Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

I just couldn’t get the girls to turn around ! Happy Fluffy Butt Friday.View attachment 2427144

I like how your picture had captured one of the Princesses (yes?) - on the right - in mid-scratch!

 

[featherhead007]

I like how your picture had captured one of the Princesses (yes?) - on the right - in mid-scratch!

Hen-Rietta, She's always scratching around at something.

 

[goldenfingers]

I figured you were talking about Patsy and Lilly and I almost stick my nose in immediately because of all the people you posted that to her. Then I thought I will will let it play out. Fortunately @goldenfingers responded just as I thought she would. Way to be understanding of each other.

Her coop under the deck is quite amazing. She has done a wonderful job with her set up.

This is a very late reply because I have been putting it off. First, I want to thank @BY Bob for the kind words! Second, and this is why I have been putting it off, I need to clarify that the "she" and "her" need to be changed to "he" and "his." I've been inwardly chuckling about this, but in the end I knew I had to set the record straight. Maybe if my tagline didn't say "Songster", but rather something more manly like "It's too cold here!".....

So anyway, thanks Bob! I love your thread!

 

[Shadrach]

Well, count me in on the book club! I really, really, tried to be good... and although I agree with you @Shadrach on the superiority of a Hardcover... I just couldn’t accept the price jump here! Kindle $15, Paperback $25. Hardcover $78! (It didn’t even say if it was a signed first edition or something???) basically all my livestock and pasture/grazing/gardening books are paperbacks though, so I suppose it’s not the end of the world.

That is some price jump. I think the hardback is £5 more than the paperback from Amazon UK.

 

[Shadrach]

Legbands?

I had a scare last week about identifying the Buckeyes individually. I noticed one pullet closing only one eye, and examined her and saw nothing out of the ordinary, so thought it might be dust or something that will clear up, and decided to keep an eye on her.

The next thought was, who is it? I can usually tell Butters from Hazel, but often not, when they are all just lying together or perching together. Like Butters has a lighter colored fluffy butt, and is a kind of lead hen, and likes certain places to forage. It might be Popcorn that hangs with her, as they used to hang when they were identifiable chicks...Hazel is a bit darker, but really it is when she vocalizes I know her, she sounds like a viola, and when she eats like a sewing machine, that I can tell it's her. So might it be Peanut who is her partner in crime, but that's only based on Popcorn's past association with Butters.

Who was it with her eye? Not either Butters or Hazel I think. But Peanut or Popcorn? Which? Is it Peanut who prefers staying in the run, and generally is shyer/lowest in the pecking order about getting in the bunch to eat some treats? It might be she who always is first to make "time to go to roost now" sounds and go towards the coop? But by then the light is getting low and I really can't tell them apart by looking.

So for the next two days I looked carefully at everybody's eyes.

Made me feel worried about needing to track an individual's health history, and care for them if they are acting "off" and being able to watch them from more distance and know who is who, without seeing the behaviours I know them by.

I read about leg bands, got some snap on ones, but I'm not sure I can put them on one-handed, so will need DH's help. I am worried about not getting a zip tie's sharp cut end filed enough to make it safe. I read the round spiral leg bands ends can start poking the leg. The flat curled ones have sharp corners. So thus the snap-on ones?

Is there a better way? Am I over-thinking this? With more time will I know these four better?

I am undecided and anxious about this.

I'm not a fan of leg bands. Some of the chickens here had them fitted when they were young and as they grew the bloody things got tighter and tighter. I cut them all off apart from Fat Birds which I check weekly.
For short term identification in single breed flocks here they use food dye on one wing.

 

[Shadrach]

Aurora enjoys her cousin

Everyone loves turkey, right!

Spoiler: Aurora enjoys a leg

One has to admit that chickens are very lovely looking cannibals.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

yep... I’m so sensing a book club forming already!

I already started one!

 

[Shadrach]

It is. Is that a moon from Moon?

It is.

 

[Shadrach]

Aurora demands that she wait,

Lilly over rode that though.

 

[LozzyR]

Aurora demands that she wait,

Her limp is looking better.