Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

Any idea on how it might effect goats? “Jimmy needs his na-nas nipped” has been a constant refrain here lately, but I don’t want to break out the burdizzos and have him hate me for it. I am an awful farmer… but those hormones have got to go! Arduinna’s pissed, I’m not impressed, and walking him often starts out and ends a little “rough” if he gets much bigger it could also get dangerous… sigh, if only I could get some of the goat hater aunts to do the deed instead.

In my readings, it definitely tames them down.. Supposedly wethers are the 'go to' companion goat for a lone female...and since they don't go through the mating rut thingy, they supposedly don't have the awful male stink going on, either. How 'mature' is Jimmy? The younger the better from what I have read.

That said, I don't have goat, so it is only reading, not first hand knowledge. Sometimes there is unexplained variance between the two.

https://www.outdoorhappens.com/what-is-a-wether-goat-benefits/

As I am sure you are aware, goats in general are still rambunctious, curious, friendly, and into trouble regardless of gender!

 

[Ponypoor]

Best to be safe. I've driven through Lake effect white outs in my life. I will never do that again. Older and wiser and frankly don't need to do so.

White knuckle drives! Yes done those up the 400 many times.... I do not ever do that again. If it's bad I stay home.

It is bitterly cold here with the high winds, the snow is like icy grit hitting your face, my pathway I shovelled this morning has blown in with snow I may as well have not shovelled it! For all the sun shining it's wicked cold, the wind almost blew me over walking to the barn. And now even I am getting zero visibility with white outs.

I can only imagine what it's like out in open areas! just checking the weather-network on TV to see when the wind will drop off, but lots of bad weather in the Maritimes also! February is always a bad winter weather month, nature trying for one last hurrah!

 

[Ponypoor]

Winter is back

I was out in the run with the ladies when this popped up on my phone.
View attachment 2998716
The Squall arrives. Notice the high winds gusts.

I ducked back in the run to finish moving the camera in the Cluckle Hut. Betty hung out on the porch safe from the storm while everyone else went into the big coop.

Phyllis eventually came out and the Polish did not let the storm curtail their scratching time.

View attachment 2998767

In only minutes it was completely white outside.

I finished and went back inside but this one scooted out the door as I was coming in.
View attachment 2998770

Out in her native weather. Davis thinks she is nuts.

You are likely getting the same squall line I am getting, it's huge! Stretching from Canada all the way down into the USA!

What would we do with out chickens and weather to moan about . ?

 

[bgmathteach]

Winter is back

I was out in the run with the ladies when this popped up on my phone.
View attachment 2998716
The Squall arrives. Notice the high winds gusts.

I ducked back in the run to finish moving the camera in the Cluckle Hut. Betty hung out on the porch safe from the storm while everyone else went into the big coop.

Phyllis eventually came out and the Polish did not let the storm curtail their scratching time.

View attachment 2998767

In only minutes it was completely white outside.

I finished and went back inside but this one scooted out the door as I was coming in.
View attachment 2998770

Out in her native weather. Davis thinks she is nuts.

She is gorgeous!!

 

[RoyalChick]

Ouch… I remember something about those prices and beer being way more expensive than wine, much to my visiting friend’s dismay. It’s a good way to discourage smoking that’s for sure. My mom has been smoking for over 50 years now, so I doubt any nagging or price increases will really help much on the “quitting” campaign. Nothing short of a full out country wide ban would do it, if that. It’s also a bit of all of the above. She has one neighbour constantly bumming smokes, and another new neighbour she enjoys smoking with… so consumption has increased exponentially. She was cutting back, and was down to less than 5 a day, before she moved. To put it in perspective when DH and I were drinking (we’ve basically quit due to finances and his health, we had been cutting back and considering a full on quit for a while before his health issues last fall) the two of us were spending about $300/month on beer. My mom is spending that and then some on cigarettes, plus brandy, plus vodka… another good incentive to get the house done and her moved in… less smoking and drinking. I believe all told so far DH and I have spent $30 on beer this year. We are now buying only “nice” beer for “special occasions” like “look at those windows and French doors!” Occasions!

