Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LhickenChicken]

Did you ever get to candle your hatch? how did it go?

No quitters, one clear. They have six or seven days to go now. Got to get the brooder ready soon because they start pipping when there's three days left.

 

[Ponypoor]

I can tame the wind. The mom and the three are untouchable

Well hopefully they are tame enough for you to hand feed at some point.

 

[Ponypoor]

No quitters, one clear. They have six or seven days to go now. Got to get the brooder ready soon because they start pipping when there's three days left.

Can’t wait to see babies

 

[Ponypoor]

But they sure like my treats! Tonight’s menu was strip sirloin steak, Greek yogurt and tortillas with cheese

Oh I bet they enjoyed that!

 

[Sylvester017]

I LOVE the look of frizzles, but I'd never have them here. Unless they could be house chickens. But that won't happen

Yes, all Silkie varieties are amazing. & good assessment on your part not to have any. In a closed run that's necessary like yours, Silkies would get picked on. In a mixed standard-bantam flock Silkies would fare better in a free-range where they can keep distance from any potential bullying. The setup & hens you have now is very nice.

 

[Sylvester017]

These 2 boys popped up on facebook this morning. They look young.

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I have to leave in a few minutes to head to work. If they are still available when I get home, I admit, the one with the darker wattles I am halfway tempted.

Cute! Bearded Silkies should not have wattles. The red wattles Silkie is a Non-bearded. Hope the one you want is available!

 

[Sylvester017]

@Ponypoor ~ TY as always ~ synopsis, very thorough!

 

[Ponypoor]

Cute! Bearded Silkies should not have wattles. The red wattles Silkie is a Non-bearded. Hope the one you want is available!

I am thinking the dumplings are non-bearded, of course I can’t remember what Georgie and Clyde were like at that age. Hmmm I’ll have to check in the morning.

 

[Sylvester017]

Outdoor moggies - yep that’s a tough one.

But keeping all feed inside the actual coop (not the run) will help keep birds away. And in the process protect the moggies so they don’t have so many birds to hunt.

I don’t think song birds are as high a risk as water fowl though, so if you can control the number of birds around then you can control the exposure to both chooks and moggies.

What bothers me is that AI virus can blow in on the wind & we get vicious Santa Ana Winds conditions at any time of the year! These last Los Angeles fires began during Santa Ana Windstorms!

We also have w/i 5 miles the Santa Fe Dam reserve where migratory waterfowl stopover. Just another worry

Santa Fe Dam

 

[Sylvester017]

Piglet showed some interest in nibbling eggshells. I am hoping that means she is gearing up to lay.
A year ago I froze some eggs but I have used those up so I am waiting on Piglet!

Pooh doesn’t look close to laying. And she really has changed color after her molt.
Here she is today (with muddy feet) sporting a multi-colored mottled vest.
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And here she is last summer wearing orange. Quite a difference!
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All our birds always look different after each molt too. Some have different fluff sections on their bodies, others get thicker feathers, others change colors, etc.