Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I am happy to say that I am FINALLY caught up! Hopefully I won't have any more long absences from BYC so that I can keep up with the thread!

I enjoyed reading through everyones updates and flockservations. I'm sorry that some of you had injured chickens or had to go through chicken losses these past couple of weeks *hugs*

Also, @featherhead007 I hope that your hand is healing okay.

Also, just wanted to share some cute photos with all of you... because who doesn't love seeing cute photos of mama hen & baby?!

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Those are truly special. You should enter them in the calendar contest! Definitely wall worthy.

 

[BY Bob]

A while ago we had a discussion on wet ground/dirt baths/ coccidiosis and chooks needing a dry space. My girls don’t really have anywhere to hang in the run if it’s wet; under the two hen-houses or the canteen, not a lot of space. So I decided to put a roof on two-thirds of the run so they can have a dirt-bath on a wet day. Hubby helped putting in some battens so the polycarbonate sheeting didn’t sag and we attached them to the wood underneath. Now I just need a really rainy day to see how dry underneath it is!

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The weekend before, we put some more smaller aperture wire on the first third, so now the sparrows can’t get in when the gate is shut. Not sure how to keep them out when the gate is open and the girls are free-ranging.

This looks outstanding. Great job. I'm certain they will love it. Good thinking!

 

[BY Bob]

Back on the Roost Last Night

I guess this was a one time nest box sleeping event.

 

[BY Bob]

Love her with her babies following her.. pretty hen. Looks good for having been broody. Then there's ..this! View attachment 2635829 Good mama! Won't touch your babies mama.

Look at those little feet.

 

[BY Bob]

Why am I up? It's only 5 in the morning. Woke up at 4:30. Can't get back to sleep. Good time to catch up .. somewhat. Seeing some great news on mama hens, new chicks, and a hen healing.

It seems to be an upbeat day here at The Acres.

 

[Anonymous Chicken]

My gosh they are adorable. I love the name game.

What about Shortcake for this one?
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We love the name Shortcake! We were considering Poptart as well because she's so fast and "pops" around everywhere. What do you think?

 

[featherhead007]

To be fair, it wasn't a macaw sized parrot but conures can be mean too

Okay...that probably doesn't make it much better. Idk why I thought it was a reasonable thing to wear a bird on my shoulder or head so often

If I have to, then you have to! I’m kidding.

 

[featherhead007]

Our Mugshot Monday pic for today.
And I’m very happy we had rain all night long!!

 

[micstrachan]

My garden always looks like a garbage dump
Hope the weather doesn't affect your plants much...there has been many years that our tomato plants have ugly leaf tips but still produce well!

Well, it’s a good thing I ran around covering everything, as it did indeed freeze last night. Crazy!

Tax:

(Cashew with little Dorothy Ester and Minnie)

 

[ChicoryBlue]

We love the name Shortcake! We were considering Poptart as well because she's so fast and "pops" around everywhere. What do you think?

I love both those names. The "pop" is why I named Popcorn that - she was always "popping" up and out of the brooder to greet me, she has a kind of reckless energy and boldness / bravery which remains to this day.

She leads her bestie Butters around in foraging as a pair, and if I see only three Buckeyes and Queenie the Buff Orp together foraging I can be pretty sure it's Popcorn who happens to be off by herself. She has also made herself king of the shovel worms when I garden and strictly enforces that. She will stand over or on the shovel as I (very slowly and carefully) work. She actually lightly or almost hit (flogged?) our cat Big Boy with one wing the other day (and hurt his feelings) when he came over to say hello to me while I was shoveling. Well Big Boy did run up quickly, briefly alarming everyone when they saw him coming from a distance. But they quickly recognized him and he walked the rest of the way to be with the group. Then Popcorn bopped him one. Big Boy tries to get along with the chickens; the look in his eyes was surprise and hurt. I pet him and told Popcorn to be nice to him and lightly pushed her aside a little. But it was understandable 'cause chickens don't like to be surprised, and in case Big Boy thought he was getting any worms Popcorn had to make sure he knew his place