Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

30 to 46 cm Sorry my Aussie friends for not translating

I'm old school I still work in feet & inches.

 

[Ribh]

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.
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Sansa the Sentinel
I am seeing more of this as well, Sansa taking over Sentinel duty from Hattie.
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Sweet, lovely Hattie. She's a treasure.

 

[Ribh]

That she seemed to be crowing. Or rather half-crowing.

All good. I've had a couple of hens do this.

 

[BY Bob]

I would love a rooster - literally all the roosters I have seen shared on this thread I think are just gorgeous. Unfortunately I don't think I can.

It is a different relationship you have with your chickens then. Not better or worse but different.

 

[BY Bob]

I am honestly not sure... I may have to break out dish soap and a hair dryer. I believe they are ground roosters... and this is why he is giving up on the breeding ideas. Because his runs and coops are not cleaned at all. They are bigger than my girls, even of the same age and breed, and far less active. Probably not suitable at all for my breeding program (I am selecting for confirmation, strong legs, activity level, and lack of flightiness in attitude... crazy little flying bowling balls). But at least they will have a decent life here, or I will book them at the abattoir in spring, or cull if it becomes necessary. I know I can do it cleanly (but the guy at the abattoir, Brad, is much better) and I wasn’t trusting the owner to do it well, when he started talking about putting them in the freezer if I didn’t want them.

As to you’re “beauty queen rescues”... I would probably end up “accidentally” taking the cat as well. The chickens I will give the guy a pass on, he didn’t want them and the caretaker probably moved somewhere he couldn’t take them, they look beautiful and well kept. I try not to be too judgmental without actually knowing the people and their situations. But, I am Very prone to taking in strays. There is this cow I want to rescue here, (another long story and a different hobby farmer, and if she was mine I could feed her however I wanted, she could have a herd...) but that’s not a pi**ing match I can take on just yet with the in-laws, as DH keeps reminding me)


Thank you Bob, and you even left out the long-winded! Its only from a lot of trial and error in a very short time, and so many Roosters! All with different personalities. Remember, I’ve only been actually doing this for two years! And most of what I’ve learned I’ve learned from all the fine people here. I just jump into things and “go big or go home” literally, and I don’t want to go back to the city!

You have learned more in two years than a lot of people on here will ever know. I can say with utmost confidence that I trust your advice.

 

[BY Bob]

Sweet, lovely Hattie. She's a treasure.

I am worrying myself a little over Hattie. I must have her in this flock. It would be looney toons without her. I am uncomfortable with 1 irreplaceable hen but that is where I find myself. I can only see chaos without her being around. Since the indecent in the fall I have been very worried about what would happen if I ever lost her. Now she is stepping forward even more. My gosh.

I pray she is with me for many years to come.

 

[Ribh]

I am worrying myself a little over Hattie. I must have her in this flock. It would be looney toons without her. I am uncomfortable with 1 irreplaceable hen but that is where I find myself. I can only see chaos without her being around. Since the indecent in the fall I have been very worried about what would happen if I ever lost her. Now she is stepping forward even more. My gosh.

I pray she is with me for many years to come.

I understand but that is something we have absolutely no control over. You really don't need your flock dynamics upset; I get that. Don't fret. Any change might bring surprising results as someone would be bound to step up into the Hattie position. I hope you have her for many, many years, She is a truly lovely hen!

 

[RoyalChick]

Ian running around today trying to get ready. It's been so long since we had a big one that my yard is not ready at all. I did get the new alfa in the garage in place of the old and the snow blower is ready so that's progress.

You and me both. I realize I haven't managed to fit my car in the garage for over a year. I blame the chickens because the garage is sort of 'workshop central' for building the Chicken Palace, but that is a bit unfair as somehow stuff just builds up. I am not even trying to tidy it up - just pile it up high enough so I can make space for the car. Looks like it will start to get serious here at about lunchtime tomorrow. I wish I could take tomorrow off work but I can't so it may be a late cold night for me tonight trying to get it all out of the way.

 

[Kris5902]

Well, my rescues are in a bit better condition than they appeared last night, but still covered in filth, half starved, and super flighty. As in absolutely wild, running from me, which made moving the tractor more interesting than usual. I was really hoping the smell was mostly coming from the dog crates... it wasn’t. I want to avoid washing the birds or getting them too soaked, so I have just moved them to better grass. I had them in the area right by the gate for ease of removal and placement into the pen last night, but that spot has been hit fairly hard by my own chickens. It’s what I consider ‘too filthy’, but a paradise compared to what these girls have been living in. Luckily we have fairly warm wet weather right now. I’m not too worried about them ground roosting in the wet grass just yet. And there goes my “no one in the meat tractors for winter” plans...

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh Lord - they just 'upgraded' us to 24" storm. How is that an upgrade?! Really MUST get that car in the garage!