Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I see it, too! Though, I don’t know what a cat bird is.

This is a catbird.

 

[micstrachan]

This is a catbird.

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Oh, they’re sooooo cute!

 

[BY Bob]

Mockingbirds are easy to identify apart from catbirds visually because there is a significant white patch in each wing visible as they fly by. Catbirds are all grey. The mockingbird's wing patches look like small wing bars when they are perched.

Exactly.

 

[BY Bob]

You have me thinking. I am wondering if the birds I thought were Northern mockingbirds are in fact gray catbirds.
I have been sitting with the Princesses and my Peterson’s guide and trying to really look at them as they fly by.
They are very similar. And maybe I have both.
There is clearly a nest nearby as they really harried a fox just now.
What with crows seeing off hawks and some unidentified gray bird chasing off foxes, the Princesses are having a good day!

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Sounds like great guard birds.

 

[BY Bob]

Good idea! Now I have to look up what they like to eat.

That was sarcasm. Feeding crows is like feeding feral cats. You will have crow crap everywhere and a lot pet crows if you fed them.

 

[featherhead007]

Today’s escapades: I snuck out to check on the chickens. I had something behind my back, “daddy, daddy, watcha got?”
I pulled around a few big slices of cold watermelon. Instant flying feathered attack. I dropped the slices, and ran! they ate their fill, than ran back under the porch. (Where I put another big piece) it’s 100f outside now. Kinda hot.

 

[RoyalChick]

That was sarcasm. Feeding crows is like feeding feral cats. You will have crow crap everywhere and a lot pet crows if you fed them.

Well it turns out that I am already feeding the crows because they are feasting off my cherry tree.

 

[featherhead007]

Today’s escapades: I snuck out to check on the chickens. I had something behind my back, “daddy, daddy, watcha got?”
I pulled around a few big slices of cold watermelon. Instant flying feathered attack. I dropped the slices, and ran! they ate their fill, than ran back under the porch. (Where I put another big piece) it’s 100f outside now. Kinda hot.

Note: yes the littles in the house did have some too.

 

[micstrachan]

So now it’s Lucky. Poor Lucky has been ever so slightly off for a few weeks. It’s been very subtle. Today, not so subtle. She is REALLY not feeling well and I feel terrible like I have neglected her giving so much attention to Ruby. She has lost weight. I thought that was good, since been actively trying to slim them down for a couple years (though lately I’ve been bad with the scratch, since a friend gave me a large bag for them).

Ruby is status quo. Active when it’s cool and visibly not feeling well when it’s warm.

Millie is still broody, but I think we’re making progress.

 

[featherhead007]

So now it’s Lucky. Poor Lucky has been ever so slightly off for a few weeks. It’s been very subtle. Today, not so subtle. She is REALLY not feeling well and I feel terrible like I have neglected her giving so much attention to Ruby. She has lost weight. I thought that was good, since been actively trying to slim them down for a couple years (though lately I’ve been bad with the scratch, since a friend gave me a large bag for them).

Ruby is status quo. Active when it’s cool and visibly not feeling well when it’s warm.

Millie is still broody, but I think we’re making progress.

This heat in California doesn’t help our feathered friends much. I’m constantly giving cool treats (staying away from the corn) just trying to keep them comfortable. I’m not getting eggs either, but eggs isn’t the reason I have them anyways.
(my roo Jaffar doesn’t lay eggs, and I love him too)