Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

Well said Kris. I deeply respect how you care for your animals. I am proud to know you.

And I am so thankful to know you and all our other wonderful chicken friends here. It helps me keep my perspective on this huge change I’ve made to my life. I really just wanted a backyard flock in my yard in the city. Much like what you have. Maybe 5-6 hens... but it was not allowed under my city bylaws, then I looked into bees... which were allowed, but so highly restricted in placement that it was essentially impossible. That’s why when the opportunity arose to move to the farm I was so ready to make the switch.

It would be so much “easier”, “more profitable”, “normal” to fall into conventional poultry industry thinking. But would it be better? Ethical? I admit I’m at the verge of chicken numbers where it wouldn’t be too hard to fall into that trap of thinking. But seeing the close relationship you and others have with your birds. Seeing all those distinct personalities, makes me more aware of it in my own flocks (even when I don’t have quite so personal a relationship with all the hens in a flock... a lot of that falls to my boys!)

My flocks are my primary source of income on the farm, and until we have a more active role or financial compensation from all the other farming here, will likely remain that way. But I love them dearly too, and hope to never lose that aspect of chicken keeping.

 

[featherhead007]

And I am so thankful to know you and all our other wonderful chicken friends here. It helps me keep my perspective on this huge change I’ve made to my life. I really just wanted a backyard flock in my yard in the city. Much like what you have. Maybe 5-6 hens... but it was not allowed under my city bylaws, then I looked into bees... which were allowed, but so highly restricted in placement that it was essentially impossible. That’s why when the opportunity arose to move to the farm I was so ready to make the switch.

It would be so much “easier”, “more profitable”, “normal” to fall into conventional poultry industry thinking. But would it be better? Ethical? I admit I’m at the verge of chicken numbers where it wouldn’t be too hard to fall into that trap of thinking. But seeing the close relationship you and others have with your birds. Seeing all those distinct personalities, makes me more aware of it in my own flocks (even when I don’t have quite so personal a relationship with all the hens in a flock... a lot of that falls to my boys!)

My flocks are my primary source of income on the farm, and until we have a more active role or financial compensation from all the other farming here, will likely remain that way. But I love them dearly too, and hope to never lose that aspect of chicken keeping.

So then, you are a poultry proprietor? or a "Feather farmer" ?

 

[Kris5902]

It is raining cats and dogs here right now, just a touch past 8 am and finally light enough out to let everyone out... but so far I’m letting them stay in. I will have to turn Dean and Cass out eventually and Sammy too, but for now everyone is dry. I wonder, with this torrential downpour, should I remove the hen saddles from my two free ranging girls that are still bare backed? If it gets soaked then that would be quite bad, worse I think than the exposed skin. Why they can’t work on growing those feathers back faster is beyond me! My two Bare backed due to feather picking rescues have regrown most all of theirs feathers enough that I removed their hen saddles. It may be an interesting morning release if I need to grab the egg hider and my wild Marans girl to get the saddles off.

 

[featherhead007]

It is raining cats and dogs here right now, just a touch past 8 am and finally light enough out to let everyone out... but so far I’m letting them stay in. I will have to turn Dean and Cass out eventually and Sammy too, but for now everyone is dry. I wonder, with this torrential downpour, should I remove the hen saddles from my two free ranging girls that are still bare backed? If it gets soaked then that would be quite bad, worse I think than the exposed skin. Why they can’t work on growing those feathers back faster is beyond me! My two Bare backed due to feather picking rescues have regrown most all of theirs feathers enough that I removed their hen saddles. It may be an interesting morning release if I need to grab the egg hider and my wild Marans girl to get the saddles off.

If I was a chicken, I surely wouldn't want to wear a wet blanket on my back.

 

[Kris5902]

So then, you are a poultry proprietor? or a "Feather farmer" ?

I am a “farmer”, I guess... when not being labeled a Citiot for my outlandish ideas about silvopasture, permaculture, and sustainable (ethical) agriculture. I am wanting a sustainable and ethical poultry business, and though not wildly profitable (I certainly haven’t re-coupled my infrastructure costs or initial Egg/chick purchases, and am a long way from it!) I am managing to stay in the black for the most part.

