Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

Congratulations Coco. You have a wonderful house to live at now. You need to listen and no trying to mate with the hand that feeds you!

I'm happy to report that since branch discovered creamy and I've refrained from handling him the last 30 minutes before he is ready for bed he has not tried that stunt on me anymore. Branch has also started to attempt to go after Lil Bit, but she is not having it yet. She does turn 5 months old November 5. This being my first time with silkies I have no clue when they start laying, but with the days getting shorter I would not think she would lay that first egg sometime in Nov. But if she does accept Branch soon, I'll start watching. I've noticed with my own girls that when they allow the boys to mate, that first egg is a week or so out.

 

[bgmathteach]

Well since it's official I guess it's time to introduce a new permanent resident. Everyone meet Coco my mom's new chicken. He is not new, but just got his name a few days ago. He is the 3rd Drummie x Butter chick I hatched out with Bunnie's chicks. When it became obvious at around 4 weeks old that he was a boy to my dismay I tried to step back from cuddles so I would not get attached for when it came time to rehome. I stepped back a bit and mom stepped in. In my mind Corona was the only chick staying so I've been focusing on taming that little devil, which is really working since Bunny let go of them. The other night when I was putting everyone to bed she told me that Corona would be lonely when her brothers are rehomed. I told her she'd be fine. Then she picks up the then unnamed Coco and told me he had a name and it was Coco. I gave her a funny look and reminded her it was a boy. So she says. Remind her we already had 3 keeper boys and that he was a mix. Again so and as long as he behaved as a adult he was her boy and he stayed. Next year I don't think I'll hatch any Butter chicks, my mom just can't let them go.
Anyway, here he is, he really is a sweet boy and since I know he's staying I've quit distancing myself from him as he is a friendly little thing. Color wise he is exactly what I thought I'd end up with from the Drumstick x Butter cross. I just wanted a girl with that color.
View attachment 2876016View attachment 2876018View attachment 2876019

Welcome, Coco. You are a handsome boy. Make grammy proud she convinced 'Mom' to keep you!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Ideas please.
I am feeling much better about leaving Minnie to cope on her own while I am on my trip (I leave Sunday night).
She has fully emptied her crop two days in a row without coconut oil.
My current worry though is getting enough calories into her because as far as I can tell she will not eat the commercial food (same as Maggie on her first molt).
I have been feeding beef, beef liver, scrambled egg, kefir/yoghurt, rice, cabbage and sunflower seeds and she has been out in the yard a lot digging up whatever it is she digs up.
While I am away her yard time will be much more restricted. It won't be zero time out as one of the guys doing work on the house can be trusted to let them out and keep an eye on them and then lock them up when he leaves - but he won't be there every day. Also, I won't be there to provide my home made concoction.
My idea is to leave pots in the freezer of my food concoction and ask the lady who comes to feed the cats to empty one pot into the feed bowl each day. Of course Minnie will have to fight for her share but I can't think of what else to do.
In addition I will leave one extra waterer with Gatorade (now I know she likes it!) and I will water their enclosed pasture run (only 40 square ft) and add leaves to encourage the worms and bugs.
Any other ideas to make sure she doesn't starve while I am away?

Tax
View attachment 2875602

No further ideas except that you don't have to freeze the first few days of food pots, do you? After those are used, your helper could take one out and put it in the fridge to defrost overnight for use the next day.

 

[bgmathteach]

I've got a slim but fit young hen who has discovered she can fit through a couple of the gaps in the stock net that surrounds the larger area outside the run.
I try to keep an eye on all of them while they are out. I looked over the fence and there she was strolling down the path on the other side of the fence.
This isn't really a problem but I'm not confident she could find her way back at roost time.
What did surprise me is went I went round to get her there was absolutley no fuss when I picked her up and she stayed still in the palm of my hand right up until I had walked round the fence and back in through the gate. She just hopped off my hand then and of course, went straight back to the gap in the fence and out again. Three collections later I blocked the gap up.
She feels a good weight and density for an Ex Batt and she's one of this years. The Ex Batts have arrived in three batches, two this year and one last year.

Henry has been letting me inspect his comb and wattlles at dusk when he perches. The first time I tried over two weeks ago he objected and got of the perch and wouldn't get back on until I backed away from the roost bar. Another few days and I'll be able to give him a decent check over without any fuss. I can catch him in the day if necessary but it's much easier and less stress all round if he'll just stand still like the roosters in Spain and let me get on with it, preferably in daylight.
View attachment 2876035

Wow, great progress! Is the 'errant hen' by chance a golden comet? Sounds like she is sweet but determined! (Daddy, really...it is soooo much better out there!)

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I will do that before I leave, but if they are very distracted a cabbage will last them a couple of days at most. So I think there is a better chance of Minnie getting cabbage through the week if I dice it up and include it in my frozen pots.
They do all love cabbage!

You could get two ready to hang, and have your helper hang the second one a few days in.

 

[RoyalChick]

No further ideas except that you don't have to freeze the first few days of food pots, do you? After those are used, your helper could take one out and put it in the fridge to defrost overnight for use the next day.

Actually I often serve it frozen. The yoghurt gives it a nice ice-cream like texture and it slows them down a bit.
They peck at the solid block and keep returning as it defrosts. At the temperatures we have now and in the shade it could last most of a morning that way.

 

[RoyalChick]

You could get two ready to hang, and have your helper hang the second one a few days in.

Yes. I think I will do that. Thanks!

 

[MaryJanet]

It is too early to be caught in a SHRA.

SHRA Tax
View attachment 2875598

Gosh they're getting so big!

 

[featherhead007]

I might as well go take a nap. None of my chooks, want to be held, or spend time with me today. I don’t know why? .

 

[MaryJanet]

Well since it's official I guess it's time to introduce a new permanent resident. Everyone meet Coco my mom's new chicken. He is not new, but just got his name a few days ago. He is the 3rd Drummie x Butter chick I hatched out with Bunnie's chicks. When it became obvious at around 4 weeks old that he was a boy to my dismay I tried to step back from cuddles so I would not get attached for when it came time to rehome. I stepped back a bit and mom stepped in. In my mind Corona was the only chick staying so I've been focusing on taming that little devil, which is really working since Bunny let go of them. The other night when I was putting everyone to bed she told me that Corona would be lonely when her brothers are rehomed. I told her she'd be fine. Then she picks up the then unnamed Coco and told me he had a name and it was Coco. I gave her a funny look and reminded her it was a boy. So she says. Remind her we already had 3 keeper boys and that he was a mix. Again so and as long as he behaved as a adult he was her boy and he stayed. Next year I don't think I'll hatch any Butter chicks, my mom just can't let them go.
Anyway, here he is, he really is a sweet boy and since I know he's staying I've quit distancing myself from him as he is a friendly little thing. Color wise he is exactly what I thought I'd end up with from the Drumstick x Butter cross. I just wanted a girl with that color.
View attachment 2876016View attachment 2876018View attachment 2876019

Hi Coco