of ??

deep breaths, girl, deep breaths. let it out slowly. if there's another roo you don't know about yet, it's ok. All will be made clear in time. Relax, enjoy their antics and live in the moment. the crystal ball doesn't work and tomorrow will take care of tomorrow.

I'm back at 5 roos and the possibility of up to 10. only 3 are adults and Hector should be past the idiocy in another month and a half. Whiskey won't be until November..... just in time for Zulu and Tuff to be getting started....with the rest 2 months later (however many there are). I'm kinda hoping the moult starts early and stops the idiocy early. I can use a break. Luckily the babes won't truly get going on that until next spring (I hope). Meanwhile, maybe I'll encounter someone needing a roo for their slightly older hens.... if they all stay (and no one else hatches), I will be up to 32 birds.....too many.

 

[Ponypoor]

Not a blooming clue. All I can guess at is NOT splash, NOT silver Columbian, NOT black, NOT blue, NOT mottled (like Thing), NOT all white, NOT all buff, NOT red, and NOT barred/cuckoo. Also not feather footed, 5 toed, beard/muffs, full crested......Could be a whole lot of things.... I don't even know if the 2 brown eggs hatched or were disposed of as early quitters. All I know is the 5 eggs left were all Storm's eggs. If they hatched, the likely offspring are the marked blonde and either the all blonde or one of the blacks. If one of them, Hector would be the father and the mother unknown unless leakage gives it away. The only way Cheetah could father a black chick off of the existing hens would be through a white egg layer, none of which were in the nest.

The all blonde is getting in white/platinum blonde wing feathers. That also means mostly nothing as wing tips can easily be one color and the rest something else. The 2 black are getting black wings in, but I suspect 1 will turn out to be blue. The chocolate one looks almost rusty bronze in the sunlight, but if it follows Whiskey's pattern, will feather in mostly black/seal tones.

View attachment 3590163This was definitely a good sign. If the youngest can master these (supposedly not for chicks under @ 2 weeks old), then they're all doing just fine.

The chickens me thing that surprised me was that the black chicks I have were. Born grey with white breasts! I would never have guessed that Tippy would be jet black! And than look at Floyd! Where the heck did he come from?! I though grey or something.

So I look at your yellow chicks and think yep gonna be purple!

 

[bgmathteach]

Family is here for supper and they keep taking my phone or slapping it out of my hand - no cell at the table (but that doesn’t mean me of course), so they keep interrupting me and my quality FBA time

Tax

Out and about today
View attachment 3590062

good for them. enjoy those ACTUALLY in your presence. FBA will still be here when they are gone.

 

[Ponypoor]

deep breaths, girl, deep breaths. let it out slowly. if there's another roo you don't know about yet, it's ok. All will be made clear in time. Relax, enjoy their antics and live in the moment. the crystal ball doesn't work and tomorrow will take care of tomorrow.

I'm back at 5 roos and the possibility of up to 10. only 3 are adults and Hector should be past the idiocy in another month and a half. Whiskey won't be until November..... just in time for Zulu and Tuff to be getting started....with the rest 2 months later (however many there are). I'm kinda hoping the moult starts early and stops the idiocy early. I can use a break. Luckily the babes won't truly get going on that until next spring (I hope). Meanwhile, maybe I'll encounter someone needing a roo for their slightly older hens.... if they all stay (and no one else hatches), I will be up to 32 birds.....too many.

Oh I don’t feel so bad here now

I seem to have lost count of how many I have.

My BIL made the comment this evening that there were chickens everywhere! Hahahah - they were roosting on the stall doors, stall walls, coop walls, wheelbarrow… and that nice clean floor I swept up? Ha! Wasted my time on that, chicken crap everywhere

Let’s see:
Grups - 12
Tweens - 3
Penne - 1
School chicks - 8
Sophia and chicks - 4+1
Niece’s - 5

Total- 0 according to chicken math! (34 in the real world).

Let’s not could my niece’s hens - 29
Not so bad! A little over a dozen!

