Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

I’m not sure if they would agree with you, Just now, but thank you. It is supposed to rain tomorrow... I am hoping that that will help get them clean. They are confused by the grass they are on, and going to be penned in a meat tractor until they are clean.

Poor things, you are doing them a favor they will grow into loving. When they are that dirty though, will they get chilled by getting soaked in a rain? If they haven't been grooming, do the feathers with poo sludge have no water-repellent oil on them?

The ones I'm trying to rehome had a great start with the caretaker I think, and when he left, it's the returned homeowner now who "hates chickens" and is doing virtually nothing consistent for them. He has a poor cat who is also neglected, needs vet care and more - he was trying to eat the chicken feed and mealworms I had with me.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

They appears to be some very nice Buff Orpingtons!! One of my favorite breeds.❤

I'm not experienced at judging this, but I was surprised at how glossy and healthy they looked, not what I was expecting. Not straggly-feathered or starving looking. The only thing I noticed was that most hens had pinkish-red combs and 1-3 had distinctly pale, almost cream-white combs and that didn't seem right. Their feathers looked great. They behaved casually, didn't mob the food.

And the rooster is stunning. Though maybe all roosters are! He seemed to be twice as big as the hens. I doubted my ability to manage holding him as I've read you're supposed to, I am hoping he will be subdued at night. Even a grip on his legs might be hard. He looked so strong. His legs were incredible, tall & big around, glossy smooth, blue washes in there and with a shiny nub of a spur started. Beautiful comb and wattles. Bright eyes. He seemed hungriest, and the two hens that paid attention to him followed his lead in finding the food. He walked right into the dog crate next to me and they were soon in there with him.

I think the hens were more savvy than this fine fellow though. I was mulling how to get them out and into the other crate without panicking them, and I gently closed the two doors to keep them in and think about it. In a little while the hens realized there wasn't a way out and began looking on all sides and getting nervous, but the rooster was pecking away at the food, paying no attention. Then the hens got panicky, and still he had no idea. The other hens around the crate eating food there noticed the commotion too, but the rooster, in noticing it eventually, looked confused: "What's the problem? Look at this food!" I let them out. The flock wandered away a little. Interestingly, after a little time away resting and preening, followed by a sunbath, they all came back. I love the rhythm of the chickens.

When I go back soon I will take more pictures. I hope they will still be okay when I find them.

 

[BY Bob]

Poor things, you are doing them a favor they will grow into loving. When they are that dirty though, will they get chilled by getting soaked in a rain? If they haven't been grooming, do the feathers with poo sludge have no water-repellent oil on them?

The ones I'm trying to rehome had a great start with the caretaker I think, and when he left, it's the returned homeowner now who "hates chickens" and is doing virtually nothing consistent for them. He has a poor cat who is also neglected, needs vet care and more - he was trying to eat the chicken feed and mealworms I had with me.

Well that's depressing. Poor kitty.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

They look pretty amazing to me! Perhaps a little pale, but if they are freshly molted and have not come back into lay...

I think these Orpingtons are not a year old yet, at least the rooster doesn't have a spur grown on him yet. How long does that take?

 

[BY Bob]

I'm not experienced at judging this, but I was surprised at how glossy and healthy they looked, not what I was expecting. Not straggly-feathered or starving looking. The only thing I noticed was that most hens had pinkish-red combs and 1-3 had distinctly pale, almost cream-white combs and that didn't seem right. Their feathers looked great. They behaved casually, didn't mob the food.

And the rooster is stunning. Though maybe all roosters are! He seemed to be twice as big as the hens. I doubted my ability to manage holding him as I've read you're supposed to, I am hoping he will be subdued at night. Even a grip on his legs might be hard. He looked so strong. His legs were incredible, tall & big around, glossy smooth, blue washes in there and with a shiny nub of a spur started. Beautiful comb and wattles. Bright eyes. He seemed hungriest, and the two hens that paid attention to him followed his lead in finding the food. He walked right into the dog crate next to me and they were soon in there with him.

I think the hens were more savvy than this fine fellow though. I was mulling how to get them out and into the other crate without panicking them, and I gently closed the two doors to keep them in and think about it. In a little while the hens realized there wasn't a way out and began looking on all sides and getting nervous, but the rooster was pecking away at the food, paying no attention. Then the hens got panicky, and still he had no idea. The other hens around the crate eating food there noticed the commotion too, but the rooster, in noticing it eventually, looked confused: "What's the problem? Look at this food!" I let them out. The flock wandered away a little. Interestingly, after a little time away resting and preening, followed by a sunbath, they all came back. I love the rhythm of the chickens.

