Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

I have to laugh, on square footage alone you could supposedly house 40!!! (Using 10 square feet per bird as the standard).

Some cold water.......

In my experience
Going from 2 to 3, no big deal

Going from 3 to 4, possibly better than 3

Going from 3 to 6, a whole new world of issues.

Now you need to understand, I now have 6 different breeds. That is a bad idea. I love them all and the heart always says get more so you have more to love. But simple mechanics like sitting on the ground and feeding them all by hand is no longer possible with 6. 4 get to participate and 2 others can't get near me. I have a terrible time making sure that Phyllis and Sydney get any. That bothers me.

I talk of adding more but frankly I'm probably done. I expect my flock will range from 3 to 6 the rest of the time I have them but I can't see going over 6 ever. Now maybe if I can match the breeds up things will be a little more stabile and easier but 6 is a lot for the relationship which I wish to have with my ladies.

There. I knew I should have let you post about this. Much more tactfull.

 

[Scrambles83]

Perfect description. I was thinking more T Rex, but bull is good.

We love watching the girls do their raptor runs, little dinos

 

[LozzyR]

They can't. I'll post pictures of what happens to Phyllis' head feathers when it rains. There is no oil on them either.

That now makes sense as to why the Faverolles’ beards are so grotty!

 

[FransGran]

Enjoying some dirt

 

[Ribh]

They are Princesses remember so they are used to personal space (as well as a trusty servant in me of course)!
When penned in the Chicken Palace they only have about 400 square feet (I think I did the math right that is about 37 square meters). It is a lay out with lots of 'interest' so I don't think they get bored, but it is a finite space.
I am building them a fenced in chicken garden that could roughly double that area, and as you already know, I lead them on expeditions to work the vegetable garden (when the union allows). But both the gardens need some level of supervision because of the absurd number of foxes I have.
So bottom line, I don't want them to feel cramped if they are confined to the Chicken Palace. Which is why I am dithering about getting more and how many more to get. I have nearly persuaded myself there is room for 8.

I was always aiming for @ least a dozen with an upper limit of roughly 20. Numbers do change the flock dynamics & their relationship with you so you need to be clear in your own mind about the sort of flock you are aiming for.

I dont want or need lap chickens. The irony is I have chickens who have chosen to be just that & all my girls have chosen how they will bond with me. My flock no longer has any super dominant birds in it. What I have found is when I sit with the flock every single hen will find her own way to spend time with me. Some are happy to sit or forage nearby. Others ask for attention.

Having more smaller birds means I can run more comfortably in the space I have but @BY Bob is right: my deaths, vet visits, food bill etc is proportionally higher, though again, most of my present girls are t heavy on the feed.

For me, watching & enjoying the relatjonship my girls have with each other is more important than any relationship with me. That they choose to engage so closely is just a little bonus.

 

[LozzyR]

Enjoying some dirt

Cuddle-puddle!!

 

[featherhead007]

Enjoying some dirt

I see, they are using the community pool!

 

[FransGran]

I see, they are using the community pool!

It’s the absolute best way to have fun getting your head stepped on.

 

[featherhead007]

No offense intended to anyone, but Blu looks like he is wearing hair-gel and has achieved the look he was striving for before heading out clubbing; Phyllis who normally looks a million bucks, just looks like a drowned rat.
Phyllis should carry an umbrella at all times in my humble opinion!

If BLU was headed out to clubs, he’d be wearing a tie.

 

[featherhead007]

It’s the absolute best way to have fun getting your head stepped on.

Jaffar uses dust baths to his stubby advantage. He tries to mate, when the hens are laying down. Just saying!