Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Excuse me sir, I have a microbiology question. When a virus migrates from animal to human, how long before we reliably know its infection growth rate? I imagine it would take N cases over M days... Maybe a month for one with a fast growth rate?

Also, I imagine it's impossible to know how many viruses migrate from animals to people because most of them would not survive the immune system of the people who catch it first. So we don't have any data. How strong is my reasoning on this?

I will reply but that is more than a cup of tea with the girls.

I'm actually about to plant flowers on Mals grave.

 

[MaryJanet]

I will reply but that is more than a cup of tea with the girls.

I'm actually about to plant flowers on Mals grave.

That's wonderful news. Which flowers did you choose?

 

[BY Bob]

That's wonderful news. Which flowers did you choose?

I'll post in about 5 min.

 

[BY Bob]

Maleficent's Flowers

I chose Blue Moon Phlox for Maleficent's grave. I wanted something that would grow back every year that I thought she would like. I am certain now that she would love them.

Here they are planted.

Some of you already may know what the video I'm going to post now will show. I started the camera as everyone came to see what I had done and in my own weird way I thought let's gather to celebrate Mal one last time.

Here is what happened.

That's right, apparently they are delicious.

I'm sure Maleficent would love them too.

So I put the old run extension over the flowers for now. I don't know what to do now.

 

[Ribh]

Maleficent's Flowers

I chose Blue Moon Phlox for Maleficent's grave. I wanted something that would grow back every year that I thought she would like. I am certain now that she would love them.

Here they are planted.
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Some of you already may know what the video I'm going to post now will show. I started the camera as everyone came to see what I had done and in my own weird way I thought let's gather to celebrate Mal one last time.

Here is what happened.

That's right, apparently they are delicious.

I'm sure Maleficent would love them too.

So I put the old run extension over the flowers for now. I don't know what to do now.

I did wonder when you said what you were going to do because nothing is safe in my yard. if it's edible the girls will eat it!

 

[MaryJanet]

It's nice to know Mal would've eaten them too.

 

[micstrachan]

We finally have a break in the rain and I’m enjoying a couple hours outside with the flock! I’m so happy. I thought I would take this opportunity of sunshine to show off the iridescence in Little Mill’s feathers:

And here’s what some of them are up to:

Right after that, Buttercup started warning everyone:

I did not see it at the time of the video, but right afterward, a fairly large hawk swooped across the yard. I think there’s a nesting pair of this type who lives right here somewhere.

 

[MaryJanet]

I did wonder when you said what you were going to do because nothing is safe in my yard. if it's edible the girls will eat it!

Me too. I'm always fencing things off to keep chickens from disturbing new roots!

 

[BY Bob]

Me too. I'm always fencing things off to keep chickens from disturbing new roots!

I was prepared to fence them off for a while but I never thought they would devour them like that. Silly me.

 

[micstrachan]

Phyllis D.

Another profile in the tradition of @MaryJanet

Phyllis is the hen of my wife’s dreams (technically her name is Phyllis D). She has wanted a Polish since she first heard the story of Nardole the Brave. Polish are known to be skittish, flighty, and are generally considered to be not the Brightest Hen in the Coop.

From what I have seen so far, Phyllis is actually quite clever. I have seen her do amazing things to avoid other hens and get her share of treats. I can touch and pick up Phyllis whenever I want and she runs to my legs anytime she see me walking in the yard. I think a lot of the issues people have with Polish is because of that beautiful mop of feathers on her head. Her whole world is down. She cannot see up and therefore is easily spooked.

That mop of feathers on her head does serve one purpose, it does block other hens from seeing “What she’s got there?” It is difficult for other hens to know if she has something worth stealing as they can’t see it!

She has a great wing to body ratio and flies as well as any leghorn I ever had. When spooked she will either speed away, and boy she is fast, or take flight. Hence the flighty and skittish.

I have learned to talk to her when approaching in case she hasn’t seen me yet. Phyllis knows her name and comes when called.

Favorite Hobby: Her favorite hobby is running. She is sprinter without peer. Whenever she gets separated form the rest of the flock, she stops, raises her neck as high as she can, finds the group, and sprints after them. She reminds me of the Road Runner sometimes. I am so glad that I can pick her up because there is no way I would ever catch her.

Favorite Saying: Hey, wait for me!

Rank: She is number 6 in the pecking order (or last)

Named After: Why of course she is named after Phyllis Diller because they have similar hairdos and laughs.

Favorite Recording Artist: The Who (She’s a bit of a bad girl. I think she has her nose pierced under all those feathers)

Favorite Song: “Who are You”, by The Who

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Great profile!