Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I have never seen mine eat ants. I thought maybe chickens did not like them.

Mine will gobble the bigger ones, but I disturbed a nest of small one and my girls had no interest in them or their eggs.

 

[Ponypoor]

She already moulted. Her feathers have almost all grown back in now.

She could still be lingering - Sophia is like that right now, her feathers have grown back in but they are still tender - I know because I removed a broke feather and it’s end was still live it had blood still. So your girl could still be lingering with feathers now quite dried up yet.

 

[Ponypoor]

Merry Christmas all! It’s 12:31am here.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Merry Christmas everyone.

My chickens are also getting a Christmas present. Hopefully to be completed by New Years if me and dad can get fully recovered from the crud. Free ranging days are limited for the flock 24/7 I hate to say. They are being lured down to the barn now that horses are down there 24/7. I cannot have that. I actually believe I have a few laying in the barn loft as I have been told a few hens go up there daily. I also have a new neighbor move in, with a very large dog that is contained in a very flimsy fence. The people that live down at the house with the barn have not complained about my chickens. Truth be told they are feeding them scraps which is encouraging the roaming. A run is being built and attached to the outside of Russ's stall to contain the flock. Actually my christmas present from dad, but calling it the chickens present. I figure I will have to leave them up for a good 3 weeks before I even attempt to let them out for supervised free range time. This is to ensure Momma hen, one of the leghorns and Squirrel are completely broken from roosting in the tree's at night. I know the flock will be upset for a few days maybe a week but it has to be done. Once it is built I will also permanently split up Branch and Bubba. Branch will stay in the smaller coop with Poppet and his 2 cochin ladies. Poppet and the Cochins have been tested and they get along ok as long as no other hens are thrown in the mix. Branch also adores the two cochin girls and as long as he has them he will be fine without the other hens. Bubba will get the rest of the ladies to himself. 1 way to look at it is if I want to this year, I can for sure advertise Marans hatching eggs without the chance Branch got lucky with one of the hens. It has happened before, that was how Twig came about. It needed to happen, this year sucked with both coyotes and stray dogs, enough is enough.

 

[Marie2020]

I hope you are all going to have a lovely day. Merry Christmas

Now It's time for me to feed my lot before they start a riot

 

[Marie2020]

Merry Christmas all! It’s 12:31am here.

Merry Christmas

 

[Ponypoor]

Merry Christmas everyone.

My chickens are also getting a Christmas present. Hopefully to be completed by New Years if me and dad can get fully recovered from the crud. Free ranging days are limited for the flock 24/7 I hate to say. They are being lured down to the barn now that horses are down there 24/7. I cannot have that. I actually believe I have a few laying in the barn loft as I have been told a few hens go up there daily. I also have a new neighbor move in, with a very large dog that is contained in a very flimsy fence. The people that live down at the house with the barn have not complained about my chickens. Truth be told they are feeding them scraps which is encouraging the roaming. A run is being built and attached to the outside of Russ's stall to contain the flock. Actually my christmas present from dad, but calling it the chickens present. I figure I will have to leave them up for a good 3 weeks before I even attempt to let them out for supervised free range time. This is to ensure Momma hen, one of the leghorns and Squirrel are completely broken from roosting in the tree's at night. I know the flock will be upset for a few days maybe a week but it has to be done. Once it is built I will also permanently split up Branch and Bubba. Branch will stay in the smaller coop with Poppet and his 2 cochin ladies. Poppet and the Cochins have been tested and they get along ok as long as no other hens are thrown in the mix. Branch also adores the two cochin girls and as long as he has them he will be fine without the other hens. Bubba will get the rest of the ladies to himself. 1 way to look at it is if I want to this year, I can for sure advertise Marans hatching eggs without the chance Branch got lucky with one of the hens. It has happened before, that was how Twig came about. It needed to happen, this year sucked with both coyotes and stray dogs, enough is enough.

Oh I wish I could give you a big bear hug, so much stress for you this year. But I am glad that you will have one less stressor in your life with the new Hen Hotel - and I am looking forward to some lovely Cochin x Silkie babies and Poppet babies

Do you have calls for your Marans eggs ? That would be great if you can do that.

Hopefully Momma Hen settles ok along with Squirrel and the Leghorn - I hope you have netting over top so they don’t fly out like my brats - 6’ is not a problem for them to all! Yesterday Buttercup flew over the horse fence side which oils only 5’ high- she landed in the snow on the other side and was not impressed! Silly girl

Ok have a happy Christmas to you and your friends

 

[Ponypoor]

I hope you are all going to have a lovely day. Merry Christmas

Now It's time for me to feed my lot before they start a riot

Good morning and Merry Christmas

 

[Sally PB]

I have never seen mine eat ants. I thought maybe chickens did not like them.

I don't know if they like them, or are just interested in something "new that moves."

I have given them spadefuls of dirt that contain ants and ant eggs/larvae. They liked those too last summer.

I've been giving them some of the Japanese Beetles I froze last August, sprinkling them over their afternoon mash snack. Oh, they go for those! Even if they still have crystals of ice on them!

 

[BY Bob]

And if crossed with Branch then the blue eggs would be dominant in any pullets

You said your silkies laid white eggs didn’t you? Mine all lay pink eggs. My friends silkies also lay pink eggs

Did someone say pink eggs!