Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

That was a great sales pitch.

Well, I'm sure Lilly, and the late Patsy would approve.

 

[Blazinga]

I am not really sure - I am not good at chicken breeds!
I want ones that aren't just egg-producing machines so they don't die too young.
I also really want a black chicken because they are so pretty but I am worried about feathered feet so was thinking about a black Australorp like @MJ's Mary but views differ on whether in the US they are production chickens or not.
I really only started thinking about it this evening so I have a ways to go!

Most chicken breeds come in black. Off the top of my head there are Australorp (as you've stated, although I thought they were heritage, maybe it depends on the strain), Sumatra, Ayam Cemani (expensive), la fleche (little horns), Black Sliklies, Black Jersey Giants, but pretty much any breed comes in black.

 

[Marie2020]

Thank you for saying that. I really miss her but I don't think there was anything I could have done.

You did everything possible, on the plus side she lived better than most creatures. That my lovely is all because of you

Is there any room in your garden for me and my fur & feathered babies

 

[Marie2020]

May I ask what is about the feathered feet that concerns you? I admit, before I got my Marans I had never had a breed with feathered feet before and I was nervous about it. After having them for over 18 months now I can tell you that I don't think I've ever saw their feet dirty. They free range and are constantly either digging in the manure pile, fresh sawdust, stomping or wading in the creek or mud and their feet feathers never give them any trouble. I've also never saw them or any of the other chickens pick or try to pluck their leg and feet feathers off each other. I love feathered feet so much I now have 3 feathered feet breeds and some mixes with feathered feet which I adore. Marans are also not supposed to be heavily feathered on their feet and legs like the silkies and cochins. Plus you can get a clean legged Black Copper Marans, they are just not bred to the French standard, but English. Daisy has clean legs, her daughter Clover had clean legs. 2 of Clover's chicks that Bunny is raising have clean legs and her other 2 chicks have feathered legs. I will call the Marans decent layers, 4 to 5 eggs a week which is more then enough for me. Daisy rarely lays, I think I've gotten 10 eggs from her this season. I believe when she laid that monster egg last fall that she got egg bound with for a few days it maybe damaged something internally. Outwardly she is fine, and even goes through the motions of laying and sitting in the nest boxes sometimes for a couple hours and nothing. It is ok, she is one of my favorite chickens and if she is a freeloader the rest of her life I'm ok with it. I prefer her company over her eggs. Marans are also not just pretty to look at, they are friendly in your face chickens who want to be involved with whatever your doing. Even the roosters are friendly and gentle if you are able to have a rooster. The hens are pretty, but, those boys are stunning in my opinion. Oh and the egg color, they may not be blue like your roadrunners, but they are a dark brown, and the speckled ones are even prettier. The big combs can be a concern in cold weather, but if they are in a draft free coop at night, frostbit should not be a concern. We survived this past winter without losing a single point on a comb and we had some real cold snaps.

You have a buyer thanks for sharing this valuable information

So you find this bread too be gentle. That's really good.

 

[Marie2020]

Good Morning All.

Good morning Bob and the cute littles

 

[Marie2020]

I read in here about wormwood and I have just ordered a few plants.

 

[Marie2020]

Whohoo!!!! Squirrel did it, she just gave me the best birthday present. Her first egg!!!! It's tiny but perfect and exactly what I expected from the Butter x Drumstick cross. His gene's darkened up the shell color several shades. And she has a few speckles from her momma.
Squirrels egg on the left and Butter's this morning on the right.
View attachment 2825506

Sending you a belated happy birthday! . Good girl squirrel

 

[BY Bob]

Well, I'm sure Lilly, and the late Patsy would approve.

They do.

 

[BY Bob]

Most chicken breeds come in black. Off the top of my head there are Australorp (as you've stated, although I thought they were heritage, maybe it depends on the strain), Sumatra, Ayam Cemani (expensive), la fleche (little horns), Black Sliklies, Black Jersey Giants, but pretty much any breed comes in black.

Easter Eggers

 

[RoyalChick]

May I ask what is about the feathered feet that concerns you? I admit, before I got my Marans I had never had a breed with feathered feet before and I was nervous about it. After having them for over 18 months now I can tell you that I don't think I've ever saw their feet dirty. They free range and are constantly either digging in the manure pile, fresh sawdust, stomping or wading in the creek or mud and their feet feathers never give them any trouble. I've also never saw them or any of the other chickens pick or try to pluck their leg and feet feathers off each other. I love feathered feet so much I now have 3 feathered feet breeds and some mixes with feathered feet which I adore. Marans are also not supposed to be heavily feathered on their feet and legs like the silkies and cochins. Plus you can get a clean legged Black Copper Marans, they are just not bred to the French standard, but English. Daisy has clean legs, her daughter Clover had clean legs. 2 of Clover's chicks that Bunny is raising have clean legs and her other 2 chicks have feathered legs. I will call the Marans decent layers, 4 to 5 eggs a week which is more then enough for me. Daisy rarely lays, I think I've gotten 10 eggs from her this season. I believe when she laid that monster egg last fall that she got egg bound with for a few days it maybe damaged something internally. Outwardly she is fine, and even goes through the motions of laying and sitting in the nest boxes sometimes for a couple hours and nothing. It is ok, she is one of my favorite chickens and if she is a freeloader the rest of her life I'm ok with it. I prefer her company over her eggs. Marans are also not just pretty to look at, they are friendly in your face chickens who want to be involved with whatever your doing. Even the roosters are friendly and gentle if you are able to have a rooster. The hens are pretty, but, those boys are stunning in my opinion. Oh and the egg color, they may not be blue like your roadrunners, but they are a dark brown, and the speckled ones are even prettier. The big combs can be a concern in cold weather, but if they are in a draft free coop at night, frostbit should not be a concern. We survived this past winter without losing a single point on a comb and we had some real cold snaps.

Rebecca thank you so much for this post - it definitely helps me.
I love the look of the Black Copper Marans and I also love the dark eggs and that they don't lay every day. I didn't know their feet were only lightly feathered - that sounds encouraging.
I guess my concerns about feathered feet are threefold. There is the issue of tracking mud into the nest boxes and making the eggs mucky, and then I was worried about them having waterlogged feet when it gets below freezing. Finally I was worried about the sister plucking - though admittedly nobody has plucked out the Roadrunners' little crests so maybe I am more relaxed about that.
On the muddy feet thing it is not like mine live in a swamp or anything - the Chicken Palace (both coop and runs) are quite dry. But whenever they wander out in the yard they all make a B-line for muddy water and have a grand old time drinking it (like I don't give them clean water in the Chicken Palace!) and running around in puddles. I don't blame them - it looks fun - and every kid I have ever known loves to jump in puddles so why not! But with the clean legged chickens it has the impact of a spa treatment on their toes - they emerge shiny and clean. I assume with feathers they would emerge a soggy mess around their feet.
If you don't mind, could I ask you one thing - can you tell when a Marans chick is just hatched how heavily feathered their legs will be? I am wondering (assuming the farm even breeds Marans) if I could pick out ones with less (or no) feathers on their feet.