Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

I went to the state fair. It had fewer animals than normal as people had pulled out because of Covid.
But I did get to see lots of bantams. I knew bantams are small and I have seen @Ribh’s crowd in pictures and video but I don’t think I had appreciated how tiny they really are. I remember Ribh being worried about chicks because they are so tiny and I certainly see why.
There were Nankin bantams which are apparently rare.
And then there was this fine looking fella. The markings on his feathers are gorgeous!
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Fine looking fella indeed!

 

[micstrachan]

Aww, thanks Ribh! I’ve actually branched out and written my first song! I’m just waiting for the session guitarist to send me her audio files, then I’ll do a final mix and master and I’ll upload it to YouTube, if anyone would like to have a listen.

I'd love to listen!

 

[micstrachan]

On the bin, Chick. That's Mo with her head in a hole. Freya is the Swedish Flower hen behind Chick and Mini is the fluff ball on the left.
Off to my elder sisters on Friday to do some serious chicken talking,,,,,,,,,,............be great to see my sister to....
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Enjoy your time with ALL the girls!

 

[micstrachan]

ok, fair warning, anyone afraid of clowns, skip pics 2-4.
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This one, I didn't make the middle. A friend had it made (100% cotton), edged with a blue (100% acrylic ). She found out I crocheted and asked me if I could make it bigger. Shortly after I finished it (matching yarn was fun!), she moved, flying to get to new job while hubby came after with kids/stuff. It was fantastic for the airplane.
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waterbottle sling
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woven potholder, pattern was in german. had my niece (who was taking german) translate it, then had to filter into crochet terms
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my youngest....he's now taller than I am
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I love this pattern: comes out so thick snow can pile up and you won't know unless you go inside and forget to take it off....takes @20 min for the snow to melt through.
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this shawl is doily thread...for my sister's wedding....ran out working the edging and had to get another ball, just for the last 4 inches.
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reusable shopping bag for the same sister (along with a set of pot holders and a dish cloth all like sunflowers as a wedding gift)
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for my bed, actually closer to king size
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Made these this past winter/early spring for my brother's kids for this coming Christmas, then his wife started chemo (stage 1, going well) so I made several hats and a shawl (big enough to snuggle mom and a kiddo when mom doesn't have the energy), sent the hats also enabling the kids to keep Mom company with snazzy hats, but for Christmas if they don't express a need sooner. This first one didn't photo well, but its Hot Rod red and Claret (he loves cars)
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the oldest loves pink and owls....
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and the middle 2....sigh....
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I've also started knitting (couldn't master that until my Mom suggested continental style: tension adjusted in the same hand as crochet, and it all came together), do some beadwork, floral decor, sewing, and soap making (in addition to working full time and tending chickens). Here's a soap inspired by the car-crazy boy (he was 2 then)
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and what do you use for wrapping paper, but knit wash cloths.

Enjoy

Fun! Another crocheter!

 

[Marie2020]

Oooh. Serious chiken stuff! They are lovely little hens.
Thank you for the information on my thread. The man & I have discussed it & if we can get a couple of hens to co~operate we're going to have a go. The 2 I have in mind are close to laying again & if they lay they will go broody soon.

Napping today

I've just looked up a couple of ways to deal with these ant bites . You probably know already but adding here anyway...

Put an ice pack on for at least ten minutes, then you can add calamine or toothpaste. Apparently the toothpaste neutralizes the sting completely.

Hope you are feeling better today

 

[micstrachan]

I believe you had a birthday. Many happies.
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Oh, right, Alex, happy birthday! Sorry; I have not been on until long after your bedtime.

 

[micstrachan]

A True Model

has arty black and white photos in her portfolio

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Awww... lovely Phyllis!

 

[micstrachan]

Epic Rain

We just survived a thunderstorm with rain of biblical proportions. I swear Noah sailed down the street at one point. Luckily we live on top of the hill.

Phyllis and Aurora were smart enough to get into the house.
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I'm not sure where the others hid out but if they were under the house they were running out of room as it flooded underneath the coop. I have never seen that before.
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Under the porch
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Despite all of this the tribe is in good spirits.
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This was a great stress test for the Cluckle Hut as well. Sadly it failed the test. I had closed the side doors but the main door remained propped open. I think some rain came in that door. I also think some may have come in from the porch and under the front wall. I need to consider if I need to add a roof to the porch or weather seal it on the bottom.

It is good to know how the new coop stands up to weather extremes as this happened today in the new nest boxes. I had sick the ceramic eggs in there so Phyllis could not find them.

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I spooked Hattie out of the nest box. She was trying to find a place to lay amongst the power tools I had stashed there. I removed the power tools but Hattie went back to main coop.

Looks like if box 1 in the main coop is full there is a new backup spot.

I do need to make the coop water tight though.

That flooding is crazy, Bob!

 

[micstrachan]

Hi everyone. Just checking in to make sure I don't fall behind and to share that Miss Ruby gets stronger every day. She's the Energizer Hen! Sorry I don't have a photo nor a video. Tomorrow I work late (BORED meeting), and therefore will not be home to help her up to her roosting shelf. I will leave the pet carrier on the floor of the coop in case she wants to sleep in there. Poor sweetheart. At least it's gotten warmer.

 

[MaryJanet]

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Like this one? I have 2.....11 weeks. No Brahma, no silkies....maybe Mama will go broody next spring....but she's vicious when she's broody.... maybe Dora (the Dorking) will go broody and be all Mama Bear, but not with me....partrige rock eggs crossed with giant and golden Wyandotte eggs (if I can tell them from Silver's) crossed with either giant or Hamburg = maybe hatchlings, grow up and cross them....wait, depredations.....chicken math! my head hurts

That hen looks nothing like Ivy Perhaps Ivy has gold partridge colouring? You're talking to the wrong person about breeds

She's Ivy with feathered legs, crested head, golden feathers, sweet nature, and she's really good at brooding.