Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Happy Mug Shot Monday from ZipTie and her bestie, TaillessView attachment 2476151View attachment 2476153
Big Girl was quite perplexed by the whole process, and refused to selfie even...View attachment 2476157

OMG, ZipTie! Marvelous Mug!

 

[BY Bob]

Bob, when I am giving a special treat like chopped beef liver, I hold one littke cube in yhe palm of my hand, cup my hand around it, say s particular chickrn name and then do my best to expose the treat to just that hen. If someone is having trouble getting any, I toss a few away from the opposite side of tge flock and then quickly give her a couple while everyone else is distracted. For some reason, Ruby does not like treats and never has. But she’s one of my fatties. I don’t get it. Genetics, perhaps?

I would think genetics are playing a role.

The cup hand treat method is how I trained my previous 4 to eat peacefully together when their name was called. I just need to work with them. It's just harder with 6. I could control 4 and arrange them, etc. I can't keep 6 still long enough or dole out treats fast enough for them to wait their turn.

 

[fuentemoon]

Pg 1500! Slowly but steadily catching up just 6 months to go

 

[micstrachan]

I have seen the road runners do that with their crests (which do look pretty well oiled). But a little road runner crest is nothing compared to what Phyllis and Blu have to deal with!

True dat!

 

[micstrachan]

I would think genetics are playing a role.

Could be. She’s got multiple health issues. Someday I’m sure the kindest thing will be to cull her, but not yet.

The cup hand treat method is how I trained my previous 4 to eat peacefully together when their name was called. I just need to work with them. It's just harder with 6. I could control 4 and arrange them, etc. I can't keep 6 still long enough or dole out treats fast enough for them to wait their turn.

I get that. It’s chaotic when I do it and they don’t wait. LOL. But I do manage to make sure everyone who wants some gets some, even in my flock of 13. (really 12, since Ruby never participates in this ritual)

 

[micstrachan]

Then and now.
Mel with Treacle as a chick.
View attachment 2476849

Treacle as an adult with Mum Mel.
View attachment 2476851

Awwwww...

 

[micstrachan]

These are real keepers. What a wonderful folding frame this would make. So special.

I thought that, too, about framing them!

 

[BY Bob]

I’ve decided (for now) I like 3. I lost a chick at 2 weeks and realized I would never want just two in case one had a problem. It would be hard to integrate a single pullet into my existing flock.

I sometimes feel bad for Bridge, who is the last remaining hen from my original four. Sometimes I wonder if she’s lonely, despite having birds all around her. Ruby seems to like to hang around the newest and lowest ranked girls. She stays close to home. When she was younger, she ilused to be “Adventure Girl” because she was always off on her own adventuring!

Sorry... went off on a tangent there.

No worries. I have often wondered about Hattie. She went from being Lilly's partner to being replaced by Sansa and stuck with Aurora. One of the reasons I wanted Sydney to be bigger is that I thought her Hattie might pair up as the big mellow ladies. Didn't happen. Sydney is smaller and much more independent than I expected. She and Hattie have not teamed up. Just goes to show that can't engineer friendships based upon"breed characteristics".

I do love watching Lilly and Sansa spend their days together. Lilly deserves this friendship for all the years she was the third wheel to Patsy and Daisy’s close friendship.

 

[Kris5902]

@Kris5902 Is this place any good? Oaklands Veterinary Hospital, in Victoria. They say they do poultry care
https://oaklandsvet.ca/pocket-pets-poultry-rabbits/

That’s new... they weren’t doing chickens the last time I looked for a vet, it’s a little outside my area, I will try calling them tomorrow. Maybe the BYC thing is having some benefits... I will not say a peep about a farm though.

 

[BY Bob]

Pg 1500! Slowly but steadily catching up just 6 months to go

You are killing it!