Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

That is a tough spot to be in. It really is.

To be fair, it can be awkward when you know someone is interested in you and you don’t feel the same way. I’ve been on both sides of that fence.

Chicken tax:

 

[LozzyR]

Bendy straws. Perfect for beer!

Bad for the environment! How about a paper straw?

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

First off is the last mug shot I have of Drumstick
View attachment 2808740
Now Basil at 5 months old.
View attachment 2808741
And Bubba at 11 1/2 weeks old.
View attachment 2808742
I can see their daddy coming through in both boys. They are learning how to strut and pose for the camera just as he did.

They are beautiful. I’m glad you have sons of Drummie’s.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

And what’s up with this? I mean really? What’s up with this! Two girls laying eggs in the coop and both tried to bite me, when I wanted to see what they were laying on! They never try to bite me, when I have them:
1. Sitting in my lap
2. Giving them treats with the rest of the hens.
3. Petting them as they sit beside me
I just don’t understand, they hate me !

They don’t hate you. They love you! They just want you to know they have boundaries. Hahaha. Even hens need privacy when attending to their personal business.

 

[rural mouse]

Well slightly oddly they appear from nowhere. I think I have flying mice. As if flying squirrels wasn’t enough!

They burrow in snow. We had a dog who would excavate their snow tunnels. He was the best mouser wee car had.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

These are concerns from if I want to become a serious marans producer. Just little nitpicky stuff that I've been made aware of. I agree though for me temperament is key and so is eye candy. But honestly, there are some boys out there who Drumstick paled in comparison to and one day I would love to have one that looks like them. To do so though I'd be paying a arm and a leg for those eggs or chicks. But one day I might be able to make that happen.

I definitely see the sense in that. A serious breeder of any animal strives to breed out bad characteristics and promote the good qualities in the line.

 

[BY Bob]

The storm has passed and the rain has stopped. We got a little over 6” here so everything is very soggy and muddy except the Chicken Palace which is nice and dry (well apart from the two areas where I still need to finish my drainage pipes).
So I let the Princesses out into their yard. With the wet and the heat everything has grown a lot so Maggie’s little paths through the long grass got overgrown. She went right to work clearing the paths.


View attachment 2808805

I am worried about Elizabeth.
She continues to lay very brittle shelled eggs and sometimes no shell at all.
At least I know she is getting the eggs out because they make a hell of a mess in the nest box. But she isn’t full of zip like normal. Nothing terrible just a bit subdued. And she just delivered a poop that was like pure water.
I will check her crop in the morning to see it is emptying properly.
I may be overly worrying - several of the Princesses have had liquid poops now and then and I think she is starting to molt, so maybe it is OK. But something tells me she isn’t quite righ.
Elizabeth and her fluffy butt.



View attachment 2808813View attachment 2808815

Heat can cause liquid poos as well.

 

[Lady Red]

Hand drawn traditional animation for film, although probably not on cells, rather my computer. I use an art tablet.

So fun! The boys and I love Tim Burton's Stain Boy, which I believe uses a technique similar to what you're looking to employ.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

This was Drummie at 13 weeks old to compare to 11 1/2 week old Bubba. Bubba is definitely going to have to go under lock and key. He really is a little tank.
Drummie
View attachment 2808781View attachment 2808784
Bubba
View attachment 2808786View attachment 2808787View attachment 2808788

This was Drummie at 13 weeks old to compare to 11 1/2 week old Bubba. Bubba is definitely going to have to go under lock and key. He really is a little tank.
Drummie
View attachment 2808781View attachment 2808784
Bubba
View attachment 2808786View attachment 2808787View attachment 2808788

You’re right. Bubba is a beauty! Hang onto him!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

You are correct in describing her shape. She almost has an hourglass look to her. This photo looking down on her captures it somewhat.

View attachment 2808792

I think steadfast is a great descriptor for her. Lilly does not frolic like I have seen other hens do. Daisy, the greatest hen ever, could be silly at times. You could almost see Lilly rolling her eyes at Daisy.

Some hens will skip at times. Lilly does not. She does not run often and never runs while flapping her wings. How undignified.

Sidney is really startled and will take flight immediately. Lilly doesn't startle easily and she will back away before she will fly.

She is not super affectionate towards me but she is unafraid and I can touch her whenever I want.

We used to think that Lilly was mean. Much in the same vein in which Sansa can be viewed right now. When Lilly was at the bottom of the order and new chickens were being added, she tortured them. She would go out of her way to make them miserable and scare them. In fact she tortured Aurora and Maleficent right up until Patsy passed. When she ascended to #1 she became a much nicer hen. Now she enforces rule with a look from her furrowed brow. Sometimes a vocalization is needed. Rarely if at all does she peck. (Unless it is to chase Phyllis around. )

I do love having her at the top of my tribe.

She is certainly a fine hen.