Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I've responded...but have a question.

Most of my young'uns (1.5 yrs.) hard molt, most of my older ones, in the past, much slower. This year, however, almost everyone is hard molting - including my girls that are 4.5 years old...and off feed somewhat during the worst of it. Has anyone else experienced this (older hens hard molting)? I am wondering if it has to do with our weather. Still haven't had any frost, never mind a killing/hard frost - not even below 42 degrees at night yet! Extremely unusual. (usually have our first light frost by mid Sept.) I am thinking that no cold delayed molt some..and shorter days triggered it. (i.e. without both triggers , molt delayed, and then came on hard when their body suddenly said 'oh, s***, time to molt, lets get on with it")??

Hattie hard molts every year. So did Patsy. There was no difference regardless of weather.

Spoiler: Patsy Hard Molting

 

[micstrachan]

Visit from a Hawk

While I was outside with all 8 of the hens free ranging yesterday we had a hawk stop by for a visit. I was standing on the deck with the grown up six, having just given them some pasta to chow down on. When Lilly who had not quite made it to the deck zipped into the butterfly bush. She moved so quickly that I knew something was up. I immediately looked to the sky and a hawk swooped in from over the shed and roosted in the birch tree. Here is where the hawk roosted and where the littles were located when it did.View attachment 2871618

At the time none of the other 7 hens knew the hawk was there. Lilly did not make a sound. Hattie was at my feet so I shushed under the table on the deck and threw more pasta there to get everyone under the table.

Then I took off after the hawk. I needed to make certain it was gone before it saw the littles. I did not even get around the pool and it vacated the area leaving as it had come.
I then called Lilly over and lectured her for not alerting everyone else. I don't believe that those on deck ever knew a hawk was present. It is certain that the littles had no idea as they were happily peeping away.

Yikes! That’s scary, Bob! Aren’t you the one who told us the brilliant idea of Nerf guns? Time to break it out!

 

[micstrachan]

Hattie hard molts every year. So did Patsy. There was no difference regardless of weather.

Spoiler: Patsy Hard Molting

View attachment 2871839

Poor Patsy!

 

[LozzyR]

I agree with your line of thinking. If you remember back when Phyllis was laying in the deck box I let her go but I took the eggs. I just recently put things together. She was going to try and hatch there. It was right before she started setting in the coop.

By the way, established chicken wisdom says that Polish do not go broody.

Phyllis would disagree.

View attachment 2870969

Faverolles are not meant to go broody either but Tegan gives it a red-hot go! Luckily she loses interest after a couple of days.

 

[micstrachan]

I know I've been MIA again...so weird how my job doesn't pay me to do whatever I want
Although being too busy with work for my liking, you can rest assured Dr. Tacky is keeping good watch on me.View attachment 2871563
I hope everyone is happy, healthy and full of cheer!

So great to hear from you!

 

[BY Bob]

Oh that makes me so uneasy.

I know. I am concerned but no sign of it today.

 

[featherhead007]

I’m letting Jaffar stay with me in my room, because the chickens room has a TV that is small compared to my wide screen. I’m watching a movie, and I think Jaffar wants to watch it as well. (I think he likes to just be with me) after all, he was a house rooster, when I got him.
Us guys have to take care of each other!

 

[bgmathteach]

Yes, this is the second one. And Ruby’s final report just had that Ruby’s cancer was even more widespread. No mention of Marek’s.

That is sad, but also somewhat good news as not contagious disease to worry about with the rest of the flock.

 

[featherhead007]

I try not to touch molting chickens. But that's me.

I didn’t have to touch his feathered body. I just put up my hand, and said “come on buddy, I request your presence in with me tonight.” He hopped up on my hand.
yes, a special relationship with him, I’m privileged to have!

 

[BY Bob]

Yes, this is the second one. And Ruby’s final report just had that Ruby’s cancer was even more widespread. No mention of Marek’s.