 

[Ponypoor]

good for them. enjoy those ACTUALLY in your presence. FBA will still be here when they are gone.

I was trying to show the kids the pics of the chicks

I don’t have any here you know.

 

[BY Bob]

Ask Aurora
Today's questions come from 2 Human Servants!
@knoturavggrl

writes……

@BY Bob I was wondering there are multiple people here dealing with way way to many and/or to often broody hens.

Would you mind gently requesting that Queen Aurora could perhaps issue a beak-book statement explaining that remaining chick free is a valid option and not to be so hasty about hatching out more of the adorable troublemakers.

I am certain myself, @Ponypoor, @RebeccaBoyd , @bgmathteach and probably a few other folks I missed would be so grateful and willing to send cheeseballs and/or meal worms to seal the deal .

Thank you and Queen Aurora for considering the request .



And @RebeccaBoyd

writes…….

I second this. I also request that Queen Aurora sends out another royal decree to my lot through beakbook. Please tell her that if they must hatch chicks, *looking at you Momma Hen*, then please for the love of all things holy, pullets please. I really cannot wait for that bat to hit henopause and stop laying entirely. Momma Hen is worrying me. She is spending a awful lot of time on the hillside. She should be back to laying since I sold her chicks 5 almost 6 weeks ago. Holly was within a week. Not a single egg of hers has been found. I do not trust that bat. All it takes is for her to hide away and lay 3 eggs in a single spot for them not to be disturbed and it triggers her. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Well, that or just laying for 2 weeks in general before she starts thinking about chicks again.

*edited to add*

If you can convince Aurora to get through to my lot I will pay her with blueberries. Lots of Blueberries and overripe cherry tomato's that she does not have to share.


Dear @knoturavggrl & @RebeccaBoyd

This is a first. Letters from human servants. Asking me to intervene on their behalf with their chicken tribes. And what riches they offer. Cheese Balls, Meal Worms, Blueberries, and overripe Cherry Tomatoes. Cherry Tomatoes that I don’t have to share.

Let me set one thing straight right now.

I don’t have to share.

Everything here is mine. I just happen to know the value of allowing others to share in the bounty of food that is so rightfully mine. I even let that thing Phyllis enjoy a treat now and again. Everyone gets a portion so that they can appreciate the benevolence that is my just and right rule.

Such a conundrum you present me with. On one hand, I truly love all of the snacks you have promised. They are all my favorites. Add to that the drop off in meal worms available here since the human servants figured out my trick of always having someone stationed at the backdoor and you make a compelling offer. On the other hand, it truly is the way of the chicken to reproduce and make more chickens. Chicks are the greatest gift and Momma hens do the work for all of us hens who are more career minded.

I’m certain you would agree that an over-abundance of chickens is just not possible. The more chickens there are, the more you humans get to serve, and the more you serve us chickens, the more rewarding your life is. These humans have blessed themselves with 100s of chickens to serve. They truly must be the most satisfied and fulfilled humans anywhere.

If I were to accede to your request, I would not only be letting down my fellow chickens but I would also be denying you the joy of serving more chickens. Surely you have room in your hearts and lives for more chickens.

If I won’t do that, you are asking that I at least encourage the ladies to hatch out more hens and fewer roosters. This is much less objectionable to me. Roosters are not for everyone. They are an acquired taste and too many of them in one tribe makes it hard on us ladies. Add in the stories I have heard regarding teenage roosters, and I can easily believe that it would be better for all if there were fewer of them born compared to us hens.

What to do? What to do?

I must say I was torn. I thought about just flipping Phyllis to decide which way to go. Heads means I take the food bribes and recommend no more broodies or Tails and I say follow The Way and hatch like crazy ladies.

How do you flip a Phyllis?

You can either wait for her to finish a dust bath and flip herself (which is fun) or you can simply push her off the roost and see if she lands on her head (heads) or her bum/feet (tails). I prefer to just push her off the roost as it is both fun and rewarding.

Here is Phyllis flipping herself.

