Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Phyllis Chose Wisely

She again roosted in the Cluckle Hut tonight by her choice.

The Phyllistines were another matter. I did not diffuse out a new roost for them. This is going to be harder than I thought. So I gave up for today and removed the heat block (they weren't using it anyway) and put them in the nest box.

To be fair to them, they roosted before Phyllis on the main roost. When Phyllis came in to roost, she threw them off.

If Phyllis has settled on this as her house, my next problem will be keeping the littles interested in using it as their house.

I now have 2 options for a roost. I could put one in the nest box for a while until they are big enough to roost with Phyllis or I can put one at the other end of the coop that Phyllis can't reach that I could, in theory, leave in place.

 

[MaryJanet]

This is a very helpful perspective for me.
Thank you.
I think I will ask my farm couple what they do with the cockerels. I am 90% sure they get eaten but I may be OK with that if they are humanely dispatched and raised in good conditions up to that point.

If I could find such a farm and those two conditions were met, I would not be troubled.

 

[MaryJanet]

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So many thriving chooks

 

[MaryJanet]

Tea Time

The ladies and I are enjoying Tea Time together this afternoon. I am hoping the littles will swing by.

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Hattie is almost done molting and her behavior shows it. She is eating everything now and bullying her way past the others. But the way, she loves those little sugar waters on the saucer. She did snag one while I wasn't looking.

Cute teaset!!

 

[MaryJanet]

We got a lot of practice walking today. You never would have guessed this chicken was stuck in the splits.

I'm not sure how normal it is. But only the third in rank is pecking and chasing the lowest. The Second and the Queen are friendly to the lowest member. How usual is this?

Platina is doing so well!

 

[MaryJanet]

Phyllis Chose Wisely

She again roosted in the Cluckle Hut tonight by her choice. View attachment 2876072

The Phyllistines were another matter. I did not diffuse out a new roost for them. This is going to be harder than I thought. So I gave up for today and removed the heat block (they weren't using it anyway) and put them in the nest box.

To be fair to them, they roosted before Phyllis on the main roost. When Phyllis came in to roost, she threw them off.

If Phyllis has settled on this as her house, my next problem will be keeping the littles interested in using it as their house.

I now have 2 options for a roost. I could put one in the nest box for a while until they are big enough to roost with Phyllis or I can put one at the other end of the coop that Phyllis can't reach that I could, in theory, leave in place.

I think maybe the other end of the coop would work best

 

[Lady Red]

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.
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So handsome! I'm glad he's a sweetie too.

 

[rural mouse]

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.
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Handsome lad!

 

[Lady Red]

We got a lot of practice walking today. You never would have guessed this chicken was stuck in the splits.

I'm not sure how normal it is. But only the third in rank is pecking and chasing the lowest. The Second and the Queen are friendly to the lowest member. How usual is this?

amazing progress!
I cannot comment to the pecking order question, mine seem to flip order on the regular.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

What do we define as a hatchery? I got the Roadrunners and the Philistines from a farm near me. He and his wife breed chickens and they sell chicks (I don't believe they ship anything but eggs). Does the fact that they sell them make them a hatchery? Or is it something about the scale of the enterprise?
I felt I was doing better than going to a commercial hatchery in part because of no shipping by mail, and in part because it is a small family enterprise, and because I like him and his wife and they seem to really care about the chickens. For example he wouldn't let me pick them up on the day of hatch because he wanted to watch them for a few days to make sure they were healthy.
On the other hand, I am sure he disposes of his cockerels. I believe he actually raises them and sells them at the local livestock auction where they presumably get turned into dinner.
I am not vegetarian (though I don't eat much meat) so turning the cockerels into dinner is not a complete no-no for me.
But it is all difficult to think through what is OK and what not.

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I would be very comfortable buying from this type of situation. I wouldn't define them as a hatchery at all. Just a hobby farm or chicken enthusiast. I really like that he does not sell day olds but keeps them for a few days. When I'm hatching from the incubator, I don't list or let them go as day old chicks either. I like to hang onto them for at least 3 days to make sure they are eating and drinking on their own. I've also found that if I'm going to loose a chick, I will loose it in the first few days. I would personally rather deal with the heartbreak of loosing one then to sell to a new owner and have them loose it a day or two later. I personally do not have auto sexing breeds at birth, but I'm getting pretty good at pegging potential males on my pure marans at hatch if I incubate them myself and they are still wet. If they come out of the shell with a noticeable comb and ginormous feet, 9 times out of 10 it's turned out to be a boy. If I place a chick before 3 weeks it's sold as straight run and you take your chances on getting a boy, but if I have them longer that is the age that most of my males start showing themselves. If I know I have a young male, I'm honest with it and it can be hard to find homes for boys. Every pullet I've listed has been snatched up and claimed within hours of listing, the boy's take longer and this year has really been the year of the boys. My dad keeps threatening that we need to eat the excess boys before I find them homes. So far we have not done it and I love chicken. If it ever comes down to it though I have this thought I will keep in mind. My chickens will have lived a wonderful life free ranging, getting spoiled with lots of treats until that second that it is over. That is more that can be said for the lives of the chicken that I buy from the store. I'm going to change focus a little bit next year and primarily hatch silkies. They are in high demand, and silkie owners know that you cannot sex them until 3 to 4 months or longer. They are more willing to take a risk on young chicks turning out to be boys. Even silkie roosters are being snatched up left and right in my area so if I hatch some for me for grow-outs I could easily place boys. Next year when everyone is laying, the big girls eggs will be sold as free range eggs for eating with the option for hatching eggs if someone wants them. I may hatch a few specific crosses for myself but in small numbers and I will wait until I have a broody hen to do that so that I do not have to brood them myself.