Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Not hatching chicks here, but I'm all set up to go pick out some chicks. I think it's time to add to the flock. I need to have enough hens to bring Cooper back in. If there are enough of them, maybe the two roosters can get along. That's my hope anyway.

On a sad note, DH finally decided it was time to put the little leghorn down. She has been suffering with ascites for a couple months and I've wanted him to do this for a while. She was in very poor shape today, so he sent her off to chicken heaven. It's so sad, but it was so necessary. I know you are all very fond of leghorns, but this last year, losing one by one, has been way too heartbreaking for me.

I will enjoy going out there so much again, now that I don't have that sad reminder. To me, it is best to put them down sooner than later. I never want them to suffer. DH didn't think she was really, until today.

I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[Marie2020]

Oh my gosh, that would be adorable!
I wanted to call her Meddler, but Nosy stuck better. She kept getting herself in the way with the other chicks hatching.

View attachment 4062309
Squatch trying to figure out how to open the zipper. View attachment 4062310
They have a xylophone they can stand on to observe us. Red is especially fond of it.

 

[Marie2020]

Remember my Beetovhen?
She cornered a 5 foot snake in the coop, and Bok bok’d in alarm until I went to see what was happening. Neither her nor the snake moved a muscle until I arrived to break up the party.
I relocated the snake a mile away

Well done Alex

 

[Marie2020]

FBA Synopsis

2025 - February 22 through March 1

Disclaimer * I am attempting this lovely cleaner-looking linking for the Synopsis. I think I did it right but if not please forgive me I will be under the chair with Featherhead.

BY Bob:

• Beautiful Betty , photos of her gorgeous self. The ladies strutted their stuff during a coop clean out, delighting in fresh straw enjoy a coop clean out and fresh straw to rearrange and peck through.
• A Third layer has decided to start laying again. I wonder if this means warm weather is on the horizon?
• Chicken boots for foot injuries arrived although they do look a tad small for BY Bob Here is a video that shows how they work, pretty nifty! Great for the emergency kit for sure.
• BY Bob’s stunning mouse control

Ponypoor:

• Whiskers and snow
• The chickens and horses finally get to go outside, Freedom!
• Laverne needed a new bandage after digging.
• Winter woes, Pony is looking at more super cold weather after a brief break.
• Lulu is still not doing well.
• A lovely photo series of her flock wading through a flooded low area in warmer times. Spring has to come soon right?

Royal Chick:

• Maggie won the caption contest. Head on over, it’s hilarious!
• A mug on a different day is still gorgeous

Featherhead:

• beautiful redhead photo
• Mom has had enough of the babies!
• The babies have names
• His beautiful Roo
• Beautiful golden girl

RebeccaBoyd:

• New layer Lori, congrats!
• An update on the flooding and weather. Goose has also decided that since it is slightly warmer now, it’s time to go broody.
• The Monkeyman Fanclub (identity unknown) gifted her a puzzle with Branch’s photo on it. So very sweet

Grandma The Chicken:

• A lovely photo of Grandma soaking up the rays. As well as another “pretty woman”.

ValerieJ:

• she shows us three of her gorgeous hens
• Coop clean out time.

Rural mouse:

• The chickens are venturing further into the snow.
• Roosting drama.
• Breakfast is served

Simple Jenn:

• Lockdown has begun, good luck to Jenn and all the little eggs.
• Adorable chicks
• More adorable close-up chick fix photos
• First to hatch so eggciting!
• Her surgery went very well, she should be home soon.
• Home and healing up with the hatched count at 2.
• More hatching out soon!! The next to hatch is a wee little Olive Egger.
• There were more chicks this morning, and most of the eggs have at least pipped. What cuties! An Ayam and a pokie have hatched.
• Some lovely pictures of some fluffy chicks that hatched as well as one having a bit of a rough start.
• Some photos of the sweet hatchlings

ChicoryBlue:

• She explains how she has been battling the cold and snow in the coop and an update on Diane.

LhickenChicken:

• The kitties made friends
• Some of her lovely chickens Sigma, Lilac

Fuentemoon:

• three perfectly placed eggs
• Beautiful days and happy chickens

ManueB:

• An update and some quiche yum It is a long way to go for dinner but I am still very tempted by these photos!
• Answers to some questions and more details about the chicken having seizures.

Sylvester017:

• Some thoughts on the color variations in silkies
• Mika decides to shake things up

TOMTE

• Ostrich journals, melting snow, and beautiful chicken pictures
• A Beautiful day and a chicken magic show

Caterday:
fuentemoon, ValerieJ, BY Bob, notabitail
Mugs:
Royal Chick, Ponypoor’s surprising mug, more awesome mugs from Ponypoor, SimpleJenn, another adorable mug from SimpleJenn
Twofers:
Ponypoor, Rural Mouse
Thirsty Thursday:
BY Bob, notabitail,
FBF:
Rural mouse, ChicoryBlue, Ponypoor
Caterday:
Marie2020, Ponypoor,

Thank you

 

[RoyalChick]

So I've been thinking about how to set up the silkie breeding pen.

