Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

We still have one hen. Turkeys can be a challenge getting them to 8 weeks, but after that they are pretty indestructible. If you want them for pets, I would suggest heritage turkeys. The broad breasted are a lot like CX and tend to be short lived but pack on the meat early on. Turkeys also require a starter that is significantly higher in protein to chick starter 24-28% and elevated levels of niacin, thiamin and methionine. Turkeys also need a LOT more space than chickens and once grown aren't particularly at risk from raptors. What has worked best for us is putting 4-5 week old chicks in with day old turkeys. Those chickens will never join in with the other chickens but will forever hang with the turkeys. But they teach the turkeys how to stay alive and what NOT to do as baby turkeys seek to find creative ways to commit suicide. Once grown, assuming you spend a lot of time with them while they are babies, they are like big feathered dogs. They'll follow you everywhere, sit in your lap and love to be petted. Best source for turkeys is Porters. He has many many different color varieties.

I have this neighbor down the road. (He can be a real Turkey at times)

 

[BY Bob]

FBFriday
And a side note: I still prefer Jaffar’s crowing, over any of the other neighbors roosters.View attachment 2744356

What a cute bum!

 

[micstrachan]

Her color is so deep in her feathers

She looks to be carrying on pretty well. You have done so well helping her to keep going.

Good days and bad days. Any day she is out being a chicken is a good day.

I agree any day doing chicken things is a good day!

 

[micstrachan]

Love that Ruby got to sleep up top. She may be slow but she is still having chickeny days out and about. I know it must make you anxious but you have done so well by her.

You know what, I’m not even anxious any more. I know her days are numbered and will keep supporting her the best I can.

 

[BY Bob]

We still have one hen. Turkeys can be a challenge getting them to 8 weeks, but after that they are pretty indestructible. If you want them for pets, I would suggest heritage turkeys. The broad breasted are a lot like CX and tend to be short lived but pack on the meat early on. Turkeys also require a starter that is significantly higher in protein to chick starter 24-28% and elevated levels of niacin, thiamin and methionine. Turkeys also need a LOT more space than chickens and once grown aren't particularly at risk from raptors. What has worked best for us is putting 4-5 week old chicks in with day old turkeys. Those chickens will never join in with the other chickens but will forever hang with the turkeys. But they teach the turkeys how to stay alive and what NOT to do as baby turkeys seek to find creative ways to commit suicide. Once grown, assuming you spend a lot of time with them while they are babies, they are like big feathered dogs. They'll follow you everywhere, sit in your lap and love to be petted. Best source for turkeys is Porters. He has many many different color varieties.

Tons of useful information in this. Thanks so much for weighing in Bob!

 

[micstrachan]

Have you tried shredded cheese? They love that...

Not yet! Good tip! Yesterday she chased Minnie off a bowl of feed and looked at it, but didn’t take any. I’ll try damp feed again, too, which she used to love. She is clearly hungry, but has gotten quite picky. She used to prefer commercial feed over treats. I can’t tell if she’s associating the commercial feed with discomfort or if I’ve spoiled her so much she’s lost her taste for it.

 

[BY Bob]

You know what, I’m not even anxious any more. I know her days are numbered and will keep supporting her the best I can.

I got to that point with Patsy. It was just joyful watching her out with the others just being Patsy. Maybe a little slow but still respected by the others and being a chicken with them. You just treasure every day with them. I hope someday Lilly has a similar finish. I just hope it is years away.

 

[micstrachan]

Finally it's Friday so I can share the ones I've been saving for fluffy butt Friday.
View attachment 2744117View attachment 2744121View attachment 2744122View attachment 2744123

These are wonderful!

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Why do chicks think nothing of running right over the top of each other?

It was the dustbathing and the 2 chicks laying there playing dead that made me bring out the camera the other day. Before I started filming one of them was completely buried with only its head poking out.
It's a hard life being a silkie and trying to come up with new ways to kill yourself.

I'm thrilled to report that my Poppy was unsuccessful in her attempt last night and is actively running around this morning eating grub worms.

 

[Lilly10310]

We still have one hen. Turkeys can be a challenge getting them to 8 weeks, but after that they are pretty indestructible. If you want them for pets, I would suggest heritage turkeys. The broad breasted are a lot like CX and tend to be short lived but pack on the meat early on. Turkeys also require a starter that is significantly higher in protein to chick starter 24-28% and elevated levels of niacin, thiamin and methionine. Turkeys also need a LOT more space than chickens and once grown aren't particularly at risk from raptors. What has worked best for us is putting 4-5 week old chicks in with day old turkeys. Those chickens will never join in with the other chickens but will forever hang with the turkeys. But they teach the turkeys how to stay alive and what NOT to do as baby turkeys seek to find creative ways to commit suicide. Once grown, assuming you spend a lot of time with them while they are babies, they are like big feathered dogs. They'll follow you everywhere, sit in your lap and love to be petted. Best source for turkeys is Porters. He has many many different color varieties.

We still have one hen. Turkeys can be a challenge getting them to 8 weeks, but after that they are pretty indestructible. If you want them for pets, I would suggest heritage turkeys. The broad breasted are a lot like CX and tend to be short lived but pack on the meat early on. Turkeys also require a starter that is significantly higher in protein to chick starter 24-28% and elevated levels of niacin, thiamin and methionine. Turkeys also need a LOT more space than chickens and once grown aren't particularly at risk from raptors. What has worked best for us is putting 4-5 week old chicks in with day old turkeys. Those chickens will never join in with the other chickens but will forever hang with the turkeys. But they teach the turkeys how to stay alive and what NOT to do as baby turkeys seek to find creative ways to commit suicide. Once grown, assuming you spend a lot of time with them while they are babies, they are like big feathered dogs. They'll follow you everywhere, sit in your lap and love to be petted. Best source for turkeys is Porters. He has many many different color varieties.

I have turkeys! I have 7 Heritage turkeys. 1 bbw. So 4 years ago I started farming chickens and turkeys so I went to tractor supply got 2 bbw and 6 astralorp chickens and I thought the turkeys would live a long time as pets. Then I did research. Six months later one bbw died of a heart attack! It was a meat bird. So I put the other 6 month old bbw in with the chickens. It did not get black heads and it was fine with the chickens. So my bbw weighs about 45 pounds. 4 YEARS LATER! It’s still alive and this year I got 7 Heritage turkeys. So I got 4 black Spanish on cackle hatchery. And I got a burbon red blue slate and a nerragansette on Facebook. I got the black Spanish today. And I got the others about a month ago.