Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Hahaha agreed! But we usually get frost mid August here so we’ve been lucky!

Anyways no frost but chilly at 5c (43f) brrr! Shock to my system hahaha.

Here too on the frost. Forecast has it down to 34F (32=0c) coming up on Tuesday. Did drive through 30F crossing the divide a week ago, but that's up on top, not down in the valleys (6000+ feet altitude). Snow flies early, lingers late on the peaks.

Come on, ladies....get those moults done. Thing is in the "I'm miserable, don't touch me" phase. She's taken to hiding in the carport where they spread the last of a bale of straw over the gravel. When I'm bringing out treats (like the apple parts from making applesauce yesterday), I try to take some out to her there. She discovered that people coming in there doesn't mean go hide in a panic. Grapes are tasty treats the rest pounce on too fast for her to get in the bigger group. Pea pod ends (with a pea here or there are good too). She'd left it by the time I took the apple out, so I left the apple for today's find. Come roosting time, she's back in the coop huddled into a corner (nest box, stud on top of the nest boxes...). Anyone comes near and she snaps at them...Hard. otherwise she just looks miserable (no nekkid bird though). She even looks too miserable to take a pic of unless she's out (like the water)

 

[RoyalChick]

Good Morning! I was wondering where you were hadn’t heard from you in a bit

Yes I love my cams also (very addictive watching horses and chickens !!)

Just a few days in Washington DC. I find the train much more relaxing than flying.

 

[bgmathteach]

I’m not sure what to say about that statement. I’m not the kind of person who runs away from a situation (in this case a threat) the neighbor is a tenant / renter , and I’m a land owner paying taxes for the property that I occupy. That prick smokes pot, drinks and harasses neighbors. And endangering my chickens pisses me off!

If he is a tenant. can't you justifiable evict him?

 

[RoyalChick]

If he is a tenant. can't you justifiable evict him?

Yes. That!

 

[ManueB]

Here too on the frost. Forecast has it down to 34F (32=0c) coming up on Tuesday. Did drive through 30F crossing the divide a week ago, but that's up on top, not down in the valleys (6000+ feet altitude). Snow flies early, lingers late on the peaks.

Come on, ladies....get those moults done. Thing is in the "I'm miserable, don't touch me" phase. She's taken to hiding in the carport where they spread the last of a bale of straw over the gravel. When I'm bringing out treats (like the apple parts from making applesauce yesterday), I try to take some out to her there. She discovered that people coming in there doesn't mean go hide in a panic. Grapes are tasty treats the rest pounce on too fast for her to get in the bigger group. Pea pod ends (with a pea here or there are good too). She'd left it by the time I took the apple out, so I left the apple for today's find. Come roosting time, she's back in the coop huddled into a corner (nest box, stud on top of the nest boxes...). Anyone comes near and she snaps at them...Hard. otherwise she just looks miserable (no nekkid bird though). She even looks too miserable to take a pic of unless she's out (like the water)

We have 39f/4c forecasted for Monday and since we are 500 meters up from the village, it will be two degrees less for us. We're harvesting the wine grapes this Saturday so I just hope the cold doesn't come in before! Apart from Cannelle who began molting two weeks ago, my ex-batts are just beginning to molt. Théo is also molting. It's not a good time for chickens... normally we get the first frosts around the 10 of October but it can be 10 days early, we check very carefully because we either harvest all squash and pumpkins just the day before or we have to protect them.

Just a few days in Washington DC. I find the train much more relaxing than flying.

So happy to hear this, I'd just noticed yesterday you hadn't posted photos of the three pretty girls and was wondering if something was wrong ! I've given up flying eight years ago and I feel so much better as I had grown to dread it terribly after turning 30.

Pigs will eat anything. I've personally seen them eat other pigs.

I've seen chicken eating chicken (cooked)... Just saying...

Cannibal tax : a family reunion just like old times

5 July, a little more than two months ago :

 

[BY Bob]

Just a few days in Washington DC. I find the train much more relaxing than flying.

I would use the train as well over an airplane. Much more comfortable. What does it cost for you to train to DC?

