Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Anonymous Chicken]

Well Bob would say: Tell us about your flock (tribe)!

I can do that!

We have six layer hens: three Buff Orpingtons, two Barred Rocks, and one light Brahma. We also have a pardoned meat chicken (Henny Penny) and two turkeys (also pardoned).

Lucy, the light Brahma, is current flock leader. Her BCF (Best Chicken Friend) is Francis, one of our two Barred Rocks. She's a very posh chicken.

Truffle, one of our BOs, is my sister's favorite chicken. She has a very low, content cluck, and follows us around as we do our chores outside. She's second in command and acts as the "watch chicken."

Jenny, Barred Rock, was the former flock leader. She fell from power around the beginning of February. She's great at bossing (practices a lot) and can be a little mean to the chickens below her, but was a great flock leader until Lucy took over. Her BCF is Ginger.

Jenny's best friend, Ginger, is our fluffiest chicken. She has a very heavy step and is the most skittish, but she's warming up to spending more time with us.

Nutmeg is fourth in the pecking order. She's very curious about anything we do, and will skip breakfast to scratch in straw. She has a very anxious expression.

Francis, our little BR, is the lowest in the pecking order. The other hens don't need to rub it in, though; she is content where she is and doesn't mind it at all. She is actually becoming friends with Truffle, but her BCF is Lucy, who was her friend from the brooder. Francis had a few problems when she was a chick: she suffered from pasty, and was our weakest. She has had crooked toes since we got her, but it was too far gone to help correct the condition. But she makes the most of every day and we're so happy to have her.

Henny Penny isn't with the main flock at the moment, but when she returns she will probably once again assume the position of undeniable flock leader, "The Queen". (We had to quarantine her because she had a few issues that popped up, but those are gone now and she's doing great!)

Our turkeys were going to be for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, but they imprinted on us (we didn't expect that) so they were pardoned and we had pork for dinner.

Perhaps all these pictures could count as my shots for Mugshot Monday

I hope this wasn't too much!

 

[Anonymous Chicken]

Of course you may. You are so polite to ask. Jump on in. You will have to tell us stories about your chickens though.

Thank you! We have lots of stories.

 

[Anonymous Chicken]

Fine by me.

 

[BY Bob]

Back to Normal

Lilly is back where she belongs tonight.

Of course, Hattie isn't where she belongs.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Thank you. That is exactly the details I needed to not make the same mistakes (I am sure I will find plenty mistakes of my own to make!). I am really hoping I can crumble rather than bathe. I will see how that goes.

The thing is this, I think, about crumbling versus soaking - unless you're closely inspecting frequently, when their bums are noticeably pooey it is likely already past the point when crumbling will work pain-free.

Spoiler: Potential poo situation and why soaking is better for that

Because when you get in there and closely look, you may find a small hardened poo blob right under the vent, cemented to several feather shafts, right next to the skin. As if small amounts have slowly built up there, painted on. There's no room to manipulate it without pulling uncomfortably on the feather shafts, and getting it off the shafts cleanly even if you broke it up could be difficult. If you find that situation then soaking may be your best solution. The hens were worried about my fingers touching them back there so close to their vent especially. But they got used to the feel of my hand with warm water, not messing with the poo brick, just soaking them there. Eventually I would gently rub the outside of it, working the water and baby shampoo in and breaking up bits off the outside. That was as much as they would tolerate. When it finally softened up enough to break into pieces, that was much better for them and they tolerated my dealing with the individual shafts, cleaning them off.

 

[RoyalChick]

I can do that!

We have six layer hens: three Buff Orpingtons, two Barred Rocks, and one light Brahma. We also have a pardoned meat chicken (Henny Penny) and two turkeys (also pardoned).

Lucy, the light Brahma, is current flock leader. Her BCF (Best Chicken Friend) is Francis, one of our two Barred Rocks. She's a very posh chicken.
View attachment 2571551
Truffle, one of our BOs, is my sister's favorite chicken. She has a very low, content cluck, and follows us around as we do our chores outside. She's second in command and acts as the "watch chicken."
View attachment 2571559
Jenny, Barred Rock, was the former flock leader. She fell from power around the beginning of February. She's great at bossing (practices a lot) and can be a little mean to the chickens below her, but was a great flock leader until Lucy took over. Her BCF is Ginger.
View attachment 2571554
Jenny's best friend, Ginger, is our fluffiest chicken. She has a very heavy step and is the most skittish, but she's warming up to spending more time with us.
View attachment 2571612
Nutmeg is fourth in the pecking order. She's very curious about anything we do, and will skip breakfast to scratch in straw. She has a very anxious expression.
View attachment 2571570
Francis, our little BR, is the lowest in the pecking order. The other hens don't need to rub it in, though; she is content where she is and doesn't mind it at all. She is actually becoming friends with Truffle, but her BCF is Lucy, who was her friend from the brooder. Francis had a few problems when she was a chick: she suffered from pasty, and was our weakest. She has had crooked toes since we got her, but it was too far gone to help correct the condition. But she makes the most of every day and we're so happy to have her.
View attachment 2571891
Henny Penny isn't with the main flock at the moment, but when she returns she will probably once again assume the position of undeniable flock leader, "The Queen". (We had to quarantine her because she had a few issues that popped up, but those are gone now and she's doing great!)
View attachment 2571629
Our turkeys were going to be for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, but they imprinted on us (we didn't expect that) so they were pardoned and we had pork for dinner.
View attachment 2571601
View attachment 2571885
Perhaps all these pictures could count as my shots for Mugshot Monday

I hope this wasn't too much!

What a lovely introduction. Hello ladies!

 

[featherhead007]

Back to Normal

Lilly is back where she belongs tonight.
View attachment 2571897

Of course, Hattie isn't where she belongs.

When, oh when are you going to get those girls strait there Bob?

 

[BY Bob]

Our kitchen sink is stainless steel too. Not one of those seriously deep sinks fashionable nowadays, it would would be perfect. If/when I have to do this again in cold weather I may go for it. Clear everything around it away, and clean with bleach as you do afterwards.

Works really well. I recommend it.

 

[BY Bob]

She does have an intense look sometimes. But of course she looks noble - she has a fleur-de-lis pea comb. Is she French Royalty in disguise?

That must be it!

 

[BY Bob]

I know the quality isn't the best, but, the boys have stolen one of the cat toys. I've yet to catch it on camera but they've already attempted to flog it a few times. Every time I bring out the camera to film it though they just end up staring at the camera.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2065030480304108

That's hysterical. I love it.