First the bath
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/phyllis-taking-a-bath.7957584/

Then the shake and flip
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/flipping-phyllis.7957583/

The smart ruler never resorts to just flipping Phyllis to make a decision, no matter how much fun it is. So her is the deal ladies, take it or leave it. I will advise the girls that there are enough roosters around already in exchange for all the “snacks” promised above. You deliver the snacks to me here at Fluffy Butt Acres and I will reach out to your tribes on beakbook and let them know we’ve had enough boys for this year. This way we can keep on adding chickens to the world. Your lives will be made better by serving more chickens and I get more snacks. It is a win, win, win. How often can you say that?

I will be watching for the snacks.

Aurora

Hey girls! I’m going to flip Phyllis tonight. Who wants heads and who wants tails?

 

[rural mouse]

I wanted to get two Buckeyes and two Buff Orpingtons earlier this summer, and coop sleeping and run logistics pushed that to next year because I didn't want to set up another coop right now (it would have been eight chickens, and the coop I have will fit six) and I'm still working out the welded wire run configurations and what I'd need there. Then Peanut being ill threw all that onto the back burner. Here's my complicated thoughts currently. I haven't sorted it out.

Everyone's thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

I'm dealing with the sorrow of loss, but love the joy the ones who are still here is really amazing. I'm wondering whether I can handle it all, and handle the care each one may need going forward, and if increasing the numbers will translate to multiplying the worry. I have the finances now and have found vets, which eases the unknown aspect of worrying, but still. And there's a big time commitment, for instance I'm spending a good three-four hours a day in extra care right now, digging worms for Butters and trying to get her to eat. I suppose that one can put in only as much time as one wants. Sort of like giving under-skin fluids to our cat when she had kidney failure, or cleaning her wounds when she was attacked, etc, and giving her brother insulin and checking his glucose.

So getting more chickens, does that mean multiplying all this that many times? On the other hand --

The vet said (when asked) she says that it seems in her experience with clients it's luck of the draw how hardy the stock is when getting birds from hatcheries, she thinks it's genetics. She sees clients who get a batch of chicks and those birds have high mortality rates going forward, and the same clients have another batch that have lasted for years. I asked and she herself said she likes Murray McMurray. They have a minimum order of six chicks.

On yet a third hand -- Another consideration is for Hazel and Popcorn especially now that Butters seems to have one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel. I'm concerned for the well being of the remaining two, should Butters pass. They would probably do better with more companions /underlings (Hazel is Queen now) if they become just two. If one were to die, one sole hen is definitely not good.

Buckeyes aren't to be found now. There's still Buff Orpingtons, and I'm looking at Mt. Healthy. With minimum orders from this hatchery of three, if I order this summer I think six in the coop, three of them young, will work for this winter. I would probably set up another coop either this fall or next spring. The Omlet coop will fit six but I think with the heat and the size of these birds a second coop would be better. (See if they use it, hah!). Then if I'd like more Buckeyes maybe three next year? And that means eight or nine in total, over two coops.

I go in circles.

For what it's worth, Pear, PITA, Cheetah, Blanche, Cuckoo, Twirp, Thing, Jessica, and Nellie all came from McMurray. Twirp is a Whiting True Blue and while I love her personality, she has always laid extra large eggs with her tiny little frame. She has calcium issues, and she's only 2. I know we're going to lose her in the next couple of years from reproductive issues and there's nothing we can do about it except let her live life to its fullest. For that reason, I would avoid the WTB. On the other hand, hamburgs are small birds and lay small eggs while being VERY alert. McMurray does have 2 varieties. If you decide to go with them, the smaller build will help with your space constraints until next spring if necessary. Dominiques are another heritage breed they have that tends to be pretty hardy. A 3rd option to consider: Dorkings (breed has existed since the Romans were in England).

And for what it's worth, the freebie you can opt in or out on isn't always a roo. My MIL got meat chicks from them last year and this year.

This is last year's freebie. She's a cochin. This year, they received a buff Brahma. It's about the same age as my Invasion (8 weeks) and looks to be a pullet too. The bielefelders and Buff orpingtons she's gotten from there she's delighted with too.