Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

We don’t think that’s a little black australorp? I’ve had trouble keeping up on all this.

She announced. I won't spoil that if you haven't already seen it. As far as difference between australorp and jersey giant, biggest is the color of the bottom of their feet: yellow vs white (don't remember which is which, but hard to tell as little chicks). Easiest ways to tell: giants don't start laying until 6-9 months and don't seem to stop growing until over a year old, probably closer to the 18 month mark like Brahmas. Only reason I guessed giant over australorp is she had expressed an interest because the giants were originally bred in New jersey.

 

[Kris5902]

Jet propelled

My old gal has bad asthma and coughs up a storm, only thing is when she cough out one end, additional air is expelled from the other!

Lol DH makes fun of me but ever since I threw my back out years ago (coughing) I always, always brace myself well and usually grab something solid for coughing and sneezing.

 

[Kris5902]

A formal introduction: Bella
Bella for beautiful or maybe for belladonna. My black cat is called Nightshade; maybe they will become friends.
She has pink toes at the end of her black legs and white flashes under her black wings. When she is grown I believe she will be all black.
She likes to stretch out her toes and flap her wings, but hasn’t yet learned to take off.
She is an absolute pig and eats all the time.
She is not a Jersey Giant or a black Orpington. Nor is she a Sapphire Gem (had to look that one up). Unfortunately a clean-legged Marans requires a major road trip to visit @RebeccaBoyd (maybe next year).
Bella is a cross between an Ameraucana and a Marans which I believe makes her an Olive Egger. Well done @bgmathteach!
Of course, that is all just what I believe - we will learn more as she grows. Meanwhile, please welcome Bella to our collective global tribe.
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Beautiful Bella! I think we should get partial credit for those of us that spotted the Marans half! she does look just like one… or at least all my Marans crosses (but without the feathered feet!)

 

[Kris5902]

@Kris5902 Are those Rainbow Rangers? They look fairly healthy and mobile as far as meat birds go. How long are the longest lived ones you have?

Those are I either the Western Rustics or Sassos… so the Canadian version of A Rainbow or Red Ranger depending on batch. I haven’t had one make it to three years old yet, Roostie was about two and a half when he died in last years heatdome. If my Sassos Ziptie, Trouble, and meat mama make it to fall they will be the first to reach 3 years old. One is currently down with a sprained leg… but she will recover with a little help, that was jerk chicken related… I free range them, ration feed, and move them to fresh pasture every day in their tractors before free ranging size is reached. We did hatch out some offspring from the holdbacks last year, which I’ve been trying to do since 2019. Free ranging might be harder this year without Roostie to watch the little meaties.

This year it’s a similar breed from a smaller local hatchery, arriving Early May “beaupeep” they grew more like CX the last time I raised them (literally on par with or larger than the CX that come in from the same shipment… just brown feathered) and I was expecting the 12 weeks for Rangers and booked processing accordingly. That was the 6-8lb chicken year… dressed weight! This year I’ve booked at 9 and 11 weeks, expecting similar growth. 72 birds in two batches of 40 (wiggle room for adding jerk cockerels) let’s me also send in the faster growing and more aggressive males then grow the smaller birds out a little longer for more uniform size. You literally need to book processing several months before the chicks hatch or you can’t get in on the right dates here.

 

[Kris5902]

That is a wonderful idea but it would not work. She only buys and eats jumbo white eggs. I have 18 hens, all but 2 are brown egg layers. My 2 white layers, are my silke and game hen and neither girls eggs are jumbo size. She also will not tell me what she wants for breakfast until she is sitting at the table, that way she can watch me like a hawk and make sure I do not use my eggs. Funny enough though, I made a omelet yesterday evening for myself. She claimed it looked good and wanted half of it. I gave it to her and she loved it. I told her I used my eggs and she threw a fit on me. I told her that if I am fixing anything egg involved for myself or the rest of the family we don't eat store bought eggs so fair warning. Part of the reason she does not want my eggs is because I have roosters and they are fertilized. I'm sorry, I love my boys and they are not going anywhere. I even broke over and offered her a deal of buying a few white leghorn pullets so I could have fresh jumbo white eggs for her. Again nope, I would have to get rid of the boys for that to work.

It’s not you, or your eggs… my mom did the same sort of thing, demanded eggs then refused to eat them I found them like 6 months later in her fridge. It’s frustrating

 

[Kris5902]

Great job! Bookmarked for tips when I get a chance to look at our new one, top and oven. That must have been a real bear to get back in there by the pilot / igniter.

I have long arms and it’s a small oven, it was more the contortions on the floor trying to get it in place without being able to really see it. I think the stove Mose ended up in my rainwater bucket on the back left corner of the trailer. Sucks I had to toss out the mouse flavoured water, but I haven’t seen the mouse this evening… I still need to get that stovetop fixed…

 

[micstrachan]

A update on my grandmother. Her stubbornness is driving us up the wall but it is ok. Everyone is right it is better for her to be stubborn. We have 2 dr appointments in 2 weeks and we will know a lot more then. What we do know now is the MRI showed narrowing and partial blockages to the vessels on her brain. There is nothing they can do for that but start her on blood thinners. They also confirmed either dementia or early onset Alzheimer's. She says she is going home but the hard truth is she cannot live by herself any longer. It is either with us or a nursing home which as long as possible will never happen. One bright spot is she keeps asking all kinds of questions about my incubator and how does it work. Well, I need them like I need a hole in my head but she wants to see chicks hatch. Mom told her fine, she had to complete 4 weeks of in home physical therapy here anyway that Monday she would have me set every egg I had collected and I would teach her how to use it. In 2 days I've gotten 22 hatchable eggs and have not collected yet this morning. For the moment that has stopped her saying she has to go home.

Oh, good! She sounds feisty, which will probably serve her well.

 

[micstrachan]

A formal introduction: Bella
Bella for beautiful or maybe for belladonna. My black cat is called Nightshade; maybe they will become friends.
She has pink toes at the end of her black legs and white flashes under her black wings. When she is grown I believe she will be all black.
She likes to stretch out her toes and flap her wings, but hasn’t yet learned to take off.
She is an absolute pig and eats all the time.
She is not a Jersey Giant or a black Orpington. Nor is she a Sapphire Gem (had to look that one up). Unfortunately a clean-legged Marans requires a major road trip to visit @RebeccaBoyd (maybe next year).
Bella is a cross between an Ameraucana and a Marans which I believe makes her an Olive Egger. Well done @bgmathteach!
Of course, that is all just what I believe - we will learn more as she grows. Meanwhile, please welcome Bella to our collective global tribe.
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Awww… welcome little Bella!!!

 

[micstrachan]

Omg so cuuuutttteeeee

The black penguin looks like my Pangoo did.

This is what he turned out like
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Beautiful!

 

[micstrachan]

Yes! If you raise them with some chicks, they are much more likely to be protective of your chickens. Raised separately, not so much. I sooo want geese.....but still working on Hubby (he is petrified of them!)

Ok, this is so bad of me to share, but speaking if petrified…

(this was over 5 1/2 years ago)