Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

This was super helpful, thanks so much. I don’t live in a super cold part of Canada, and I have a Cochin pullet currently. This will be her first winter coming up and I never thought about the feathered feet. What can I do on a budget to keep her feet from freezing? I was thinking of breeding Seramas, Silkies, Frizzles, and Cochins, will these be fine due to the temperatures?

I have feathered feet and they are fine as long as you keep them out of water and mud.

Henny is like a little ptarmigan with her feet

And fluffy too!

 

[Ponypoor]

Combs, Did I hear someone mention combs?

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Yes!

And wattles

 

[Ponypoor]

Some evening mugs
Cassia

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LumiView attachment 3975492View attachment 3975493

Rosie
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Gosh they are so lovely!

 

[Ponypoor]

I love all those breeds you mentioned. They are popular breeds w/ the public. If you can keep them out of cold/rainy/drafty environments they can be hardy birds. We have our coop/run under a patio roof to keep leaks out during storms. Good ventilation, no drafts, non-crowding is important. Silkies can use ramps leading to planks/perches since they don't fly. Our Silkies pileup in nestboxes or sleep on the raised coop floor.

Be aware that bantam breeds are a very broody bunch & they can be cranky/combative w/each other in hormonal egg-laying or broody moods. We got used to that over the years.

Our Silkies lay for a few weeks, then promptly go broody for a few weeks. Break for a month or two & start the process all over again year-round. Silkies & bantam breeds make good broodies year-round of any eggs they can steal in the nestboxes. Most standard size hens lay seasonally usually beginning in January/February. But for Silkies we were able to buy Silkie chicks in October/November/December simply cuz Silkies are all-year-round layers/broodies.

Study/research the breeds you like so you won't be surprsed later about their pros/cons.

Good luck to you & know that not all advice may fit your needs but everyone will share what has worked for them .

Henny’s preferred broody time is about now. Twice I have raised chicks from her over the winter! No more babies!

My silkies like to flap hop into the roosting ledges I have, they are capable of doing this up to about 24”. Any higher and they can’t get up there.

They can hop flap down from about 3’ safely, but I wouldn’t have anything higher than that for any chook. My barnyard mutts only roost at about 30” height. And they use the steps I have for them - those older ladies are just too big to fly well.

Sales-wise, what sells here mostly are layers. People in general just want hens that lay eggs to sell/eat.

Niche varieties can sell well here, but it’s hard to judge what will sell well.

If you have access to an abattoir to process your birds you can raise meat birds.

 

[Ponypoor]

I love all those breeds you mentioned. They are popular breeds w/ the public. If you can keep them out of cold/rainy/drafty environments they can be hardy birds. We have our coop/run under a patio roof to keep leaks out during storms. Good ventilation, no drafts, non-crowding is important. Silkies can use ramps leading to planks/perches since they don't fly. Our Silkies pileup in nestboxes or sleep on the raised coop floor.

Be aware that bantam breeds are a very broody bunch & they can be cranky/combative w/each other in hormonal egg-laying or broody moods. We got used to that over the years.

Our Silkies lay for a few weeks, then promptly go broody for a few weeks. Break for a month or two & start the process all over again year-round. Silkies & bantam breeds make good broodies year-round of any eggs they can steal in the nestboxes. Most standard size hens lay seasonally usually beginning in January/February. But for Silkies we were able to buy Silkie chicks in October/November/December simply cuz Silkies are all-year-round layers/broodies.

Study/research the breeds you like so you won't be surprsed later about their pros/cons.

Good luck to you & know that not all advice may fit your needs but everyone will share what has worked for them .

Oh also I have found that my older silkies are less and less broody (thank goodness!), conversely my mutts want to go broody when they get older - sheesh!!!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Taken this evening as well
Looking west
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Looking east
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1/2 hour earlier
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Leaving workView attachment 3975507
A chicken View attachment 3975508

Lovely photos, and love your chicken forecaster

 

[Ponypoor]

I heartily concur that the White Leghorns have the only outstanding prolific reputation in the chicken world. Why else would mankind be using the White Leghorn to crossbreed Leghorns w/other breeds to try increasing other breeds' egg production?!

Leghorns' beautiful combs require Mediterranean climates for best health but they have shown outstanding hardiness in all climates as long as precautions are taken to prevent frostbite. We used vitamin E in coconut oil rubbed on comb & wattles for protection on frost nights. Some have recommended vaseline on comb & wattles to protect from frostbite but that leaves a terrible stain on the pristine white feathers.

I love my Azurs they are a really nice Leghorn hybrid- though I wish they wouldn’t lay so many eggs! They are curious funny nosey chooks who always have to know what you’re doing

 

[BY Bob]

I love my Azurs they are a really nice Leghorn hybrid- though I wish they wouldn’t lay so many eggs! They are curious funny nosey chooks who always have to know what you’re doing

That leghorn curiosity is so endearing.

 

[Ponypoor]

I heartily concur that the White Leghorns have the only outstanding prolific reputation in the chicken world. Why else would mankind be using the White Leghorn to crossbreed Leghorns w/other breeds to try increasing other breeds' egg production?!

Leghorns' beautiful combs require Mediterranean climates for best health but they have shown outstanding hardiness in all climates as long as precautions are taken to prevent frostbite. We used vitamin E in coconut oil rubbed on comb & wattles for protection on frost nights. Some have recommended vaseline on comb & wattles to protect from frostbite but that leaves a terrible stain on the pristine white feathers.

Haven’t had an issue with frost bit yet, as long as they are out of the wind and don’t get wet they should be fine.

I really worried about Mr P’s wattles but he was fine.

 

[Ponypoor]

That leghorn curiosity is so endearing.

Nosey Twister had to see what I was working on

Good thing she doesn’t weigh much!