Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Scrambles83]

I can’t find the original post. Was it taken down? Is Tractor Supply a sponsor or something?

I did take it down, I felt bad putting it on people. I’m so non confrontational it’s silly
Just go to Gold Shaw Farm on YouTube, he has anew one about it, an update. I haven’t watched it yet.

 

[Scrambles83]

I fully admit, @Shadrach, I’ve suspected as much of hatcheries and haven’t watched because of guilt. Cowardly, I know. I’m a hypocrite and not proud of it.

I’ve gotten mine from local farms both times, not sure if that’s any better but it feels like it might be.

 

[featherhead007]

She? Ah come on, he’s a rooster. A real manly man!

Why does everybody laugh at Jaffar, my rooster? I think he’s beautiful and I love him. It makes me sad that others don’t understand that!

 

[featherhead007]

Why does everybody laugh at Jaffar, my rooster? I think he’s beautiful and I love him. It makes me sad that others don’t understand that!

What’s not to love about him?

 

[Scrambles83]

This remains a constant issue as the experiment itself, in most cases, creates an environment which affects the results.

I do think that on the basis of observation alone the comb theory can be disproved. That is what I am hoping everyone sends me.

The only thing I can offer is Penny was the alpha with Bok and had a slightly larger comb. She also laid first, but when it’s a completion of 2 hens it’s not a great sample.
I remember hearing them throwing down on the opposite side of the house I was on when they were just laying. Bok had a bleeding spot on the front of her comb near to her beak. I dabbed it with a tissue of all things (such a mum of a small child move) and made sure she was alright then found Pen hiding in the bushes! It felt like she was ashamed of her actions but looking back now, maybe I read it all wrong.
Maybe she wasn’t the victor this time?
Haven’t thought about that incident for a long time.
I’ll update on Bok soon, my sweet old lady...

 

[RoyalChick]

Ooops!!! Hahaha! I accidentally put this on an emergency thread this morning!

I keep forgetting who my sprouting buddy is on this thread. One of our later joiners, I think? Anyway, here’s a fodder treat. Just a big handful vs. a whole tray. The video is a bit long, but take a peek at part of it.

I give mine sprouts like that too and they make the same contented little noises when I feed it to them.

 

[LozzyR]

What’s not to love about him?View attachment 2592908

He's beautiful Alex!

 

[LozzyR]

Oh Lozzy. I'm so sorry. Keep fighting. You can get through this.

So I'm wondering if they're not eating enough?? I felt keel bones tonight; the three Faverolle girls are all boney but Charlie isn't so much. I'm wondering if I need to set up a second feed station and just monitor how much they eat? I'm wondering if Charlie doesn't let them eat! I'll mix up some people food for them as well with some baby bird mix for extra vitamins. Cross fingers everyone that they will be ok!

 

[Scrambles83]

What a weekend! We're all sick. Doing better since my fever broke. I hurried and got tested on Sat. since our ins. pays for it. Came back neg. Good thing, I would have been disappointed in the vaccine. We have two weeks past the last now. My son got real sick.. grandson too, bless his heart, double ear infections. All of us still coughing, husband too. At least we feel up to.. getting up! Now for chicken tax. I will be getting photos later. Haven't gotten any lately. Waiting for it to warm up out there.

You have to pay for COVID tests?
Ours are free here

 

[Scrambles83]

I'm a great believer in food. I don't know much about what your hens get to eat, but even here free ranging some of the hens, particularly the bigger ones seem to do a lot better with some added vitamins when laying.
Some people use supplements which is fine. I prefer whenever possible to use proper food and keep the supplements for when a hen has lost interest in eating normally.
Fish and meat have done wonders for perking up hens that while no clinically sick, are not quite themselves.
Some of the healthiest hens here hardly eat any commercial feed. Donk for example forages most of what she eats and tops up with supper time treats.
I should point out that supper time treats are in general fish, meat, walnuts, sunflower seeds, cooked rice with coconut, tomatoes, grapes, occasionally cheese, yoghurt, whole meal bread, wholemeal pasta but mixed together in various combinations, never just one on it's own.
I could live on that while I couldn't survive on the commercial feed for very long.
For most creatures, diet and exercise are the building blocks of good health. This doesn't mean one doesn't get sick, but it can mean the chances of recovery are better.

They have a champion layer feed and free range from mid afternoon until roosting time.
I give a half cup of scratch every few days and they get random scraps from our meals.
They all lost interest in the dried meal worms a few months ago which I am ok with.
I like to give scrambled egg, oatmeal, random steamed veggie omelettes when I can. They get tomatoes, strawberries and apples from our garden. If it drops off it’s theirs