Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Yes indeed they do and I love them for doing so. Everytime I find a tick I feed it to the princesses. I have sometimes wondered about having some completely free ranging Guineas just for the tick problem - but I worry the neighbors might not like it as they are apparently quite loud.

They can be. Someone in the area had some. They've moved, but while they were here, the guineas sounded quite eerie. Peafowl also sound strange, but should grace your royal palace too.

 

[BY Bob]

It's Friday here.

Alice's butt for FBF
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And bonus Edwina buttView attachment 2990310

They truly are spectacular!

 

[bgmathteach]

I have been discouraging the cockatoos because they are being destructive (as @Ribh predicted) and tearing fly screens and wood trim off the house.
When I went out to shoo them away I noticed that we had another visitor.
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I didn't want to feed the cockies but I'd like to encourage the Rainbow Lorikeet (They don't eat houses do they Ribh?) So I held my hand up and..
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He is much smaller than a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo and will eat from my hand.

What a wonderful photo. S/he is a gorgeous bird!

 

[bgmathteach]

Our little dogs were the toughest because they're 3 uncut males so they're feisty but after a few stripes with a switch from our oak tree and they fell in line. The husky has taken the longest and she isn't allowed to free range with the chickens. We have a long rope that we tie her to around our big oak. We sit close when the chickens are free ranging. This has been a project going for several months. This weekend while monitoring Maya she passed a test as Cholo and his girls strolled within reach. We calmly told her no and after a few moments we praised her and gave her treats. Positive reinforcement mostly but a spanking once when she got ahold of our Silky rooster. I was right there so he only lost a few feathers. Maya is making good progress but we will continue her controlled exposure to our birds.

Yes, Huskies are very hard! They still have a lot of those wild genes in them and truly are avid hunters and are a bit less dependent on pleasing humans than other dogs (such as labs, who live to please). I think of their personalities as being closer to cats than the average dog!

Sounds like you are doing very well with her!!

 

[BY Bob]

Phyllis Lay's her egg early today

I woke up to Phyllis on the nest. She actually laid her egg while I was watching but I was not expecting that and was not recording. Betty was hanging out with her the whole time. There was not much in the way of conversation though.

When finished she proceeded to snack and then tell the whole world what she had done!

 

[BY Bob]

I have been discouraging the cockatoos because they are being destructive (as @Ribh predicted) and tearing fly screens and wood trim off the house.
When I went out to shoo them away I noticed that we had another visitor.
View attachment 2990311

I didn't want to feed the cockies but I'd like to encourage the Rainbow Lorikeet (They don't eat houses do they Ribh?) So I held my hand up and..
View attachment 2990312

He is much smaller than a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo and will eat from my hand.

That is amazing and so beautiful!

 

[BY Bob]

Here's an FBF shot of Janet as she leaves the house

View attachment 2990320

I'm so glad you saved that for today. That is exceptional. Thanks so much for sharing it here!

 

[bgmathteach]

Chickens eat ticks...

Guineas are avid tick eaters....maybe @RoyalChick should get a handful of guinea keats!

 

[BY Bob]

@RoyalChick , Alice is regrowing feathers on the back of her neck and on top of her head.
She is sporting a rather different look at the moment and you can actually see her eyes!

View attachment 2990316View attachment 2990317View attachment 2990318View attachment 2990319

She is just the loveliest hen. I never get tired of her photos. I wonder if the ability to see better is the one thing she likes about molting?

 

[BY Bob]

OMGosh… did I just feel what I thought I felt? Carefully and quickly exit sleeping bag grabbing my glasses, then headlamp to find the lanterns… goats very confused as to why their human is so upset… this pic is post swat, and about when I decided that Arduinna was probably “ok” in the barn with just Jimmy, and that December Barn Camping wasn’t really for me. Granted, it was nice sleeping with Arduinna curled up next to me on the hay bale bed, and Jimmy on the other side, right against the bales on the floor of the barn. A little chilly being early December, but goats make good Bed warmers! This guest was not invited however… View attachment 2990343

Nope. Don't like spiders living with me. Nope. Not at all.