Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Scrambles83]

Why Would You Eat That!

I caught Lilly and then Sansa eating the little plastic plant stakes that tell you what plants you have planted. Why would they do that. Watch close in the video and you can see Sansa with a piece she has snapped off in her beak!

Check out this shot after I pulled it out of the planter. She was still after it! You can see where she had snapped the top off previously.

View attachment 2700466

What are they missing in their diet?! I find this disturbing. Could they taste good somehow?!

Why Would You Eat That!

I caught Lilly and then Sansa eating the little plastic plant stakes that tell you what plants you have planted. Why would they do that. Watch close in the video and you can see Sansa with a piece she has snapped off in her beak!

Check out this shot after I pulled it out of the planter. She was still after it! You can see where she had snapped the top off previously.

View attachment 2700466

What are they missing in their diet?! I find this disturbing. Could they taste good somehow?!

I would just check her crop for the next few days to be sure it hasn’t impacted. They eat the weirdest things!
Mine are just snobs. Mowed the lawn yesterday then threw some tinned spaghetti out there for them and both turned up their beaks

 

[Ribh]

Finally!! Blue Eggs at Fluffy Butt Acres!

It is so exciting! A long term member of my backyard has provided me with blue eggs! Check them out.

Spoiler: Blue Eggs

Here are the eggs.
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They are in the large butterfly bush.
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They belong to my good friends the Catbirds. They have never nested in my yard before.

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That is so exciting! They are beautiful! Both birds & eggs.

 

[Ribh]

Ok. Thanks, Bob. The predators that we have seen in our yard, but not necessarily during the day, are fox, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, hawk, great horned owl, eagle and even mountain lion. Hawks fly over and scout out the yard on a regular basis. There are at least a few that live nearby. Coyote and bobcat have been seen during the day. The only predator attack I’m aware of we never knew what it was, but we felt pretty sure it was a fox, possibly juvenile, since the hen got away pretty much unharmed.
Ruby wouldn’t really stand a chance against a predator if it saw her and wanted her. Ruby’s days are probably numbered, and I’m thinking she might as well enjoy herself. I’m kind of leaning toward Shad’s philosophy with her.

Edited to add: did I tell you guys that she caught a mouse weekend?

Edited again to add: They are never allowed put without both me AND the dog, which might explain ehy we’ve only had one (unsuccessful) predator attack. My neighbor has lost lots of cats, we assume to predation, during the night.

Go Ruby! A mouse! What a clever girl! I really have no advice. Your flock. You choose what you think is best for them but lots of love & hugs your way. I know this must be incredibly hard but Ruby is still in there fighting so I am in her corner.

 

[featherhead007]

Actually he’s accepting them and even tidbitting for them all too. But wow is it hot here this week. 99f right now, but getting hotter.
I’m very glad, that the birds are under the porch, because some idiot backed his trailer into my back fence and dislodged a pole, and broke a few chain link mounts. I covered it up with plywood, and will repair it early tomorrow morning.
(never drink and drive, especially when pulling a trailer)

Update: 102f now I’m in with the littles now, and they are getting on my last nerve! (But so far no ear nibbling)

 

[Ribh]

You could get a small predator-proof chicken tractor. Then you could put her with a few buddies in there for the day plus the yummy food and at least they'd be on a new spot every morning, it goes a certain way towards satisfying the foraging instinct.

This is a brilliant solution! Well done you!

 

[featherhead007]

I would just check her crop for the next few days to be sure it hasn’t impacted. They eat the weirdest things!
Mine are just snobs. Mowed the lawn yesterday then threw some tinned spaghetti out there for them and both turned up their beaks

My chooks love pasta, just saying.

 

[Scrambles83]

My chooks love pasta, just saying.

I know, right?! They eat pasta with my cheese sauce, and they eat fresh tomatoes, I wonder why not pasta with tomato? Maybe they weren’t hungry
Who am I kidding, chooks are always hungry, yes?

 

[featherhead007]

I'm glad he didn't kill anyone.

It was my fence, his truck, his fault. My reaction was to take his keys and wait for the sheriff to take a report. (I did the right thing.) reprisals? We shall see.

 

[featherhead007]

I noticed that the the two littlest ones like watching time travel movies. (They seem very attentive) it’s kinda like Jaffar loving WW2 Marine Corps movies (like the one we watched last night)
PS. There is nothing wrong with watching movies with your chickens , but just don’t let them steal your popcorn!

 

[Lady Red]

It is nice to see them all together.

....plotting...