Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

As fast as they eat, I don't believe that your hens taste anything they eat. You could probably feed them dirt in your hand and they would gobble it down.

Well I would agree except they have their individual likes and dislikes. They all like plain rice (obviously) but Maggie isn’t big on apple cores for example. The other two love apple cores.

 

[BY Bob]

That's funny, apple cores have a partial response here as well. Aurora does not have time for them while Phyllis and Hattie seem to like them.

 

[LozzyR]

I trust mine to eat what they need from the source they desire. What I see is them tanking up on commercial feed in the morning and before bed. When the yard is available for free ranging they typically do not eat commercial feed at another time during the day. With me home all the time now, they are free ranging from 8 am to dusk. I am using a lot less commercial feed than normal. These 6 hens are getting a lot of food from my 1/3 acre without stripping it bare.

My girls absolutely adore their wheat grain sprouts, but I’m worried they might be getting too much as Lucy is looking pretty solid again. I cut it down drastically from the first time around, but I’m wondering if I need to cut it down further. They will leave some when they’ve had enough, but Charlie is the biggest pig and will chase the Faverolles away from both bowls.

 

[LozzyR]

Well I would agree except they have their individual likes and dislikes. They all like plain rice (obviously) but Maggie isn’t big on apple cores for example. The other two love apple cores.

It’s really interesting discovering their likes and dislikes and it’s quite obvious. Lucy loves purple food but Charlie prefers strawberries over blueberries. I think that’s part of intelligence.

 

[Shadrach]

Lovely photos Shad. The flower is in just the right place. Is it a cow slip?

I'm not sure what it is. I'll try and find out.

 

[Shadrach]

I wonder what that is about? Is that always our just for that post?

It was just that post but they are showing now.

 

[BY Bob]

It was just that post but they are showing now.

So many pictures. Maybe I overloaded your RAM.

 

[BY Bob]

It’s really interesting discovering their likes and dislikes and it’s quite obvious. Lucy loves purple food but Charlie prefers strawberries over blueberries. I think that’s part of intelligence.

They have individual personalities. That means likes and dislikes including food. I put something out the other day and everyone went crazy except Aurora. She eats everything. Steals from others to take their food. Intimidates others to take their food. I can't remember what it was but she actually walked away from the feeding frenzy.

Last night Hattie was sucking down some hummus, Lilly actually turned her beak up and walked away.

They clearly have individual palates. I agree, I find it to be a sign of intelligence.

 

[MaryJanet]

Mary is a water enthusiast. She really makes an outing of her drinks. Takes her ages to sip and check the flavour. She even darts her little tongue in and out, appreciating the subtleties. Then she takes a deep breath and a deep drink, raising her chin and making gentle open and shut gestures with her beak. That goes on for five minutes of leisurely drinking. Then she moves on to five minutes of dabbing water onto her shoulders. Finally, satisfied with a cracking outing at The Dispenser she has a shake and scampers off to join the others. You could set a clock by her drinks too. 9.15am and 4.30pm at present. I've seen her sip through the day, but her drinking sessions are an important part of her daily to do list.

It makes worming a challenge because the treatment doesn't pass the first few tentative taste checks. But last time I wormed them, I used something called kilverm which she condescended to partake of but only in small quantities.

She's such a character

 

[BY Bob]

Mary is a water enthusiast. She really makes an outing of her drinks. Takes her ages to sip and check the flavour. She even darts her little tongue in and out, appreciating the subtleties. Then she takes a deep breath and a deep drink, raising her chin and making gentle open and shut gestures with her beak. That goes on for five minutes of leisurely drinking. Then she moves on to five minutes of dabbing water onto her shoulders. Finally, satisfied with a cracking outing at The Dispenser she has a shake and scampers off to join the others. You could set a clock by her drinks too. 9.15am and 4.30pm at present. I've seen her sip through the day, but her drinking sessions are an important part of her daily to do list.

It makes worming a challenge because the treatment doesn't pass the first few tentative taste checks. But last time I wormed them, I used something called kilverm which she condescended to partake of but only in small quantities.

She's such a character

That is amazing. What a character. Imagine her with a fine wine!