Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[fuentemoon]

My new cat wants me up at 5 am now. Way too early for me. I am not a morning person.

My boys generally want out 30min to hour before the chickens, I keep asking them to coordinate, but no way I can sleep through his yowl.

 

[Lady Red]

Piscia has lost several of her larger tail feathers.

She doesn't seem to be getting pecked, is eating and pooping fine, and I'm not seeing any evidence of mites or anything.

Has anyone had (or heard of) a ~12 wk old chicken experience a very young tail specific molt?

I've attached a pic from today with her tail circled and one from 4 days ago when it was fuller.

Piscia update! She lost the last scraggly tail feather and looks so much cuter now!

Kinda like a feather fluff football now
And I swear she's put on half a pound this week too!

 

[BY Bob]

View attachment 2629734

She is a perfect specimen of orpington glory.

 

[BY Bob]

Play her out at night. I had to do that with Marigold. She'd be asleep by 8 or 9 and then up at 4 or 5 in the morning. I'd wake her up and play with her for 30 to 45 minutes and then she'd sleep until 6 or 7 when I had to get up anyway.

Good idea. I'll implement this strategy tonight.

 

[BY Bob]

Interesting, isn’t it, Bob? Maybe because they’re hatchery birds? Roxy is small for a Wyandotte, too.

There is a school of thought that @Ribh shared with me that they are now breeding the dual purpose birds smaller for the backyard chicken keeper so that they require less food per egg.

 

[featherhead007]

The littles get a few hours free ranging today. I love little Coco, but she jumped up on my bandaged hand. Wow that hurt.
These kids are growing up so fast. Now they are “Teenagers “ sort of.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Snow anyone?!

Thankfully not much, a passing squall, but we should be past snow by now.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Vicki is constantly letting herself in and out of the run. She likes to come out first thing in the morning to eat the bugs and lay her egg. Throughout the day she'll hope in and out depending on the weather. I think she looks wonderful and I really wish I could let all of my chooks live like this.

Even though she has the most black in her feathers, she is the most like her Leghorn breeding. The others will let me touch them and will take food from my hand. Vicki will not do either.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Dosage for today Bob?

 

[RoyalChick]

Snow anyone?!

View attachment 2630023

Thankfully not much, a passing squall, but we should be past snow by now.

I took the day off work today and have been outside marking the location of the chicken garden - no snow, but I have had to come in to thaw out - it is very cold and very windy!