Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I just went out and got a few photo's of the mystery chicks. I still question what they are along with their genders. There really is only 1 that for a while I have felt was a female and that is the one with the lighter head. That being said, no crowing, no rooster posturing or even any roo behavior vibes. I do see some wattles forming, but they are still to me seem to be tiny. Again, I'm basing all this off or Marans and Marans crosses who grow huge combs and wattles very quickly. And for the record, I'm sticking to my go to breed choice in the future, they for the most part do not fool me like these guys. Well, besides silkies, I can not promise not to hatch or acquire more little fuzz balls.
Here we are at exactly 9 weeks old, what does everyone think?
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I have always felt this one was my for sure girl.
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And Ezzie had to make sure I got a picture of her.
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Pullets. Wattles are all the same size and border on non-existent. They're pretty girls

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Pullets. Wattles are all the same size and border on non-existent. They're pretty girls

This is a huge relief to hear. I'm going to be honest, I was dreading hearing them crow because even though I had been trying to prepare myself that they were boys, I have fallen for them. I can now give Rural King at least a little credit, they got 1 thing right, they sold me 6 pullets. Who knows, once they complete all their juvenile molts they may truly be the Cinnamon Queens they were sold as, but secretly I'm still hoping that part is wrong.

 

[bgmathteach]

That first picture, it looks like your roo hasn't got the hang of mating yet!

Ha ha, yes it does look like he has it all backwards, doesn't it!

He is actually torn between jumping right into the cuddle puddle/dustbath and doing his duty of watching out for them. He is 'second in command', first in command took his dust bath first.....so this one has to wait...reluctantly. BUT: he was a good boy and waited. Albeit in the middle of the dustbath as opposed to from the side. LOL

Usually my top boy waits...but not that day!

 

[bgmathteach]

They do fit under the front, but only just. I think I will raise all the legs again. They are huge! I need to compare with Roadrunner pictures, but my sense is that these are maturing faster.
Lulu in particular has some real weight to her. I have not been weighing them but you can feel her body is solid when you pick her up.

Are you sure they are 'maturing faster', or are just bigger breeds? Your roadrunners are a fairly svelte/smaller breed. They definitely look smaller when compared to Maggie...and as a RIR, is somewhat in the middle of the pack as a dual purpose breed (compared to say, an Australorp)

 

[bgmathteach]

I just went out and got a few photo's of the mystery chicks. I still question what they are along with their genders. There really is only 1 that for a while I have felt was a female and that is the one with the lighter head. That being said, no crowing, no rooster posturing or even any roo behavior vibes. I do see some wattles forming, but they are still to me seem to be tiny. Again, I'm basing all this off or Marans and Marans crosses who grow huge combs and wattles very quickly. And for the record, I'm sticking to my go to breed choice in the future, they for the most part do not fool me like these guys. Well, besides silkies, I can not promise not to hatch or acquire more little fuzz balls.
Here we are at exactly 9 weeks old, what does everyone think?
View attachment 3080135
I have always felt this one was my for sure girl.
View attachment 3080137

View attachment 3080139View attachment 3080141View attachment 3080145View attachment 3080146View attachment 3080149View attachment 3080152View attachment 3080154
And Ezzie had to make sure I got a picture of her.
View attachment 3080155

My humble opinion:

Ezzie is just the cutest!!!

Seriously, though, they all look like girly girls to me. One has a thicker than usual comb, but it isn't getting any height at all, and the feathering and postures and overall look is: HEN to me, for all of them..

 

[featherhead007]

Change of plans: Arizona has her limp back, and I’m watching her closely. I can’t find anything that might be bothering her. No bumble foot or cuts either.

Arizona’s poop, has flakes of plastic in it. She must have been chewing on an old container somewhere. She did lay an egg earlier, and is out with the rest of the birds. Pretty sure we are off the hook about her being sick, or lame.

 

[Kris5902]

I could 'see' all that!!

So glad mama is settling in to a routine

Today… she attacked a sheep with two lambs. Thankfully Little Fluff and sibling ran away from mama. If the sheep hadn’t been protected by the meat tractor my little nut bar would have destroyed her. clearly the “fixed fences” aren’t as fixed as they thought… I guess the sheep found that hole I was telling them about that they insisted “wasn’t a problem”. Well, the sheep aren’t really my problem. I’m just shooing them all down towards the house and the field in front of it, the one the feral goats usually relax in. This silly sheep wanted the chicken feed in the meat tractor. Glad it wasn’t a cow… that would be a real problem, as my smashed to bits meat tractor proves.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

They just want to be around me, no food involved at all here. Just happy friendly and in Ezzie's case jealous when I'm not petting her chicks.

 

[LozzyR]

They just want to be around me, no food involved at all here. Just happy friendly and in Ezzie's case jealous when I'm not petting her chicks.

Ohh, so adorable!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I tried for 2 for Tuesday, my subjects would not cooperate. Here we have 2 lap orps.

The one on my knee is the biggest and is Nellie. The other one on my lap is the 2nd biggest and she is Wasabi, and the 3rd one photobombing and smallest is Siracha or Siri.