Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

It was so relieving to actually see them drink. I am starting to "un-tense" a little. I was really tied up by what happened before. I'm really surprised that it had me wound so tight. I simply did not realize how deeply it had affected me.

It was very traumatizing. I'm so glad for you that Legertha and Silvie are thriving.

 

[MaryJanet]

Looks can be deceiving. I've handled them once since they are still wary and do not want to push them. I want them to come to me on their own. When I was packing them to the coop, 4 out of the 6 bit me, repeatedly. I hope the biting was purely out of stress.

Likewise, my teddy bear hen doesn't like being handled. She still looks like one though and I can dream of cuddling her one day! She's gradually becoming tamer but she's still a far cry from being a lap chicken.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks @micstrachan I think I need to raise the heat plate for them. I might have it too warm for them as they are a week old. Legertha was sleeping mostly out from under the heat plate today when I went in to check on them this morning.

See? You’re on it!

 

[micstrachan]

Lavender

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My understanding was that blue and lavender are essentially the same color to the eye… BUT… lavender is always the middle shade, while blue might be darker or lighter and is only the middle shade 50% (?) of the time. Anyone know if that’s true? I could look it up, but I’m working. Just taking a 2-minute break to pop in.

 

[Blazinga]

You know, they could be lavender. Their blue is definitely different then Blueberry who is a 100% blue. The whole lavender thing confuses me somewhat. Apparently it is very easy to mix up whether a chicken is either a light blue verses lavender.
Blueberry, no question about it, Blue.
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The new girls.
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They're blue. Blues have darker heads than lavenders.

 

[RoyalChick]

My understanding was that blue and lavender are essentially the same color to the eye… BUT… lavender is always the middle shade, while blue might be darker or lighter and is only the middle shade 50% (?) of the time. Anyone know if that’s true? I could look it up, but I’m working. Just taking a 2-minute break to pop in.

I did a bit of hunting on this and what I discovered is that they can be the same color but lavender breeds true and blue doesn't breed true (you can get 50% blue, 25% black and 25% splash).

 

[BY Bob]

Such a glamourous and sophisticated lady.

I'm a little intimidated

So is Sansa. That's why she is mean to her.

 

[BY Bob]

Roosting Issues Continue

Last night Phyllis roosted in the run again. So I moved her to the coop. I had to push Hattie to make room for Phyllis on the main roost.

So tonight look where Phyllis roosted.

Can anyone remember when I installed that roost? No one ever used it before as it's only big enough for Phyllis.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sorry. I over reacted. Thought you were about to experiment!
Having had wild leeches attach themselves it can be unnerving to day the least.
I still prefer them to ticks however!

Do you know if leech diseases are more treatable than tick diseases? That's my uninformed impression and I would choose a leech over a tick too. I wouldn't mind a medical leech I think. They are rather cool.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Thanks @micstrachan I think I need to raise the heat plate for them. I might have it too warm for them as they are a week old. Legertha was sleeping mostly out from under the heat plate today when I went in to check on them this morning.

But that is also fine isn't it? I mean, not a hyper-critical thing needing second-by-second monitoring- they can sleep half under and regulate the warmth they get like a cat in front of the wood stove warming it's toes....