Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Weekly Synopsis of chicken news
For the week ending Feb 15, 2025

Last week's synopsis was brought to you by @knoturavggrl.

With many of us still sitting up to our ears in snow, some of our feathered friends are anticipating spring.
Some chickens are starting back after their winter. There are beautiful rainbow egg baskets. And first eggs! And a gift from a lovely older lady.
Even some of @RoyalChick's freeloaders got in on the action.

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@BY Bob

Shared Aurora's driving ambitions
And Aurora herself has taken the time to respond to an Ask Aurora from @Themellowyellows's hen, Peaches.

Aster it seems is a snow bird, I wonder if she could be trained to use a shovel?

Bob reminded us of the contract terms with the IFLC and @RoyalChick gave tribute to one of the IFLC's shop stewards.


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@bgmathteach

Shared some knowledge on Avian Influenza from her Vet Tech course.


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@ChicoryBlue

Big hugs to Chicory who shared this update


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@featherhead007

Is building a new coop, and shared an update on Nacho and her chicks who seem to be integrating well. Certainly Mr Wyandottey seems to think they are part of his tribe


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@Ponypoor

Lost poor Petunia and had a nasty scare - I am hoping no further news here is good news.
In good news however, she shared an update on Bert.


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@Marie2020

Shared a BFTP with pictures of her lovely ladies


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@SimpleJenn

Has started the journey back to chickens, and had an early ooops!
Jenn is keeping us posted on progress, and honestly I am not sure I can cope with the stress of it!
They are just moving when suddenly they get overtaken by newcomers who are too cute for words


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@TOMTE

(this is a 'must see'- words fail me!)


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@ValerieJ

We are happy to see Valerie back visiting FBA. She needs help counting her chickens, even though they line up just like Kelly's do (best photos ever!).

***
As always, apologies if I missed anything and if I messed up the links (I am still learning how to do these links).

Thanks so much.

 

[BY Bob]

Official Introduction Post

Say hello to
Red Hen the Rhode Island Red
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Blue the Sapphire Sky
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Yeti the Light Brahma
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Squatch the Mystic Marans
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The girls with hairy legs get hairy names

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Those are great names!

 

[BY Bob]

Kiddo says Blue is named after the raptor in Jurassic World.
I can see the resemblance
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Aurora thinks that is a great name!

 

[ValerieJ]

Prayers for my best friend neighbor. Was sent to hospital today. She had blackouts and called me instead of calling emergency. I believe I saved another life today.

So glad you were there for her!

 

[BY Bob]

Prayers for my best friend neighbor. Was sent to hospital today. She had blackouts and called me instead of calling emergency. I believe I saved another life today.

Great work!

 

[BY Bob]

Caturday

Enzo was stalking me from the couch cushions again....

 

[bgmathteach]

Hi everybody, got some pics yesterday. The chickens have been a great comfort to me though I've also stressed about them some. My sister died last week from the cancer she's been fighting for a couple of years, and it's just been a very tough time losing her.

So here's to life continuing -

Annie, the most talkative and seemingly cheeriest chirpiest hen. She loves any lap time and will gladly hang out there forever. She is fine with sharing a lap with Tedi too.View attachment 4049712

And my loyal friend Hazel, the steadfast leader and remaining Buckeye from the OG group. A low-key talker with very useful things to say. She has always helpfully made sure my clothes are in order, especially in the back where I can't see the obvious disarray.
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Below, an interesting study in insanity and hostility, Diane Ida-Biter. I sing "Nutzo, nutzo hen" to the tune of "Macho Man" with her. She keens and growls a lot, and maneuvers around to challenge me head-on while I'm doing chores. She will also eat from my hand, but warily, glancing up at me after every bite. She will not fight me when I pick her up, she stays still and submits, which is good for health checks and any needed baths, though I need to be mindful of not putting a hand in front of her. Otherwise while freestanding she wants to get a fight on. She is almost continually corrected by everyone else, and will walk away keening. She's especially worked up with any treats around - being at the bottom she probably has to be opportunistic in order to get any, because she is pushed off all the time, but this is the opposite of Popcorn (RIP), who was on the bottom but could grab a bite and make nice with everyone at the same time. Diane is fairly reasonable around me in the morning, but it goes downhill from there. Near roosting time? Forget about it. What do you all think these clues mean? She is not a very happy hen it seems. Her best buddy, if she has one, is Good Queen Hazel, who is fine with her around as long as she behaves sanely.
Crazy Eyes Diane.
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Here is Tedi below, a happy go-along hen who loves food and lap time and pushes her neck against me for snuggles. She comes around and hangs at my knees if I already have Annie on my lap, and asks to be picked up to join in. They both happily share. Tedi has big legs and is a great digger and forager.
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I think this is Annie getting oyster shell
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And Annie showing how useful those toenails are
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I am so sorry to hear about your sister passing, I know you were close, and I also know that you have been hurting for quite a while knowing this was coming and watching her deteriorate.

You are a wonderful sister


I am glad that you have Hazel, Annie and Tedi to give you love and good conversation. I really think Diane-Ida-Biter wants your attention and love, and feels neglected and outcast, and, like a bully, feels that aggression is the only way to get attention from you due to her insecurities (unlike others).

I wonder if you could take her out from the run, someplace separate, where you could be one on one with her and give attention and treats, if she would get better? Giving her a peck on the head correction, of course, if she tries to be aggressive? Since you said she is at her best in the morning - maybe that would be a good time to try to spend about 10-15 min. alone with her to start???? No idea if this will work, as I'm not a psychologist, but as a study of human nature, the way to help bullies is to get them to feel more secure - and to help them see the error of their current ways. . I think the worst that will happen is no progress and a loss of time - the best might be some improvement. Maybe start with holding her, massaging her breast, and giving treats with a small dish so she doesn't peck your hand while taking treats.???????

 

[SimpleJenn]

Hubby wanted to learn how to candle eggs.
20 are still wiggling, so we have consolidated everyone to the big incubator. It holds humidity better anyways.
Losses tonight, legbar, bresse, and one labeled 4.
I was able to see inside the marans and olive eggs just enough to spot the little birdie wiggle.

If more than 18 hatch I will consider it a success at 50%. I am finding the eggs that shipped over the weekend from the ebay seller have had the most struggle, as well as small eggs. My OCD lives for this small data that I can chart out easily. Of course I marked the dropped egg as human error.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Kiddo was talking about the egg development chart with Red.

 

[Sylvester017]

Hubby said if there are no cochin bantams in the eggs I got, we'll just have to get some bantams to help raise chicks.

Don't ever forget the very broody Silkies w/ their nice sized eggs too. In fact, 3 Silkie broodies would probably hatch at least 15 eggs just in one nest