Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[GregnLety]

I have two acres of “dust bathing areas”

Oops..I have almost that but they favor certain areas and that is where I add ashes.

 

[rural mouse]

I do not know where the blue egg went. Only the green one remains of the colored ones. I also have 1 white one left from back when Daisy, the greatest hen ever, and Elphie were here. My brother took the other white one and the two brown ones thinking they were real eggs and was too embarrassed to return them. Atl eat, they were gone after he watched the chickens but he denied taking them.

The 2 I just got: sharpie and F A K E wrapping around the eggs. Otherwise I'd be in trouble. Will get another pair every time I stop in for feed until I have 1/nestbox...if PITA will lay with them...ALL will be marked.

 

[rural mouse]

I have two acres of “dust bathing areas”

Target the favorite places then

 

[Kris5902]

So a little probably sad news… I am not exactly sure who but someone is gone. Most likely to a juvenile eagle. Mind I haven’t found an obvious kill site, but will need to more carefully check the forest on the north side as the little feather heads have been ranging halfway down to the house and halfway down to the pond along the road. I will continue to see if I can figure out exactly who is missing, but with 59 birds remaining it’s a little hard to tell quickly. I can easily list who it isn’t, but I am thinking likely one of the red rocks or hylines. I counted 59 last night but wasn’t sure due to tiredness and lateness. Then 59 tonight once, my headlamp started dying and shutting off during count two, which was still 59, I gave up on the third try and went for a different headlamp. The fourth count one of the meatbirds laid a shelled egg and chaos ensued. Fifth and final count also resulted in 59, after they had all re-settled down. One of the dangers of free ranging that I now accept, but try to reduce as much as possible.

 

[Kris5902]

Oops..I have almost that but they favor certain areas and that is where I add ashes.

Mine like to dust bathe in fire pits. If you can do a little campfire, a rock ring to destroy while dust bathing makes it nearly irresistible. If it’s warm all the better and then sneak into the trailer and share the ashes with us!

 

[GregnLety]

There's a couple of young roosters that I'd like to give a dust bath to on a hot bed of charcoal but I'd be worried about falling asleep near my wife later. Lol

 

[Kris5902]

There's a couple of young roosters that I'd like to give a dust bath to on a hot bed of charcoal but I'd be worried about falling asleep near my wife later. Lol

Smart man… lol we get more attached to the roosters, I’m not quite sure why, but we do!

 

[micstrachan]

Beautiful photos. How long has Mill been feeling poorly now?

Well, she’s had a limp since she was a pullet, and she’s almost five. But lately she has been very sore and limping badly. She’s also listing to one side and breathing heavily when she sits. I don’t really feel fluid build up, and I’m hoping there isn’t a tumor. She’s gotten a little more active, so I hope she’s improving. She eats, poops, forages (a little) and dust-bathes fine, which is good. But it’s been a couple weeks at least.

 

[micstrachan]

What is the texture of the shell? Do all three have the same texture?

I noticed the one on the right looked more rough.

 

[micstrachan]

Weather whining tax:
View attachment 2999280
Good thing I stopped to get some photos this afternoon when I walked down to the house eh? One of these girls is a new layer too! Guess who I caught making an egg song today… this little beauty is now a full fledged layer!
View attachment 2999283And true to her blue feathered legs and little puffy cheeks, she has got her Grandpa’s genes for sure! Chickie Hawk makes up for his attitude in both his beauty and his offspring and their eggs! This is actually her second egg (but this time I got some confirmation on who the layer was) View attachment 2999288

Beautiful!