Tomorrow first I need to track down some kennel clamps. While I am out I need some zip ties and I want to stop by the dollar store. I need 2 clear plastic shower curtains to cover the sides that will be exposed to wind. I already have a big roll of welded wire fencing to line the bottom half of the kennel with. I think I need to pick up one more roll to have enough. I plan on putting it right beside Russ's stall next to the house. That gives me a wind break from the back, a wind break from the front thanks to the hillside so I only have to worry about the sides as far as wind goes. I also will not need to cover the back in extra fencing. Dad thinks I need to put it near or under the mimosa trees for natural shade cover. It is a good idea but it takes away one of my wind breaks and is another section to cover in wire. I will say dad's spot has never once been in any danger of flooding so there is that to think about. We also have enough spare tin to make a roof for at least 80% of it if not the entire thing. I'm thinking the entire thing. Once it is built and covered and filled with sawdust I am going to get 2 cinderblocks and stand them up and use one of the 2 x 4's we have and make a low roost. I will have to teach them to roost as unlike Branch and Chiquita my current group have never attempted to get up on the roost in the coop. They always preferred to sleep on top of the tote. As for nest boxes, I'm heading down grandma's for a raid. She kept every milk crate she ever owned. She also has several old smaller buckets down there still. I could lay them down on their sides and line them with hay. It is not even built yet and I already love the door. It is wide enough I can fit the wheelbarrow through it. That is the one fault I have to the current coop. The door is too narrow which makes cleaning it out a chore.

Now that I have the kennel here though I do feel bad for George. I am taking his silkie siblings away from him. He has done wonderfully with them. He also has never roosted, he wants to but in the end always comes down to sleep in the middle of the silkie pile. I know without the silkies in his coop he will stay on the roost which is better for him honestly. I am also not taking away all of his girls, he will still have 15 hens of his own. 16 if I give him Turkey when she is grown. Turkey will be iffy, if she stays tiny George will probably be too big of a rooster for her even though he is small himself.

Exciting plans …. We will need pictures as you progress!

 

[TOMTE]

I rescued the snake

Good. I would have, too

 

[Ponypoor]

Thanks. It's such a hard thing to do. Such a hard day. Don't mean to be depressing, but it's just hard.

Our pets sure can be trying at times - but we have to take the bad with the good. She was very lucky to have you as her Hooman.

 

[Ponypoor]

So I've been thinking about how to set up the silkie breeding pen.

Tomorrow first I need to track down some kennel clamps. While I am out I need some zip ties and I want to stop by the dollar store. I need 2 clear plastic shower curtains to cover the sides that will be exposed to wind. I already have a big roll of welded wire fencing to line the bottom half of the kennel with. I think I need to pick up one more roll to have enough. I plan on putting it right beside Russ's stall next to the house. That gives me a wind break from the back, a wind break from the front thanks to the hillside so I only have to worry about the sides as far as wind goes. I also will not need to cover the back in extra fencing. Dad thinks I need to put it near or under the mimosa trees for natural shade cover. It is a good idea but it takes away one of my wind breaks and is another section to cover in wire. I will say dad's spot has never once been in any danger of flooding so there is that to think about. We also have enough spare tin to make a roof for at least 80% of it if not the entire thing. I'm thinking the entire thing. Once it is built and covered and filled with sawdust I am going to get 2 cinderblocks and stand them up and use one of the 2 x 4's we have and make a low roost. I will have to teach them to roost as unlike Branch and Chiquita my current group have never attempted to get up on the roost in the coop. They always preferred to sleep on top of the tote. As for nest boxes, I'm heading down grandma's for a raid. She kept every milk crate she ever owned. She also has several old smaller buckets down there still. I could lay them down on their sides and line them with hay. It is not even built yet and I already love the door. It is wide enough I can fit the wheelbarrow through it. That is the one fault I have to the current coop. The door is too narrow which makes cleaning it out a chore.

Now that I have the kennel here though I do feel bad for George. I am taking his silkie siblings away from him. He has done wonderfully with them. He also has never roosted, he wants to but in the end always comes down to sleep in the middle of the silkie pile. I know without the silkies in his coop he will stay on the roost which is better for him honestly. I am also not taking away all of his girls, he will still have 15 hens of his own. 16 if I give him Turkey when she is grown. Turkey will be iffy, if she stays tiny George will probably be too big of a rooster for her even though he is small himself.

I love this idea! Sounds like a great plan - I can’t wait to see it being built.

I really need to get Shirley a new home he is also way too big for most of my hens. But he is just so glorious and handsome. And quiet.

 

[Ponypoor]

You know, the leghorns were quadruplets, so I never knew their individual names. But collectively, they were Flopsy, Mopsy, Topsy and Turvy. I have one left. Shall we just call her Turvy?

None of them had the big distinctive combs for some reason.

I have a Flopsy Topsy and a Twister hahaha they all have distinctive combs and Topsy has a topknot. They are Azur Blues (leghorn x Auracana hybrids) they lay blue eggs but they sure do look like leghorns.

 

[Ponypoor]

Red feathers - what on earth is going on? Was someone fighting?

Who are they from?

My search came up with Sue who was already sort of moulting. Well now she is full blown moulting. So I have Betty and Sue moulting and looks like someone else also.

What on earth?! Such a mixed up crazy nut job year.