Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

They do not stop peeping. It goes on constantly. I don't remember Hattie peeping so much.

Alice and Edwina peeped so much when they were chicks they sounded like a car alarm going off.

 

[LozzyR]

Just lovely...I leave for a bit and I come back to beautiful songs and darling chicks!

Aww, thank you!

 

[rural mouse]

Caturday (from the other day).

One of Castor's favorite locations...and why the carpet is on the railing...

Photo bomber: Silver

 

[featherhead007]

Emily might be a little sore today. I spent a half hour with her, picking the (stuff) from her fluffy butt. Several feathers came out doing so. I gave her some treats afterwards. Do chickens fart? (This one does.) I added some ACV to their water too. Emily’s bumm looks a lot better now! (I hope she feels better soon)
She’s purring and that’s a good sign!

 

[fuentemoon]

Yesterday slipped away from me, here are some over due fluffy butts

Just three ladies out for an evening stroll

Rosie looking a bit ragged, and a shy Brenna peaking.

Alinta strutting away after showing off her ruffled and rumpled fall look.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Vale Deana November 2015 - September2021

My Rhode Island Red, Deana, died Thursday night/ Friday morning. She was almost 6 years old and the last of my second batch of hens.

She took up residence in the old "little" coop her last week were she was given a bottom clean, fresh litter and fresh food and water every day.
More often than not her visitors ate her food though.

I have lost some confidence in my vet regarding the chooks and felt that if they were just going to recommend euthanasia, considering her age, I would rather she passed at home amongst her flock and in familiar surroundings.

She ruled calmly and from a discreet distance. (Tsuki was the enforcer.) Only ever needed to give one or two admonitory pecks if someone thought they could eat before her.

I have buried her in a sunny spot near the run and planted sunflowers over her.
R.I.P. sweet girl

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

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.

Edwina has some feathers on her legs.

When Tsuki was alive they were often plucked, sometime leaving a bloody shaft.
They seem to be growing unmolested now.

Edit: I just had a close look at that last photo. They remind me of a male Flamenco dancer's pants.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I think I owe chicken tax

Two Black Chickens (Thinking of you RC)

 

[MaryJanet]

Vale Deana November 2015 - September2021

My Rhode Island Red, Deana, died Thursday night/ Friday morning. She was almost 6 years old and the last of my second batch of hens.
View attachment 2830729

She took up residence in the old "little" coop her last week were she was given a bottom clean, fresh litter and fresh food and water every day.
More often than not her visitors ate her food though.
View attachment 2830730

I have lost some confidence in my vet regarding the chooks and felt that if they were just going to recommend euthanasia, considering her age, I would rather she passed at home amongst her flock and in familiar surroundings.

She ruled calmly and from a discreet distance. (Tsuki was the enforcer.) Only ever needed to give one or two admonitory pecks if someone thought they could eat before her.

I have buried her in a sunny spot near the run and planted sunflowers over her.
R.I.P. sweet girl

View attachment 2830738

That's sad news I hope she wasn't in too much discomfort. I think I'd have made the same decision. I'm sorry ACM, that must've been quite hard to go through.

 

[LozzyR]

Vale Deana November 2015 - September2021

My Rhode Island Red, Deana, died Thursday night/ Friday morning. She was almost 6 years old and the last of my second batch of hens.
View attachment 2830729

She took up residence in the old "little" coop her last week were she was given a bottom clean, fresh litter and fresh food and water every day.
More often than not her visitors ate her food though.
View attachment 2830730

I have lost some confidence in my vet regarding the chooks and felt that if they were just going to recommend euthanasia, considering her age, I would rather she passed at home amongst her flock and in familiar surroundings.

She ruled calmly and from a discreet distance. (Tsuki was the enforcer.) Only ever needed to give one or two admonitory pecks if someone thought they could eat before her.

I have buried her in a sunny spot near the run and planted sunflowers over her.
R.I.P. sweet girl

View attachment 2830738

I’m so sorry ACM, RIP Deana.