Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

Today we had the same weather as kris so no chicken photos.
This evening we had a heartbreak. Our beautiful girl Star past away. She was sweet, silly, exasperating, and extra cuddly always. We had her most of her 16.5 years. She hadn't been herself the last week, tonight she left us rather suddenly with both of us holding her.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Fur babies are family, but I’m thankful you were able to be with her in her final moments.

 

[Kris5902]

Don't give up lovely you're doing brilliantly.

Once I get that kitchen put together… there will be sauerkraut and kombucha and maybe even dandelion wine and home brew beer one day!

 

[Kris5902]

Every part of the dandelion is edible and the flowers are a critical early food for bees which are critical to our food chain. Interestingly chickens will not eat bees and it's NOT from trying and getting stung.

And despite Jimmy’s apparent Gluttony, the goats won’t eat them all either. He will gorge on a patch then ignore several, and then clean up another area. And there’s still plenty of blooms here despite the 20-30 ferals hanging out and my little piggy goat. So to all thosegoat hating people who say the ferals are destroying our local ecosystem. If they haven’t ruined it in the last 300 years, the past few when you decided to jump on the environmentalist bandwagon and get all upset by them! I’m going to have to get some tax pics today… aren’t I @BY Bob? Good thing the weather looks more cooperative!

 

[Ponypoor]

Today we had the same weather as kris so no chicken photos.
This evening we had a heartbreak. Our beautiful girl Star past away. She was sweet, silly, exasperating, and extra cuddly always. We had her most of her 16.5 years. She hadn't been herself the last week, tonight she left us rather suddenly with both of us holding her.

Oh no! How sad

I have said it before owning pets is not for the faint of heart

Those are wonderful photos, esp the one we're she has her 'headlights' on

 

[BY Bob]

Not really, but superficially maybe.
As My Pet Chicken hatchery birds - (maybe Meyer's carries a breed line) - Hazel looks to me to be closer to the SOP in feathering than the others, Butters the least. Popcorn exhibits the body shape and foraging temperament. I think the coloring is too light as far as the SOP.
http://americanbuckeyeclub.blogspot.com/p/understanding-sop.html
Here's about the black bar and tail feathers. They make a comment that the RIR rooster tail feathers show differently in light than Buckeyes'. RIR are not shiny?
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UNDERCOLOR

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Photo 1: Undercolor (by Shumaker Farms)

Photo 2: Undercolor (by Shumaker Farm)

When looking at a Buckeye one cannot help but notice the beautiful dark mahogany sheen of their plumage.

This dark sheen is mainly attributed to the "bar of slate" (undercolor) that is beneath the exterior plumage. It shows as a charcoal grey color (as shown in Photos 1 through 3).

This special undercolor (often referred to as “smutt” by poultry judges) is mentioned in both the 1905 and 2010 SOP, and was specifically called out by Nettie Metcalf in her early journal discussions about plumage color. The darker the undercolor, the darker the bird.

Photo 3: Undercolor (by Shumaker Farms)

You can see the undercolor of a Buckeye by lifting the feathers located on the birds' back (as illustrated here). Note that Photos 1 through 3 show varying levels of undercolor. Some undercolor should be present in all Buckeyes (as specified by the SOP). The undercolor has to be closely monitored so that the dark color doesn't "bleed" onto the surface of the feather.

Photo 4: Undercolor (by Shumaker Farms)

Many of today's Buckeyes don't have this undercolor. Instead, the feathers are a light red all the way to the base of the feather (as shown in Photo 4). This is leading to Buckeyes becoming lighter in surface color, and should be avoided.

TAIL CARRIAGE

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Photo1: Tail (by Shumaker Farm)

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Photo 2: Tail (by Shumaker Farm)

MALE: Photos 1 and 2 are representative of how a cock should carry their tail and how the tail feathers should unfold or spread out.

As the standard suggests, the tail should be of medium length and size, carried moderately upright (roughly 40 degrees above the horizon). Sickles and coverts (secondary feathers) should be of medium length, nicely curved, and sufficiently abundant to cover the stiff primary feathers. Sickles and coverts should be shaded bay and black to avoid a sharp contrast between the body and tail. Pinched tails and excessively long secondary feathers are to be avoided.
Note that the camera flash shows the sheen of the tail feathers in Photo 2, making them look grey. This is one of the traits that separate the Buckeye from the Rhode Island Red, and illustrates that the feathers are not dull in color.

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View attachment 3061040

Photo 3: Tail (by Shumaker Farm)

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View attachment 3061041

Photo 4: Tail (by Shumaker Farm)

FEMALE: Photos 3 and 4 are representative of how a female should carry its tail and how the tail feathers should unfold or spread out. Note the color of the hen in Photo 4 is very light. This is due to the hen's age.
The female tail should be medium in length, fairly well-spread, carried at an angle of thirty degrees (30°) above horizontal.

Fascinating. I love the look of the Buckeye.

 

[BY Bob]

Has anyone seen/heard from @Lady Red lately? Hope all is well with her!

I have not but I will reach out.

 

[BY Bob]

No, but I'm very new to learning about them. I think I posted somewhere Granny looks nothing like my Buckeyes did, nor like any chick or pullet/cockerel Buckeye pics I've seen. There's too much variety going on from head to tail, it's a kaleidoscope! (Look at the speckling on the neck! Way not a Buckeye.) If she had grey/green legs you all would be saying EE (except for no muff), right? The head & body shape is too long and narrow also but the camera may be exaggerating that. Buckeyes are bigger than other chicks, but more so they are shaped like little tanks, little bulldogs.

EEs do not always have beards and muffs. Just as they do not always have rose combs. Or for that matter lay eggs other than brown.

It would truly be an odd EE to be missing all of the traits, including the legs.

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks! Yes I know about it in general but wasn't thinking here and didn't expect it, then I got frustrated and it was time to quit for the day!

It's so easy to get frustrated when inventing. I tend to walk away when I get there in order for my brain to work on the problem. The Cluckle Hut was all improvisation as nothing was square. I found it quite vexing at times. I redid one corner of the coop at least 5 times.

 

[BY Bob]

I agree. Not a Buckeye. Hiw could I forget the dark undercolor?

I remrmber reading how they were bred by the obly woman breeder. The bane Metcalf comes to mind, but U nay be making that up in my head.

Wasn’t she specifically breeding fir RIRs with Rise Combs?

I have to say, either you were enjoying some wine while typing that or your phone did some unkind things to your words.

 

[BY Bob]

I don’t know what the heck is going on, but I have two chickens not feeling well this morning. Lucky went to bed an hour early last night and this morning she was reluctant to come out. I held her a bit and she talked to me, but I think her comb has a bit of a blue tinge. At least it did until till she walked around. And then there is a Minnie, who really obviously doesn’t feel well. Her eyes are closed and she’s puffed up. OMG. What is going on???

That must really be disconcerting!