Brief intro is we moved to DH’s family farm in fall 2017. I began by managing the cattle here. Started getting into chickens in fall 2018. I have fallen in love with chickens. I have several separate laying flocks both in chicken tractors and free ranging. I’m moving towards much more free Ranging, but with (now) 7 roosters and one cockerel, plus some of the personalities of the boys involved, I don’t think I fully able to turn everyone loose. 2019 was my first year raising meat birds, and I’m wanting to do a breeding program for them so I can be sustainable in that as well. Also in summer of 2019, due to family drama, I stopped managing the cattle. 2020 saw me tripling the number of meat birds I produced, and I still can’t keep up with local demand.

 

[featherhead007]

I am a “farmer”, I guess... when not being labeled a Citiot for my outlandish ideas about silvopasture, permaculture, and sustainable (ethical) agriculture. I am wanting a sustainable and ethical poultry business, and though not wildly profitable (I certainly haven’t re-coupled my infrastructure costs or initial Egg/chick purchases, and am a long way from it!) I am managing to stay in the black for the most part.

Brief intro is we moved to DH’s family farm in fall 2017. I began by managing the cattle here. Started getting into chickens in fall 2018. I have fallen in love with chickens. I have several separate laying flocks both in chicken tractors and free ranging. I’m moving towards much more free Ranging, but with (now) 7 roosters and one cockerel, plus some of the personalities of the boys involved, I don’t think I fully able to turn everyone loose. 2019 was my first year raising meat birds, and I’m wanting to do a breeding program for them so I can be sustainable in that as well. Also in summer of 2019, due to family drama, I stopped managing the cattle. 2020 saw me tripling the number of meat birds I produced, and I still can’t keep up with local demand.

Then, most of your costs since 2017 have been met. (You are doing pretty good) And it will get even more profitable.

 

[Kris5902]

@featherhead007 here is a link to my thread, it better explains where we are and what I’m working on here. Please feel free to skip through the family drama bits, there’s a whole lot of that at times as our situation has fluctuated. There’s also a few links to other threads that may be of interest. Like recovering Tippie’s feet from the worst scaly leg mite infestation I have ever seen (toe amputation was actually suggested at one point, and not that extreme an option considering her situation)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/21074628

 

[featherhead007]

@featherhead007 here is a link to my thread, it better explains where we are and what I’m working on here. Please feel free to skip through the family drama bits, there’s a whole lot of that at times as our situation has fluctuated. There’s also a few links to other threads that may be of interest. Like recovering Tippie’s feet from the worst scaly leg mite infestation I have ever seen (toe amputation was actually suggested at one point, and not that extreme an option considering her situation)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/21074628

Thanks

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

A lot of it is just unknown... and things can happen in moments. You do a wonderful job keeping your flock, and they are happy and healthy and lucky to have you to care for them! I know too many people who just don’t understand, and the phrase “it’s just a chicken” has become my #1 most hated phrase.

In my case I cared for my chick babies so carefully and painstakingly nurtured them, and went away for a weekend, and four were killed, and I still don’t know by what.
I feel like if I had stayed home it wouldn’t have happened.
I can’t stop feeling sad over those chicks.

 

[BY Bob]

It is raining cats and dogs here right now, just a touch past 8 am and finally light enough out to let everyone out... but so far I’m letting them stay in. I will have to turn Dean and Cass out eventually and Sammy too, but for now everyone is dry. I wonder, with this torrential downpour, should I remove the hen saddles from my two free ranging girls that are still bare backed? If it gets soaked then that would be quite bad, worse I think than the exposed skin. Why they can’t work on growing those feathers back faster is beyond me! My two Bare backed due to feather picking rescues have regrown most all of theirs feathers enough that I removed their hen saddles. It may be an interesting morning release if I need to grab the egg hider and my wild Marans girl to get the saddles off.

I would take them off. I would not want that moisture neck to their bodies for days.