Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

150+ m in 2 days here. Lovely.

It LITERALLY has not stopped raining since I posted that video this morning, no breaks anywhere. Lucy and Chickie pretty much spent the entire day next to the house under the eaves and Charlie ducked off to lay an egg (I let her stay there!) I chucked some oats at them as I’m pretty sure they hadn’t eaten much, if anything.

Now there are various flood warnings. There has been some rain over the fire-affected areas and hopefully the dams too. It’s meant to keep this up until Thursday.

 

[Ribh]

What she said.
Probably not what you want to read Bob but now would be a good time to exercise a bit of self control.
I wouldn't keep any ornamental breeds with your current flock.
There, I've been responsible.

See, I wasn't game to be that blunt.... I really had to work to keep Lottie out of trouble in the beginning & it's caused jealousy 'cause everyone knows she gets special treatment. And she doesn't have a crest or other stuff to make her a target. Could you get a 2nd Polish
& run them separately?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

You have gotten a lot of rain. I sure hope that the fires are being put out by it. I hope Deana and Alice survived their ordeal OK.

There are many fewer fires on the fire service app now.

The fires in my area and most of New South Wales are listed as “under control”. I imagine that there are still some tree stumps and roots that are smouldering in the affected areas that could flare up again given the right conditions, but we have had so much rain that many rivers are bursting their banks and now flooding is a problem.

I spent several hours out in the rain today trying to make the run more habitable for the girls. I spread 4 bales of sugar cane mulch and rigged a tarp up over the big coop to create more shelter.

All the girls are wet and bedraggled poor things.

We are expecting a thunder storm tonight with 100% chance of rain for the next seven days!

I think I need to buy another tarp....

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Who wants to see my quail hatchlings?

Me please Turk!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Gardener’s Affliction=Chicken Bounty
Warning: graphic photos of revolting insect larva
So I have two raised beds and I’m just a beginning gardener so while I’m adding compost and amendments and turning the soil I’m finding these moth larva —cabbage moth, maybe? Like three or four to every.single.spadeful of soil. I’m not terribly squeamish and I knew the chickens I tend would love them, so I threw them on top of my fermented feed, alfalfa pellets along with some greens and boy you would have thought I was the Guy Fieri of the farmyard set. The chickens loved it. But like I said, it gives some people the creeps...
And if anyone knows how to get rid of the grubs, I’d be interested! Although now maybe I should treat it as a chicken treat crop!

View attachment 2021405

I have found grubs that look like that in my garden too. I always thought that they were black beetle grubs.

My girls love them!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

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I think we are sharing the same weather system Lozzy. Even though we have needed it so badly, I do wish the rain would “pace” itself a little.

My car port is ankle deep in water and the 5 foot high embankment at the bottom of our street that helps direct the creek under the road has water running over the top of it. This is extra impressive because the creek is usually a rivulet at the bottom of a 4 foot storm channel!

We may find the road down there washed out in the morning.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Doors and Windows

The old saying about closing a door and opening a window applies to me today. Not to mention Chicken math. For me I feel the perfect flock size is 4. It fits my yard, my coop, and the ladies seem the most happy in a group of four. Sadly with the loss of Maleficent I am at 3.

I am not sure I am even emotionally ready to address my flock size right now. However opportunity does not wait for when you are ready.

Someone who is looking to reduce their flock has offered me has offered me 3 twenty week old pullets, a Polish, a Barred Rock, and a Wyandotte. This would bring my flock to 6, the maximum capacity of the coop.

My wife is all in on the Polish. I would like to add a pair at least to make it easier on the Polish. I think @Ribh has me convinced that I need a barred rock. Here are the two ladies in question.
View attachment 2021749

View attachment 2021750

If I just take the two, then I still have space to take the leghorm mix that @CrazyChookChookLady is hatching for me with the school. Until then I've got an odd number. I also think 2 might be easier to integrate than essentially another flock of 3 to my flock of 3.

I guess I need everyone to help me have the discipline to not fall in love with the Wyandotte when they most assuredly show her to me tomorrow and try to get me to take her too.

I must stay strong.

You are asking the wrong people to help you be strong Bob. You know we are all enablers! Take them all!

 

[MaryJanet]

150+ m in 2 days here. Lovely.

10mm here and I'm calling it a downpour! 150+ is astonishing!

 

[MaryJanet]

Doors and Windows

The old saying about closing a door and opening a window applies to me today. Not to mention Chicken math. For me I feel the perfect flock size is 4. It fits my yard, my coop, and the ladies seem the most happy in a group of four. Sadly with the loss of Maleficent I am at 3.

I am not sure I am even emotionally ready to address my flock size right now. However opportunity does not wait for when you are ready.

Someone who is looking to reduce their flock has offered me has offered me 3 twenty week old pullets, a Polish, a Barred Rock, and a Wyandotte. This would bring my flock to 6, the maximum capacity of the coop.

My wife is all in on the Polish. I would like to add a pair at least to make it easier on the Polish. I think @Ribh has me convinced that I need a barred rock. Here are the two ladies in question.
View attachment 2021749

View attachment 2021750

If I just take the two, then I still have space to take the leghorm mix that @CrazyChookChookLady is hatching for me with the school. Until then I've got an odd number. I also think 2 might be easier to integrate than essentially another flock of 3 to my flock of 3.

I guess I need everyone to help me have the discipline to not fall in love with the Wyandotte when they most assuredly show her to me tomorrow and try to get me to take her too.

I must stay strong.

Good luck Bob! I recall Mrs Bob has been wanting Polish for a long time.

My instinct is take all three tomorrow and hope the flock is solid before the Leghorn mix arrives. After all, the Leghorn mixes could turn out cockerels.

Maybe Mrs Bob can help you refuse the undoubtedly adorable young Wyandotte.

 

[LozzyR]

I think we are sharing the same weather system Lozzy. Even though we have needed it so badly, I do wish the rain would “pace” itself a little.

My car port is ankle deep in water and the 5 foot high embankment at the bottom of our street that helps direct the creek under the road has water running over the top of it. This is extra impressive because the creek is usually a rivulet at the bottom of a 4 foot storm channel!

We may find the road down there washed out in the morning.

I think we are, Chookmum, you’re not that far away from me in the Blue Mountains (by Australian standards, anyway ). It would be nice if it rained at night and settled down during the day, to give us time what we need to do.