Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

My MIL steps outside and the whole flock of babies (not so little, 17weeks I think, roughly 30) mobs her. The older birds have figured out come running when she comes out do the shop with a bucket. The house? Not unless she starts calling them. Too many grasshoppers to eat.

 

[rural mouse]

Its melting. Be glad you don't have to wait 2 more weeks! Like the groundhog said.

Round here it's 6 more weeks of winter vs 12 more weeks.

 

[rural mouse]

Yesterday, saw both adults (Silver and 2IC: really need to settle on a name for her) going for some shell. Maybe they're getting ready to start laying again. Still look like they have some moulting to finish though. This morning most of the tribe (going with Shad's term for them as my set up is so similar) came up by the house...after curiously watching the mouse I turned loose in the coop when the cat turned up his nose....havent seen that 2IC or Thing (stays in/near the coop). Everyone else, though....

Twirp is being her curious self.

 

[Marie2020]

By replying I make it so you can't delete it now. He he he.

you are one bad lad. but I like you

 

[featherhead007]

I tried getting out the gate this early morning, but Shenandoah and Xzit followed me out to the car. Bad birds! If they follow me again like that, I’m calling KFC! I haven’t left to Fresno yet (delayed by feathered brats)

 

[Marie2020]

I tried getting out the gate this early morning, but Shenandoah and Xzit followed me out to the car. Bad birds! If they follow me again like that, I’m calling KFC! I haven’t left to Fresno yet (delayed by feathered brats)

. You took me totally took me unawares on this comment and I have laughed uncontrollably just at the thought.

Mine have done this so often when I put my bin out and I'm sure they want to come with me and the dog to the park. Maybe I will get chickens harnesses

 

[Marie2020]

@Shadrach and @everyone. Has anyone tried this treatment for worming?


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Farm-Yard-...ocphy=1007452&hvtargid=pla-700198611737&psc=1

 

[rural mouse]

Cynthia, have you ever tried meally worms on vanilla ice cream? Quite tasty! Kidding. But that’s what I tell Walmart, when I buy them!

As your cashier (yes I'm a Wal-Mart employee), I would respond with, "well chocolate covered ants and grasshoppers are a real thing, not to mention fried worms, so enjoy!"

 

[rural mouse]

Just finished mixing scratch to refill my bin. Not fond of the basic scratch as it's mostly corn. Added half a bag of black oil sunflower seeds, a small bag of nut mix (has shelled sunflower seeds, peanuts, pepitas, pistachios) and a bag of basic bird seed for the millet, barley and other grains. I toss this for them outside the coop (in the forest of weeds) 1-2 cups depending upon flock size.

I now have a couple of sunflowers growing on their own....Deer keep coming at night and eating the heads. I'm hoping next spring to get an assortment sprouting for extra feed for them. If not, they have to hunt enough to find it that they're eating plenty of the weeds, grass, and assorted bugs too. I also use it as a lure when I have a stray bird/skittish bird in need of going back to the coop (usually in the middle of winter). Mealworms get added during winter, 2nd winter, deep winter, false spring, fool's spring, and most of the rest of the bugless days. When temps are sub zero (Fahrenheit), and they stay inside, a bit gets added to the inside feed bin. Most of them only use the pellets as a before bed top up....except in winter when there's very limited forage. I think instead of trying to fence the hillside, I'm going to build some of those hawk shelters (maybe with tires for winter warmth and water?) , use the scratch mix to encourage them to get familiar with them and see how well it works. Still pondering fence ideas, but supplies are just not there and the hillside increases the challenge enough that I don't want to tackle it at this time.

 

[rural mouse]

I had a big day yesterday. 3 separate social calls adding up to about 4.5 hours of driving.

I spoke to my Dad. He used to sit by the radio after dinner and embroider the table clothes and doilies to give to my Mum to encourage her to go out with him. Rather like a bower bird trying to impress the ladies come to think of it.
He says that he bought the fabric with the designs printed on them and he would fill them in with embroidery.
His Mum, my Nana, would then crochet the lace for the border. She must have liked my Mum too.
One of the tablecloth + doily sets took him over twelve months. Now that's dedication!

Alice laid another egg today. I have put them both on another, much larger, doily to show off.
View attachment 2554382

All three (Dad, Nana, and Alice) did a fantastic job!