Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Sylvester017]

Thanks! Could it be harder to tell with Buckeyes? Pea combs and small wattles….I don’t know at what age one can tell definitively with Buckeyes. They are 12 weeks old now. She’s got the biggest and reddest comb of all of them. I’ll try to get a better head shot. I was focusing just on the feathers…I read with purebred Buckeyes one might be able to go by the rows in the pea comb, that Roos have three distinct rows. Don’t know if that’s true but these can’t be purebred anyway, they are from Cackle.

Cackle should be fairly reliable about their Buckeyes. As for combs ~ we got 3 rose comb Dominique pullet chicks & all 3 adult combs looked a little different. One looked like 3 even rows, one looked zigzaggy, & one looked just bumpy w/ no pattern yet the 3 girls were all Dominiques w/rose combs w/ the customary leader in back.

BFTP

 

[TX Chick Noob]

I think it’s time for a hospital visit!

Very strange weather we’re having right now. 103f and thundering. Rain expected

Hope you are ok and feel better soon!!

 

[RoyalChick]

Pony Sunday
The peach trees are full of fruit - still about 3 weeks away from being ripe.
Somehow this is not a timetable that the wildlife are sticking to.
This guy looks like he will choke eating the peach whole.

The squirrels have eaten every single one of the nectarines.

Even Tassels and the Littles are getting in on the peach-fest.

And then there is this guy. The camera is mounted on the Chicken Palace under the roof overhang. He did a bit of a number on the electric fence but everyone is safe.

 

[rural mouse]

Thanks! Could it be harder to tell with Buckeyes? Pea combs and small wattles….I don’t know at what age one can tell definitively with Buckeyes. They are 12 weeks old now. She’s got the biggest and reddest comb of all of them. I’ll try to get a better head shot. I was focusing just on the feathers…I read with purebred Buckeyes one might be able to go by the rows in the pea comb, that Roos have three distinct rows. Don’t know if that’s true but these can’t be purebred anyway, they are from Cackle.

There is still a size difference between cockerel and pullet combs at 12 weeks. When you have multiple birds with the same comb type, it's more noticeable. When my crew settles down for a snooze today, I'll try to get fresh pics. They're almost 8 weeks.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Nothing as heart warming as your chickens wanting to spend time with you and hopping up for visit/warm lap/snooze/preening party...or just to tell you of their day!

Speaking of that, how are things going with Diane-ida??? Hoping no back-sliding with the new chicks around - and someone else who might steal your attention!?!?!?!?

She is molting and has been extra grouchy! Hand-feeding her treats is an art in gauging her grouchiness…She would like the collard leaf, but also wants to slam my hand. Sometimes it’s the same thing!

Cackle should be fairly reliable about their Buckeyes. As for combs ~ we got 3 rose comb Dominique pullet chicks & all 3 adult combs looked a little different. One looked like 3 even rows, one looked zigzaggy, & one looked just bumpy w/ no pattern yet the 3 girls were all Dominiques w/rose combs w/ the customary leader in back.

BFTP
View attachment 4203176

All the pea combs of the previous Buckeyes were different too.

 

[Ponypoor]

I want to mention Shanai, a honking big pullet and boss of the Nomads, i.e. all her brooder-mates. She must be 25% bigger than everyone else. She regularly spends a lot of time reinforcing her dominant position with the other Nomads. They all play chase and have a lot of stare-downs, but Shanai instigates many of them. Two of the next largest are the buddies she mostly does this with, particularly one she jumps and play fights with, but even the smallest pullets Isabel and Picabo get a light peck when they immediately submit.
Shanai is the middle front pullet
View attachment 4203075

She has massively long, strong legs and they look really big from certain angles
View attachment 4203076

She is so tall. Roo keeps crossing my mind but she's not showing the feathering I don't think. She has been consistently challenging Tedi, and today I heard growling and realized it was not Diane nearby wanting to bite me, it was Tedi, having a real showdown with Shanai. They stared, bent down and pointing beaks at each other, and Tedi kept growling, and then advanced. Tedi was puffed up and Shanai's neck was flared, but she was stepping backwards every so often. Shanai has got guts, she always has had guts, and she's getting big and strong enough to back it up if she really wanted to. But Tedi is not conceding. Shanai did instead, and got several chases right then for her insubordination. That led to Shanai chasing all her brooder mates after Tedi left.

I've been looking at her feathers making sure I'm not seeing pointy ones in her hackles and saddle. Late sun, shining golden on her.
View attachment 4203078

View attachment 4203079
Feisty Shanai! She has ambition.
View attachment 4203077

She’s a real beauty, and yes a she


I have a few like her, Jaffarra is a big girl and did that challenging with the older girls. Now She just hangs out with her group and Mr P (when she sneaks in), amd has really settled down once she started laying eggs.

She got a few thumpings and from Sophia’s chickies esp Ruth - who is ruthless

 

[rural mouse]

Almost 8 weeks old

left side is tailless (still mostly tailless). He's got the pea comb. He's also getting some interesting marks on his back and his hackle feathers.

and a comb shot of the blue bearded pullet. Zoom in to see how wide and flat her comb is.

and a bearded straight comb in the white Colombian (keeping her)

 

[rural mouse]

More 8 week pics

Cheetah's courting Nellie...and the 2 chicks are responding to his calls.

the splash in the middle is the last chick to hatch, green egg, and I'm keeping her. Left side is the Thing grand daughter (blue), keeping her too.

cockerel at PITA's bum is the one I want to keep. He's got COLORS! And I think is a Bielefelder x (no idea with what).

I'm debating another cockerel and another pullet for 6 chicks. Need to make a decision soon as next weekend is moving time, I think.

Questions, thoughts, etc would be appreciated just to help me clarify my thoughts and observations.

 

[bgmathteach]

Looks like the one standing on one leg got picked...

She was hoping to be going to Alex's ( @featherhead007 ) place!

 

[bgmathteach]

Pony Sunday
The peach trees are full of fruit - still about 3 weeks away from being ripe.
Somehow this is not a timetable that the wildlife are sticking to.
This guy looks like he will choke eating the peach whole.
View attachment 4203240

The squirrels have eaten every single one of the nectarines.

Even Tassels and the Littles are getting in on the peach-fest.
View attachment 4203243

And then there is this guy. The camera is mounted on the Chicken Palace under the roof overhang. He did a bit of a number on the electric fence but everyone is safe.

The bear looks small (is it just an optical illusion with the camera & angle?). I was thinking we should see mom (and quite possibly siblings)...I know that isn't what you want, of course, but one that small should have a mom around.