Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Today I resume normal life and say goodbye to my relaxing days of stay-cation

Here is a series of Piscia for Mugshot Monday:View attachment 2635822View attachment 2635819View attachment 2635820View attachment 2635821

Fantastic!

 

[Blazinga]

Come Wednesday I should be getting Cinnabar's friends. They will be five weeks apart. However, we have had chicks of different ages get along in the past. We'll see how they get along together, but we have a divider if needed.

 

[Cynthia12]

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.

That should work out really well..nice slant to it. At least it looks like it's slanted..?

 

[featherhead007]

Almonds? We have acres of almonds, walnuts, pistachios, grapes, corn, everywhere. My fruit trees don't produce too well though.

Maybe this year will be better

 

[Shadrach]

Butter had another encouraging day today. I don't want to jinx it but I do feel she's made the turnaround and on the mend. She stood, unassisted for 10 minutes this morning. When she was outside she tried to dust bath, then on her own got herself half way into a standing position and took one step. That step is huge, it is the first time since the injury that she has tried to take a step. She got her belly full of grass and bugs I found for her. Offered her tuna again today, nope, not having it, its poison. Instead she's gorged herself on chick starter. Miss picky is driving me crazy on getting her to eat. She loves something one day, and the next will not touch it.

Chick starter should have that bit of extra protein in it with loads of calcium so that might do her good. I've got a couple here that aren't keen on tuna. I stopped buying ti for them and buy frozen white fish, cook a batch and so far they've all eaten it. Cooked sardines is quite popular here as well.
Have you tried massage and exercise?
I've had two paralysed hens here; both recovered. Here's the story of one.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shadrachs-stories.1263724/post-20314661

 

[Shadrach]

Oh my flock... a handful
But I love it. 35 chickens total - 30 hens, 5 roosters. We love the adventure of hatching new ones every year. At one point we had 48 chickens total. We have enough space, but just got an overwhelming amount of eggs, though we have a big family (16 with in-laws and nieces and nephews) Our flock is docile, "bell"-trained (come when we call them), and some even enjoy being held!
Overall, enjoying the life with chickens. Fresh eggs are the best!
Thanks for asking !

35 is a handful! I've had 31 at one point and it was mayhem.

 

[cfonts]

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

Thank you for your kind comment! I didn't even know that they had a calendar contest!!! I'll have to look into it! I was thinking of using these photos to create a Mother's Day greeting card!

 

[cfonts]

Our Mugshot Monday pic for today.
And I’m very happy we had rain all night long!!View attachment 2635948

That has got to be the CUTEST Mugshot Monday photo!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Chickens like chives, at least these ones do!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Plant Updates

It's is spring time and it is time to see what plants survived the winter.

I am thrilled to say that Maleficent's flowers and Daisy's (TGHE) Daisies have survived.
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This is the first time that Daisy's Daisies have survived the winter.

I was talking to either @LozzyR or @Aussie-Chookmum about my lilacs. They are still with us but you can see how I have lost most of the bush and I don't know why. I cut out most of the dead stuff last year to try and see what I have left.
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How many hours of sunshine does it get in the growing season? But it's strange, even partially shaded ones here will still grow though not bloom as much.