Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

It's that magical time of the year.

And what's really weird is that she doesn't look like a half-plucked turkey like Charlie did last year!

 

[BY Bob]

Does anyone else with pre-laying pullets go down paranoid rabbit holes of reading about hackle feathers or is it just me...?

I did with this one (on the left).....

Who turned out to be this........

And then this one...........

Who wound up being this..........

So I am batting 0.500. That's good, right?

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning Fluffy butts

Thanks for sharing. I was curious about the size of your operation.

When our son's family lived here, it was much easier to have that many birds, but now it's just to hard to get around to all the shelters in different pastures. I hope in the future to get more turkeys and RIW's

I'm sorry you've taken so many loses. I know having a heritage, endangered breed was really important to Bob. Hopefully you are now on an upswing.

Once I'm able to go do things alone again and we get everything set up again, plus reinforced. I'm already talking to him about getting more turkeys.

 

[SacredWaves]

I think we would all love to see a picture of Miss Fluff Butt if you have one.

I do have one but, it is when she was a chick. Shes a full lady now, and doesnt want you to forget it. Lol. She struts around everyone. I will post an updated photo later today.

 

[BY Bob]

I do have one but, it is when she was a chick. Shes a full lady now, and doesnt want you to forget it. Lol. She struts around everyone. I will post an updated photo later today.

Awesome. I can't wait to meet her!

 

[featherhead007]

Nothing wrong with that. I'm not ready to leave the older ones out all night yet either. They are over 5 weeks but the temps still drop down into the low 30s at night. I do not want to put a heat lamp outside for risk of fire so inside they come at dark. I have been weaning them off the heat inside. They now sleep all night covered over with the lamp off and are doing fine. I've also been turning the lamp off for periods of time on the 3 week olds as well. If weather cooperates I think at 7 weeks i'll start leaving the older ones outside all night. The fun part has started, I have to teach them respect for the horses and how to watch out for their feet. That and not to try to bully the big chickens and give them their space. I think the horse part is going to be easier, today all they wanted to do was annoy the big chickens. Drumstick loves them though, several times he tried to call them over to him so he could show them bugs he found. They ignored him and instead tried to gang up on the hens, they actually chased poor butter. It was hysterical seeing her run for her life with 4 heathens hot on her heels.

Must respect the horses!

 

[featherhead007]

I can't imagine a full grown hen being chased by chicks! Thats hysterical.

They are chasing her, screaming “Mama, Mama”

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I wish I had my camera with me when that happened. I had them in the middle of the yard so they could eat some grass. Instead they were playing with each other when some of the older ones came over to see what we were doing. Ok, they were looking for treats, I've been out of raisins and cranberries for a week and they are hopeful i'll magically have some in my pockets if they come checking multiple times a day. The chicks just rush over in a group and Butter runs. And the chase was on. Butter made 3 big circles in my yard with them hot on her heels until a leaf blew by and they followed it. I think Butter remembers that when momma hen had her babies last fall if she got too close she got whipped so maybe she was expecting a angry momma hen to come after her. The terrors are just having fun being able to have room to bounce around, use their wings and burn off energy. 2 of them are probably going to their new home today. I got a phone call this morning. Maddie's grandma called me in tears. She'd let toothy jr out with his girls this morning and while she was fixing breakfast a stray dog jumped their fence and killed him. They shot the dog before he could go after the hens, but she wanted to know if I had another rooster I could let go of. I told her about the terrors, and since I have 2 boys and 2 girls in that group she's going to take a pair. I don't know which 2 yet, she'll pick them out when she meets them later. And now a strand of hot wire is going to be run along the top of their 5 foot chain link fence.

 

[RoyalChick]

@Cynthia12 look what’s on my counter. I did not mean to let the wheat get this long! LOL.
View attachment 2561869

I like the triple-decker thing. I need to do something like that.

 

[featherhead007]

This morning’s gratuitous picture