Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Much braver than ours, excluding Phyllis of course.

Bob is a quick learner!

 

[RoyalChick]

Be sure that you have permethrin 10, for cleaning your chickens coop

I thought that was to kill lice or mites. Are you seeing something I should worry about?
I don't see any critters on their skin - I am maybe not as diligent as I should be on checking their vents but I do it often enough to be reasonably confident they are clean.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yup, just pin feathers as she finishes her molt. Her comb color is great for a hen that is molting. She looks great!

Thank you. She is a lovely chicken and a real personality. I will try and get a closer look with some treats later today rather than disturbing her beauty-sleep.

 

[featherhead007]

I thought that was to kill lice or mites. Are you seeing something I should worry about?
I don't see any critters on their skin - I am maybe not as diligent as I should be on checking their vents but I do it often enough to be reasonably confident they are clean.

Not saying that she has any mites or lice. I am saying you don't want any either.

 

[RoyalChick]

Diana's face is quite determined. I can see her trying to take a bite out of you.

I must admit she is quite aggressive when it comes to food. When I walk in holding any kind of dish she leaps high to grab it out of my hand and today I didn't immediately give her the rice because I needed photos for tax. She made it clear that she didn't approve.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

So glad you could sort it out and she sounds better CB.
Looks like you are taming her at the same time. Soon she will be sitting on the back of your chair looking over your shoulder like Shad's chooks do.

Well she explored the bathroom today while I was gone getting breakfast for me, so much for not wanting to venture out! And pooped here and there of course. So do people just clean it up and move on (I wanted to launder those throw rugs anyway), or use those chicken diaper things? I got her a bucket of leaves and pine woods needles and chips from the stash I've been saving for the winter, hoping to maintain some interest in the brooder. Maybe I can take her outside today for supervised free range? I fear she will run to the Buckeye area as soon as she sees them, as we have such deep snow everywhere only that and the driveway next to it is clear!

 

[BY Bob]

Well she explored the bathroom today while I was gone getting breakfast for me, so much for not wanting to venture out! And pooped here and there of course. So do people just clean it up and move on (I wanted to launder those throw rugs anyway), or use those chicken diaper things? I got her a bucket of leaves and pine woods needles and chips from the stash I've been saving for the winter, hoping to maintain some interest in the brooder. Maybe I can take her outside today for supervised free range? I fear she will run to the Buckeye area as soon as she sees them, as we have such deep snow everywhere only that and the driveway next to it is clear!

How many more days left in her quarantine?

I just clean it up with paper towels and an old toothbrush and soap to scrub the spot. Phyllis is very good. She hasn't pooed in the house in months.

 

[Kris5902]

Tax

Diana, seconds before trying to take a good-sized chunk out of my hand for not serving the left-over rice fast enough...
View attachment 2460636

Maggie single mindedly focused on the imminent rice dish...
View attachment 2460637


Rebate request
Requesting a tax rebate in the form of group reassurance. Maggie's new 'grey do' is just pin feathers as she finishes out her molt. Right? I am 90% sure, and will try and look closely when she roosts tonight, but she always buries her head when she sleeps which feels like a smart move to keep warm so I don't really like to disturb her, and during the day she doesn't keep still. I am reluctant to grab her because she has some other patches still molting and I worry I will hurt her.

View attachment 2460638

Agree with Bob... it’s just feather sheathe gel spikes! And she looks great!

 

[Kris5902]

I need to show these pictures to my crew who were perfectly happy to just stay in the house for a whole week. Cowards.

Oh, it was the new girls that started it... flew out the door and went from there! It was like how kids enjoy playing out in the snow. Sammy looked miserable most of the day. “I must guard my ladies and be with them... but my toes are cold! I’m cold! Why are they out here??? She put the feed in the coop, what is wrong with these girls?”

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I have some back taxes to pay... as usual and the chickens actually came out today! I think the lack of depth and the sunlight helped entice themView attachment 2460559
It is actually much colder tonight than it was during the day, because it was fairly clear... and the slush has melted down to a reasonable 3-6” in most places with a crunchy hard crust.View attachment 2460560
Sammy is still not sold on this whole Cold White Stuff, but followed some brave young pullets all the way to my trailer! I think he may have been enjoying the camouflage though!View attachment 2460564Where the snow had compacted and frozen into a thin sheet of ice, several of the gils were slipping and sliding all over it. Watching them explore was very entertaining. I had to rescue several ladies that flew to the wrong side of a fence and found themselves “trapped” by the white stuff there including this little lady, who was ten feet from the open gate but needed a lift to get back to her flock. I love the red in her hackles and she loved perching on the warm arm instead of the S**wView attachment 2460565

I think the leghorn tail, straight up like a flag - or an air rudder? - is really nice. Yes the red in the last one's hackles is beautiful!