Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

There was another egg in the box at 10am this morning. In a new nest-bowl away from the first nest-bowl. It is slightly lighter in color, and a more elongated shape than yesterday's egg. I could take a picture of them both if you want. I believe it arrived earlier than Queenie's arrived yesterday too. Can a hen that is starting laying have different-shaped eggs from one day to the next? Or could this be Hazel's? I will check again now (about 4pm) but at 2-3pm there was not another egg. I thought that they could be smaller than they will be later as a hen grows into the process, but can they be a different shape and color too? Hazel has quieted down when I was out there (Queenie too), still greeting me but not the incessant moan call of before.

Definitely photos. They will lay different shapes and sizes in the beginning but they usually don't lay twice in less than 24 hours. I say you probably have a 2nd layer! Congratulations!

 

[RoyalChick]

OK, finally, is this video visible? This was right after Queenie flew out of the divided area. [EDIT - last week! It was their first physical encounter] Hazel had flown into it, pecked at her some, ate her food, foraged a bit, pecked her more, and then flew out after I was stepping over to change the water. I see this is small and narrow. Should I video with the phone sideways (like panoramic?)

That is a great video! Look how pretty they are together and how clever Queenie is at dodging their attention.
Those pecks aren’t bad at all. Even mine who are very chill with each other are often more aggressive than that if access to food is involved!

 

[Kris5902]

I can't help wondering if you lot have had any goats to deal with.
We had goats. They were a complete nightmare. Worse than the sheep.
There doesn't seem to be anything they wont chew.

And.... as I said, “a very bad decision” I am sure. Glad she is a “she” and you’re right on the chewing, she’s not even a week old, I’m guessing 2-3 days, she likes to eat paper, plastic, hair, shirts, charging cables...and she has piddled on several towels, shirts, and blankets. But not in the bed! Thankfully... I broke down between 4 am feeding and 6 am and just brought her in to sleep next to me, because she wouldn’t stop bleeting. Maybe when she is grown she will join the feral herds?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Definitely photos. They will lay different shapes and sizes in the beginning but they usually don't lay twice in less than 24 hours. I say you probably have a 2nd layer! Congratulations!

Yes photos tomorrow. I think it's Hazel! Congratulations due are hers. I'm just trying to hang on, everything is happening all at once over here!

 

[RoyalChick]

And.... as I said, “a very bad decision” I am sure. Glad she is a “she” and you’re right on the chewing, she’s not even a week old, I’m guessing 2-3 days, she likes to eat paper, plastic, hair, shirts, charging cables...and she has piddled on several towels, shirts, and blankets. But not in the bed! Thankfully... I broke down between 4 am feeding and 6 am and just brought her in to sleep next to me, because she wouldn’t stop bleeting. Maybe when she is grown she will join the feral herds?

I don’t want to say I told you so. But I told you so!
Just don’t try and pull the ‘tough farm girl’ stunt with us. You are the biggest animal softie I know (and I don’t even know you!).
Does the goat have a name yet?

 

[BY Bob]

Jaffar is back to his little Cochin self today. But he sure liked sitting on my chest watching movies with me last night.

That is such good news!

 

[BY Bob]

Well I can't put it off any longer, tonight at roosting time going to have to put the leg bands on the Marans. If not soon i'll not be able to tell any of the girls apart. This is especially true between Daisy and her daughter Clover. Clover is the spitting image of her mother, and as she's maturing and her comb and wattles are turning redder if they are next to each other the only difference is Clover has a tad more copper in her hackles. I took these pictures a few minutes ago. You tell me if you can tell them apart lol.
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First, they are beautiful. Second, they are little clones to me. If you can't tell them apart, how could I?

 

[BY Bob]

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We've been getting our eggs and a few frozen meat chickens from a nice family farm about a half-mile from here, they free-range their chickens on a large amount of acreage, though the chickens tend to stay by the coop area (there isn't any cover in the open fields except for a couple of shade structures). They sell their eggs out fast, so I think they've not been storing them long when we get them.

So when they started selling eggs and we made the switch from store-bought about two years ago I noticed the flavor right away. I like them so much better, I recall making a pudding and being impressed. I also use eggs in bread and sweet quick breads. I just made a key lime pie with three yolks. It is a fuller flavor than store-bought, and now I'm used to it and expect it! So although this first egg was a darker orange and it tasted delicious it wasn't much different from the farm's eggs. I wonder, our chickens haven't been eating grass and bugs lately, maybe there will be a difference again come Summer?

What they eat can effect the taste and color. I have a hard time telling the difference winter or summer but mine are free ranging and eating grass right now so.......

 

[Kris5902]

Good on you Kris. I hope you can reintegrate her with her herd with minimal fuss tomorrow. Don't forget to take your phone for photo opportunities!

Found the mother, reintegration is sadly not possible, and the vultures have flown south so it might take a while for the Ravens and eagles to take care of the remains. I did hilariously try to pawn her off on two “not the mama”s which led to a quick baby goat chase up the hillside though.

Remember @Kris5902 claims (I emphasize claims!) to be on the 'less cuddly' side of animal husbandry. So I am sure she will say that she will send the kid to freezer camp by the end of the month
In reality I suspect that little bundle of chaos will live a long and happy life inside Kris's bedroom. It certainly looks like it has already settled in.

No freezer camp for her if I can help it. But she’s going outside ASAP! Well, I was caught “stealing” milk replacer, my mother ended up in tears... we are buying a bag Monday (I had already planned on this last night and 10kg is more than this little dear will drink for sure) and some small nipples and a bottle for her... and I did say “well then, you can just shoot her if you want, but you’ll have to do me first” needless to say the”relationship” with the aunt in law/farm “manager” (if you can call that management) has not improved... but her she actually acknowledged my existence this time.

OMG!!! I want it!!!

House goats are a blast! Plus they are adorable running around in diapers.

Not a blast, but cute right now, she is nibbling everything. These are a feral group of herds and they get Big, Really big, with Large horns. They are a random mix of meat and dairy breeds that quickly reverted to a more hardy, wild, horned breed mix.
@BY Bob I missed you’re quote, I think it was yours? But the guy with the three dairy goats was trying to convince me to take them! Lol... I’m hoping she will one day join a herd like Millie did.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

And.... as I said, “a very bad decision” I am sure. Glad she is a “she” and you’re right on the chewing, she’s not even a week old, I’m guessing 2-3 days, she likes to eat paper, plastic, hair, shirts, charging cables...and she has piddled on several towels, shirts, and blankets. But not in the bed! Thankfully... I broke down between 4 am feeding and 6 am and just brought her in to sleep next to me, because she wouldn’t stop bleeting. Maybe when she is grown she will join the feral herds?

I would do the same thing you did I think, when it comes down to it, if there was no sign of the rest of the herd around. I have a neighbor friend who keeps pet and meat goats, plus wool sheep & meat lambs, chickens, turkeys, horses, & bees. And three rescue Alpacas that keep lookout. She loves them all but is closest to the pet goats of course. All the goats need penning (moveable fencing) though, and rotation in pasture, etc. She leads them around to the new pastures by running lead in the front of the herd, very interesting to watch. They use them for help with clearing new pasture too, the chewing is very handy on brush and small trees. You cannot expect to free range goats unless you have nothing else going on. My friend lets only one, an extremely old, very old and gentle goat, go where he likes. He doesn't do much damage.

You might try to put her with an existing domestic goat herd, if there is one near you. How is "joining the feral herds" going to come about?