Train tax

 

[RoyalChick]

I would use the train as well over an airplane. Much more comfortable. What does it cost for you to train to DC?

Train tax
View attachment 3260645

$262 round trip in business class plus the cost of either parking or a car to get to a relevant train station.
I live close to a train station but it is a tiny one and on a different system. Theoretically it is possible to go from my station into Manhattan (maybe Newark) and then pick up the NE Regional train or Acela to DC. In practice that takes for forever because of how the timetables work so I take a car to a station on the NE Regional line.
I don’t know what the plane costs. Might even be the same. But I like trains!
Tax: Maggie popped in to say hi.

 

[RoyalChick]

I am waving to @BY Bob as I pass through his state.

The ladies are too focused on making sure they are looking their best to pay any attention to my train ride.

 

[bgmathteach]

I hate you, I hate all of you. How can you all eat chicken so easily and even brag about it? I only eat chicken if it’s in Chinese food, lasagna, casserole dishes, or any other way without any bones! I hold and cuddle with my chickens too much I guess.

I eat my chickens because I know they were raised with love, good food, and had a good life. Far better than any store bought chicken in flavor, and in their life experience. It is hard at times, but also very rewarding to me to know they had a good life, not some crappy caged experience without love and scratching about in any meaningful way.

You love your steaks. Wouldn't you rather know it came from a cow who was well loved and cared for than one who lived a miserable (cow) life?

I am an omnivore. While I fully respect vegetarians and vegans, I just can't do it. So, in my mind, the least I can do is to make sure what I eat had a decent life. I have consciously made a shift to have some non-meat meals (i.e. subbing legumes instead of meat into some recipes), but there really is no substitute for good meat, be it steak, chicken, or other. When you raise it yourself, and have to kill it yourself, it makes you much more aware, and much more desirous of using the whole animal as much as possible.

I love that you love your girls (and Jaffar) so much, treat them so well, and have such a unique and wonderful relationship with them. I respect that you can't think of eating them. However, I got my chickens initially specifically so that I COULD eat 'contaminant free' eggs and chicken meat. I love them, I treat them as well as I can, I cry when I process them, but I also love what they give to me food wise as well. Each and every one I process, I thank, I hold them tenderly before processing, and I sincerely hope that they pass as stress and pain free as possible.

Tax for rambling reactions: (Yes, water-fountain me is crying again, now!)

 

[bgmathteach]

I eat my chickens because I know they were raised with love, good food, and had a good life. Far better than any store bought chicken in flavor, and in their life experience. It is hard at times, but also very rewarding to me to know they had a good life, not some crappy caged experience without love and scratching about in any meaningful way.

You love your steaks. Wouldn't you rather know it came from a cow who was well loved and cared for than one who lived a miserable (cow) life?

I am an omnivore. While I fully respect vegetarians and vegans, I just can't do it. So, in my mind, the least I can do is to make sure what I eat had a decent life. I have consciously made a shift to have some non-meat meals (i.e. subbing legumes instead of meat into some recipes), but there really is no substitute for good meat, be it steak, chicken, or other. When you raise it yourself, and have to kill it yourself, it makes you much more aware, and much more desirous of using the whole animal as much as possible.

I love that you love your girls (and Jaffar) so much, treat them so well, and have such a unique and wonderful relationship with them. I respect that you can't think of eating them. However, I got my chickens initially specifically so that I COULD eat 'contaminant free' eggs and chicken meat. I love them, I treat them as well as I can, I cry when I process them, but I also love what they give to me food wise as well. Each and every one I process, I thank, I hold them tenderly before processing, and I sincerely hope that they pass as stress and pain free as possible.

Tax for rambling reactions: (Yes, water-fountain me is crying again, now!)View attachment 3260696View attachment 3260697View attachment 3260699

Okay, I clearly can't be on FBA on my breaks anymore. Our Receptionist just popped into my office for something - looked at me and said "are you okay?" I fibbed a bit - said my allergies acting up and I had just had a massive sneezing fit. I'm not sure she bought it.

Cute baby chickies: