Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

How funny that I came up in conversation!

Chickadee is doing well and still lives in my backyard! She is very friendly, but does NOT let me hold or pet her. She will stand next to me and is okay with me handling her baby chicks, but has never been one for affection of any sort. Last month, Chickadee surprised me and she actually let me pet her! This was such a special moment for me and one that I will always hold close to my heart!

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You can see just how tiny she is in this photo!

What a marvelous moment. I live for these shared moments. You are very blessed.

 

[MaryJanet]

This is the hen I'm most worried about. She's growing new feathers, I assume from feather pecking before she got here. Her back around her preen gland looks pretty raw. I think she's moulting as well.
One problem I have is that most of my chicken care kit I left in Spain. I'm having to get stuff and some of it is hard to find. Decent mite treatment is difficult to get. I've just ordered Coccidia treatment and a vitamin supplement. Not a hope in hell of getting antibiotics. I've got one course left which I did bring with me.
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Most of the Ex Batts are getting the idea of foraging now. They were all out for a couple of hours yesterday. Some stick close to the coop and run. There is one that heads straight out and makes a B line for either the geese or an escape route.View attachment 2850976
This area which is adjacent to one of the run sides was a mass of stinging nettles. The area you can see the hens foraging is an area I've cleared by pulling the stingers and bindweed out. It's been cut with a strimmer before and of course that just encourages further growth.I'll work my way past the bushes and the little apple tree, right back to the fence in the background.
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I have no idea which breed the grey hen in the picture is. She's the only one and keeps herself a bit apart from the others.
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This is Henry The Second and his partner. They roost where you see them overnight side by side. They are not in the coop although they are under a roof that is attatched to thhe coop.
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Supper time. Haddock and a good quality 17% protein feed. There is no obligation for the feed manufactures here to give a proper analysis of the feed they sell. I'm looking into this because I want to know exactly what it is I'm feeding them.View attachment 2850984

That grey hen is not round enough to be an Orpington. She looks a bit Sussexish but they don't have grey feathers

 

[BY Bob]

I really wish to respond to this but I'm very tired and about to turn in. Is there anyway you could ask again on Friday so I can write a detailed response for you? This is one of my favorite topics.

I really will respond. I am helping to get the house set up for them now and to get him to the surgeons tomorrow. It may yet be Saturday until I have time.

 

[MaryJanet]

You may not need to put so much effort into clearing the nettles - I think the chickens may eat them and not be bothered by the sting. I remember as a child seeing ducks waddling happily through a big clump of stinging nettles - I remember it clearly because I followed them into the field (I mean they were ducks - who could resist?) and that is how I learned that stinging nettles sting. The ducks weren't bothered at all. Now I know a duck is different from a chicken but it seems possible the chickens will be fine with the nettles.

I haven't had that experience with the hens and the nettles at my house. They avoid nettles almost completely but maybe that's because the yard has tastier options on the menu?

We've been pulling them out and so far it's curtailed the spread, but you have to keep going with it. Their flowers have loads of seeds.

 

[BY Bob]

Hi,it’s literally raining outside and there is a violent storm going on.There’s still no sign of Lilly I have no idea if she’s even okay.I’m probably sure she’s hiding under the back trees but she’s afraid of humans and dosent come out.I still haven’t heard any good news and They brought Era back in the coop,who is frantically crowing for Lil.I told them to open up the coop door for a few miniutes and go away so that maybe Lilly would come back to the coop?if no one was there and it was raining and she saw Era crowing?Well of course she didn’t,the caretaker spotted her in the end of the grassy garden but when they ran to catch her she disappeared.Now there’s been no sign of her since morning and it’s literally afternoon.The rain is really heavy and I’m really scared.There’s nothing to do but go and hunt for her tomorrow.I’m really panicking that she won’t thrive through this heavy rain.My fingers are crossed.

It's good that she was spotted. So that's something! Perhaps she has a nest of eggs out there somewhere.

 

[Shadrach]

What breed do you think this hen is?

 

[MaryJanet]

I once ate vegetable and nettle soup it was delicious.

I also had nettle soup once but I found it overpoweringly rich.

 

[Shadrach]

You may not need to put so much effort into clearing the nettles - I think the chickens may eat them and not be bothered by the sting. I remember as a child seeing ducks waddling happily through a big clump of stinging nettles - I remember it clearly because I followed them into the field (I mean they were ducks - who could resist?) and that is how I learned that stinging nettles sting. The ducks weren't bothered at all. Now I know a duck is different from a chicken but it seems possible the chickens will be fine with the nettles.

This lot won't go where the nettles are. The nettles unfortunatley have taken over the best place for the chickens and that's under the tree/bush just outside their run. I've cleared over two thirds now.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thank you for this advice, Shad! Her crop has not been really full but yes has something in it. She is foraging among the roots and rocks under some trees and brush cover that she never used to go in, it's good cover and fresh ground.

All very positive. She's going to be fine.

 

[BY Bob]

Pictures especially for BYBob while he's travelling

Tsuki trucking along (January '21)
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Tsuki's immaculate fluffy butt.
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Oh my beautiful dear mischievous Tsuki. Thanks so much.

Here is Daisy in return.