That is a lot of money whichever way you look at it! Good on you and DH for cutting back to celebratory beer only.
When my Dad turned 80 he declared that he was changing his habits and was going to have bacon for breakfast every morning and beer for lunch every day. He also declared he would have cream every day. On top of berries if I insisted but otherwise ‘neat’ with a spoon from the pot.
And that is exactly what he did for the next 15+ years.
He gave up smoking at 16 when he left school because then he had to start paying for cigarettes himself.

He was quite a character and I still miss him.
Tax: Baby Roadrunners from the archives. Day two with me and they already understood the importance of showing their fluffy butts.

 

[Ponypoor]

Any idea on how it might effect goats? “Jimmy needs his na-nas nipped” has been a constant refrain here lately, but I don’t want to break out the burdizzos and have him hate me for it. I am an awful farmer… but those hormones have got to go! Arduinna’s pissed, I’m not impressed, and walking him often starts out and ends a little “rough” if he gets much bigger it could also get dangerous… sigh, if only I could get some of the goat hater aunts to do the deed instead.

Not sure if using just burdezios will reduce the amount of testosterone, here we elastrate male goats, lambs, and day old bull calves. Colts get gelded around 1 or 2 yrs old.

It definitely quiets them down, makes them less aggressive.

Sure hope your billy, settles down...

 

[RoyalChick]

Winter is back

I was out in the run with the ladies when this popped up on my phone.
View attachment 2998716
The Squall arrives. Notice the high winds gusts.

I ducked back in the run to finish moving the camera in the Cluckle Hut. Betty hung out on the porch safe from the storm while everyone else went into the big coop.

Phyllis eventually came out and the Polish did not let the storm curtail their scratching time.

View attachment 2998767

In only minutes it was completely white outside.

I finished and went back inside but this one scooted out the door as I was coming in.
View attachment 2998770

Out in her native weather. Davis thinks she is nuts.

Isn’t it supposed to be Davis’s natural habitat too?
You will start doing what I do and letting them roam when it snows. You can guarantee they will return, you can see where they went, and not much else is out and about.

 

[RoyalChick]

Noooooo....NOT the Raccoons, the ravaging little buggers that kill indiscriminately and only take a bite or two
View attachment 2998780
View attachment 2998781

They may seem cute, but they have an evil gene!!!!

I second that!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Me and mom have came to a agreement on what to do. Rural King should have a shipment of chicks in Tuesday. I went there earlier to pick up a small bag of chick starter. Even though the lady on the phone said they did not have chicks, they do. But they only have ducks and turkey's left at the moment. I talked to the employee who orders their chicks and found out they will be getting in Buff Orpington pullets. Mom wants another Butter. When the chicks come in I'm going to go pick up some. I hope to find someone to split a order with me as I really only need 2 or 3, but they have a 6 chick minimum. If I have to get 6, once they are about 9 to 10 weeks old I'll place all but the one mom decides she wants to keep. She and Rosie also named her this morning. Mom told Rosie while I was setting up the brooder she needed to come up with a strong determined name. The first thing that popped out of my daughters mouth was Ezra. I shouted to them no, that was a boy name. I got overruled quick. I did not know this but Ezra was my great-great grandfathers name and he lived to be 98 years old. I will not call her that, it is Ezzie. If the world hates me and she is a boy then she can be called Ezra.

Oh don't worry it's likely a hen; I was optimistic and named mine Roxanne, and of course a Roo! So yours will be a hen, it's the way of things!

 

[rural mouse]

Ok Fluffy Butt peeps, I'm in trouble now. I have a lone chick. The 3rd egg looks like it quit around day 17 or 18. I've already called Tractor Supply and Rural king. Neither one has chicks right now. Tractor Supply will get theirs in next Thursday. There was one more local feed store that used to carry chicks so I called them. They no longer carry chicks, they claimed they could not compete with Tractor Supply and Rural king. I've got it in the brooder, it ate and drink a little but it needs a friend now.

does the lady with all the silkies have a baby or 2?