Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I personally love hatching and rearing chicks and being able to build bonds with them from a young age. Before I got my 6 blue girls, besides Momma hen who was a stray, and my 3 original Marans that I got at almost 3 weeks old, I've hatched every chicken on the place. It is pure joy to watch their personalities develop and learn each one's individual quirks. I do not technically consider Momma Hen and the 6 blue girls rescues per say. Momma Hen was a hen brought here when they were doing horse shows down at the barn for the "chicken chase" for kids during intermission. She was smart, and when they let her go she flew up on the hillside and for over a year and a half no one could catch her. You would occasionally see her but never could get close. Then out of the blue she started coming off the hill every few days into the neighborhood and back to the barn. Rosie who wanted chickens, begged for chicks every trip to rural king decided she was going to tame her. It took 6 months before you could walk beside her without her running away, and it was over a year before I was finally able to touch her. Now, she's a hateful old bat when she is broody, which is pretty much all the time but If I have to I can walk right up and catch her without too much fuss. The blue girls have been here 3 weeks this past Sunday. While they are not ex battery hens, they lived the first year and a half of their life in a small coop. They picked on each other from lack of space and all had some degree of feathers missing from their heads, 2 looked like naked necks. They did not know how to roost, and still won't even after I lowered the roosting bar to a foot off the ground. They sleep in a pile in the corner of their coop. They had never free ranged, and the first time I opened the door to give them access to the yard, it took a hour and a half for one to get brave enough step foot outside. Each day they have gotten bolder on free range time and have finally discovered the mimosa tree's which is everyone's favorite hangout during the summer months. They also were terrified of us and panic when you tried to touch them. I can now get 4 of them to take a treat out of my hand if I'm absolutely still, and they do not run away from me when I walk by. Instead they follow me around trying to see what I'm doing and yesterday when Flurry walked by she was close enough that I was able to stroke her back. It startled her and she flinched but didn't run away. I gave her 3 pets and stopped touching her so I didn't overwhelm her. She just looked at me for a minute before continuing on with her business. They have started molting, but no longer pick on each other and the 2 naked neck wannabe's have pin feathers all over their heads. They will not be bald for much longer. It is heartwarming to see they personalities come out and while we won't have the connection like I do with the one's I've raised since they hatched, I'm happy with the fact they now get to experience life outside a cage and be a chicken.

Any animal we can save and provide a better life to is an amazing thing. We are coming up on 6 years since we rescued Lilly from a life under the porch. It makes me smile everytime I watch her walk across the yard.

 

[BY Bob]

That is so cute. And their hairdos are so funny at this age. I know that they will be stunning ladies, but will miss the flat top look.

I'm a fan of Legertha's hair style. It will be sad to watch it go away but she will still be adorable.

 

[Marie2020]

I’m hoping that six hours of sleep is adequate for me to fly today good morning BYC buddies

Be safe my friend

 

[Marie2020]

Any animal we can save and provide a better life to is an amazing thing. We are coming up on 6 years since we rescued Lilly from a life under the porch. It makes me smile everytime I watch her walk across the yard.

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Thank you for giving lilly a much better life

 

[RoyalChick]

Perched

As I have been transporting the little ladies in and out of the house every day they have decided they prefer to perch for the ride rather than be held. By letting them do this I am taking the risk that they might take off flying but they seem very comfortable and excited to get to their outside run.

That is quite absurdly adorable! Why would they fly anywhere? They have it all right there!

 

[RoyalChick]

I personally love hatching and rearing chicks and being able to build bonds with them from a young age. Before I got my 6 blue girls, besides Momma hen who was a stray, and my 3 original Marans that I got at almost 3 weeks old, I've hatched every chicken on the place. It is pure joy to watch their personalities develop and learn each one's individual quirks. I do not technically consider Momma Hen and the 6 blue girls rescues per say. Momma Hen was a hen brought here when they were doing horse shows down at the barn for the "chicken chase" for kids during intermission. She was smart, and when they let her go she flew up on the hillside and for over a year and a half no one could catch her. You would occasionally see her but never could get close. Then out of the blue she started coming off the hill every few days into the neighborhood and back to the barn. Rosie who wanted chickens, begged for chicks every trip to rural king decided she was going to tame her. It took 6 months before you could walk beside her without her running away, and it was over a year before I was finally able to touch her. Now, she's a hateful old bat when she is broody, which is pretty much all the time but If I have to I can walk right up and catch her without too much fuss. The blue girls have been here 3 weeks this past Sunday. While they are not ex battery hens, they lived the first year and a half of their life in a small coop. They picked on each other from lack of space and all had some degree of feathers missing from their heads, 2 looked like naked necks. They did not know how to roost, and still won't even after I lowered the roosting bar to a foot off the ground. They sleep in a pile in the corner of their coop. They had never free ranged, and the first time I opened the door to give them access to the yard, it took a hour and a half for one to get brave enough step foot outside. Each day they have gotten bolder on free range time and have finally discovered the mimosa tree's which is everyone's favorite hangout during the summer months. They also were terrified of us and panic when you tried to touch them. I can now get 4 of them to take a treat out of my hand if I'm absolutely still, and they do not run away from me when I walk by. Instead they follow me around trying to see what I'm doing and yesterday when Flurry walked by she was close enough that I was able to stroke her back. It startled her and she flinched but didn't run away. I gave her 3 pets and stopped touching her so I didn't overwhelm her. She just looked at me for a minute before continuing on with her business. They have started molting, but no longer pick on each other and the 2 naked neck wannabe's have pin feathers all over their heads. They will not be bald for much longer. It is heartwarming to see they personalities come out and while we won't have the connection like I do with the one's I've raised since they hatched, I'm happy with the fact they now get to experience life outside a cage and be a chicken.

How wonderful. And how wonderful of Rosie to invest 6 months in Momma Hen.

 

[RoyalChick]

Any animal we can save and provide a better life to is an amazing thing. We are coming up on 6 years since we rescued Lilly from a life under the porch. It makes me smile everytime I watch her walk across the yard.

View attachment 2833984

I feel the same about my ridiculously spoiled cats. All of them were rescues and the two youngest were so skinny and so terrified of everything that it broke my heart to think what had happened to them.

 

[Marie2020]

I'm so stressed.

I've decided too adopt instead of using the hatching method. The form took forever too fill in and after all that they haven't sent me the address to pick up from.

I have to sort out transport and only have a few days too organised it all because they are only doing this on one day

 

[featherhead007]

Good morning. That post was mighty early my time.

Yes, I know. I couldn’t sleep well last night. I was excited about going up this morning. But my plans have changed. I won’t be going today. Nothing to see but clouds. And if I want soup, I can have a bowl of it safely on the ground. Thanks for the concern my friend.

 

[featherhead007]

Perched

As I have been transporting the little ladies in and out of the house every day they have decided they prefer to perch for the ride rather than be held. By letting them do this I am taking the risk that they might take off flying but they seem very comfortable and excited to get to their outside run.

They won’t take off on you (they know a good thing when they have it!