Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

So Pretty

When we got the chicks in 2018, we wanted to add egg colors ams chicken colors to the flock. I was coming off the loss of Daisy and I specifically wanted at least one extremely friendly hen. So playing the odds we ordered 4 chicks.

• 1 Easter Egger, for colored eggs and colored hen
• 1 Super Blue hybrid for blue eggs and to have another white hen
• 2 Lavender Orpingtons for friendly colored hens

We just thought the lavender hens were beautiful. I ordered 4 total so I would wind up with 2 for my flock. I know 50% attrition seems high. Why would it be so high? Chicken math.

Reading on BYC, I learned that not all chicks survive the trip. It seemed like 1 in 4 on average as a matter of fact. Additionally, it seemed like their efforts at sexing the chicks missed a rooster every so often. So allowing for a rooster and a loss, I figured 4 would net me 2.

As some of you may already know, I was right about 2. When it came time to ship, they had no Super Blue for me so only 3 chicks arrived. One of them, a lavender orpington did not survive the first night and the EE turned out to be a rooster, Jabberwocky. The net for my efforts turned out to be Hattie.

Hattie has never been the lap chicken that I heard orpingtons could be. I know this is because Jabber was present and I simply could not bond with her because he would not allow it.

Hattie is friendly enough, it is not a requirement to be my best friend in order to live at Fluffy Butt Acres. However, we have never really seen Hattie at full plumage and been able to appreciate the beautiful hen she is. Jabber was very hard on her and she had been missing feathers almost her whole adult life.

Now that her molt is completing, I really am starting to see the gorgeous hen that she is. Look at this beautiful young lady.
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I can hear her right now, "Sure, talk about how pretty I am and then share a photo where I have a giant clump of poo stuck to my foot!"

I believe that she is the perfect #2 hen in my flock. She provides an excellent buffer between the new ladies and the old girl Lilly. Even deciding today to join them for a roosted preening session while Lilly runs around attacking starlings for being in her yard.

Here is my big girl with her little high pitched voice, hanging with the newbies.
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That poop-on-the-foot photo is lovely though. She is posed like a super model!

 

[BY Bob]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-one-of-fifty-50-2020-byc-calendars.1340772/

I entered this one into the Flapping Feathers contest. Can you believe I still was hoping Jabberwocky was a pullet at this point. Self delusion is a powerful thing.

 

[BY Bob]

I entered this one into the Flapping Feathers contest. Can you believe I still was hoping Jabberwocky was a pullet at this point. Self delusion is a powerful thing.
View attachment 1969100

And this one of Hattie.

 

[mixedUPturk]

BUT Mr Bob be fair to yourself, how much experience did you have with roosters before Jabber?

 

[BY Bob]

BUT Mr Bob be fair to yourself, how much experience did you have with roosters before Jabber?

None except for Rooster Cogburn and he came full grown and I was 12. So thank you for that but I should have been smarter.

 

[mixedUPturk]

None except for Rooster Cogburn and he came full grown and I was 12. So thank you for that but I should have been smarter.

I knew that since ive read every bit of this thread Plus you Paid for all pullets!

 

[BY Bob]

I knew that since ive read every bit of this thread Plus you Paid for all pullets!

I sure did pay for pullets. I'm never sure who has read it all and who hasn't. Therefore I can be guilty of repeating myself. Hazards of a long thread.

 

[Ribh]

I entered this one into the Flapping Feathers contest. Can you believe I still was hoping Jabberwocky was a pullet at this point. Self delusion is a powerful thing.
View attachment 1969100

Oh, gosh! You thought that was a pullet! says the lady who had 6 beginner crowers & was still hoping for pullets.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh, gosh! You thought that was a pullet! says the lady who had 6 beginner crowers & was still hoping for pullets.

I kept telling my wife that Jabberwocky really behaves oddly.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Has everyone seen this? Its adorable

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-math-101-–-with-quiz.75403/