Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[SimpleJenn]

The assorted orp egg seller has contacted me with a deal (really like 3$ off) of the set of six eggs. Hubby said "if they're still there after the paycheck hits get them"
That breeder also does bantam cochin +millie fleur d'uccle which sounds adorable.
The breeder on the other side of the state says he's going to get a shipping quote and then give me a price for eggs. He's recovering from back surgery so I hope he doesn't overdo it!

 

[rural mouse]

Gosh Sherlock is a hoot, have you had any other visits from the old dog?

No. The last one, they thought they'd figured out how he was getting out.

 

[BY Bob]

Good evening everyone ! I'll post the synopsis shortly, it's been a very nice week to read about. I loved seeing all your pictures and stories of snow - all the more as we have had a very mild dry winter .
(I do remember from our second winter here that too much snow is just too much to be fun !)

I wanted to reshare something that I already posted on my thread. Since a few weeks, little Chipie has started crowing !

Chipie_crows_20250124.mp4

• ManueB
• Jan 24, 2025

I know it's not that unusual for hens to crow. However, Chipie is a senior hen. She arrived here three years and two months ago ; and old farmer Gaston who gave her to us doesn't remember exactly, but he says she was at least four or five then.

So, has anyone heard of a hen starting to crow at seven or eight years old ?
I wonder if it's a dominance thing (but she only dominates the two hens she brooded and is dominated by all others). Or maybe it's hormonal ?
I find her so funny especially since she weighs 800 g.

I sort of regret not hatching her eggs while she was still getting mated by Théo. She only lays around 40 eggs a year, and no rooster mates her now.

Pictures from the last days with Léa (she's eating a persimmon, no animal was hurt in these pictures !)
View attachment 4035905View attachment 4035906
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BFTP when she was sitting in June 2022
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I think Lilly was around 4 or 5 when she started crowing. Sydney crowed last year at about 5 for the first documented time. I don't think that is actually unusual.

Chipie is way better at crowing than any of mine have ever been.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Late caturday

Gale got to go outside for the first time today. Last weekend, he got neutered.

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Beautiful boy!

 

[Sylvester017]

Sylvie is showing off her fancy feathers.
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S.S. = Spectacular Sylvie

 

[Sylvester017]

Dawn temps this morning: below 0⁰F.

Mid morningView attachment 4036924about 10⁰F....it's amazing how warm it feels with no wind compared to grey, cloudy, no wind, same temp...

View attachment 4036922Someone loves it!View attachment 4036923

And chickens are ALL out.View attachment 4036921mostly hanging on the slope where the snow has cleared off

View attachment 4036920with short forays up to the garage where it's also cleared off.

(Warmed up to mid teens)

Sherlock cracks me up ~ he's always doing something funny! How's he been acting around the chickens lately? Beautiful pics

 

[BY Bob]

The assorted orp egg seller has contacted me with a deal (really like 3$ off) of the set of six eggs. Hubby said "if they're still there after the paycheck hits get them"
That breeder also does bantam cochin +millie fleur d'uccle which sounds adorable.
The breeder on the other side of the state says he's going to get a shipping quote and then give me a price for eggs. He's recovering from back surgery so I hope he doesn't overdo it!

How exciting!

 

[Sylvester017]

Some scenery to add….

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Makes me shiver w/cold but gotta admit those are God's country postcard-perfect pictures

We happened to get a light sprinkling of rain here today. It was kinda chilly so the birds smartly stayed out of the wet & huddled by our sliding door during the wet drops. Hope we get some more sprinkly days rather than our occasional downpour floody rains!

I don't like it when the Sikies get drenched. Ginny loves to slosh thru rain looking for floating bugs!

 

[Sylvester017]

Late caturday

Gale got to go outside for the first time today. Last weekend, he got neutered.

View attachment 4037035

What a cute silver tabby. Some kitties have the sweetest expressions

 

[Sylvester017]

I am doing a small hatch. They're a week along so far and I'm going to candle them today. I'm hoping to sell them if I can.

Standard or bantams? Will you sell at a farmers market or at a feed store or online? You are such a great distance from everywhere I wondered how you'd do it . Where did you get your original flock from?