When I go back soon I will take more pictures. I hope they will still be okay when I find them.

A good rooster eats last feeding his ladies first. He may not have seen such bounty, to where he felt OK stuffing himself, in a long time.

Roosters are stunning.

My ladies tend to have pink combs when not laying. You can really see the pink in Sydney's comb but Hattie's is also much lighter than normal. This happens when mine are not laying in the winter. The first sign I'm going to start getting eggs in the spring is the redding of their combs. It may just be that. Stress will also pink up combs.

 

[BY Bob]

Clearing the Ratacombs

Last week before I went away I cleared out where the rats were entering the run and the complex of tunnels they had built under the bricks surrounding the run. I can tell the flock is getting back to normal because they were in my business. And of all things, it wasn't Lilly or Aurora or even Sansa leading the charge. It was Hattie.

The change in Hattie post fight is real. She is more confident and is curious again. Less sentinel work and more leading the flock around. Hattie has been in my business like she has not been before. Watching everything i was doing when covering the run and pitch in shower curtains and of course wanting to know what was up with the Ratacombs.

Here she is leading the squad into cleaning up the rats mess. By the way, it was still warm enough for worms and bugs. Lots of worms and bugs.

Sansa the Sentinel
I am seeing more of this as well, Sansa taking over Sentinel duty from Hattie.

 

[BY Bob]

Hey @CrazyChookChookLady you ready for the big storm tomorrow? 12-18 inches is the latest I've seen. ❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

I'm not experienced at judging this, but I was surprised at how glossy and healthy they looked, not what I was expecting. Not straggly-feathered or starving looking. The only thing I noticed was that most hens had pinkish-red combs and 1-3 had distinctly pale, almost cream-white combs and that didn't seem right. Their feathers looked great. They behaved casually, didn't mob the food.

And the rooster is stunning. Though maybe all roosters are! He seemed to be twice as big as the hens. I doubted my ability to manage holding him as I've read you're supposed to, I am hoping he will be subdued at night. Even a grip on his legs might be hard. He looked so strong. His legs were incredible, tall & big around, glossy smooth, blue washes in there and with a shiny nub of a spur started. Beautiful comb and wattles. Bright eyes. He seemed hungriest, and the two hens that paid attention to him followed his lead in finding the food. He walked right into the dog crate next to me and they were soon in there with him.

I think the hens were more savvy than this fine fellow though. I was mulling how to get them out and into the other crate without panicking them, and I gently closed the two doors to keep them in and think about it. In a little while the hens realized there wasn't a way out and began looking on all sides and getting nervous, but the rooster was pecking away at the food, paying no attention. Then the hens got panicky, and still he had no idea. The other hens around the crate eating food there noticed the commotion too, but the rooster, in noticing it eventually, looked confused: "What's the problem? Look at this food!" I let them out. The flock wandered away a little. Interestingly, after a little time away resting and preening, followed by a sunbath, they all came back. I love the rhythm of the chickens.

When I go back soon I will take more pictures. I hope they will still be okay when I find them.

It they are this years birds those few hens, with the pale comb, may just be late bloomers. They definitely had a good start in life. Nice of the homeowner to offer them to a new home instead of letting them get in a state of disrepair.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Hey @CrazyChookChookLady you ready for the big storm tomorrow? 12-18 inches is the latest I've seen. ❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨☃☃

I can't wait!!! We're still in the 14 to 20 inches range and I really think we'll get it. I'm a little worried about my netting, but I think it will hold.

My work will be closed tomorrow and likely Thursday morning, one plus of working in private practice! So I'm actually going to be helping Rich while he plows. We'll be doing homes and business so I'll be doing sidewalks and such while he plows.

I'm so thankful for this because the transmission went out on Rich's truck on Saturday. We were able to get home safely and he's been driving his work dump truck, but that is a major expense we were not looking for.

 

[BY Bob]

Hey @CrazyChookChookLady you ready for the big storm tomorrow? 12-18 inches is the latest I've seen. ❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨☃☃

30 to 46 cm Sorry my Aussie friends for not translating