Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

They also LOVE kombucha tea. And tomatoes.

They are even all over my carrot tops that I sprout for the chickens!

 

[Lexicon]

I fully understand that everyone doesn't have the same opinion on the subject of eating animals. I think all choices should be showed consideration for, when they are consciously made by people who love and respect animals.


@fuentemoon I also love her colourings! I don't remember if I've written about her arrival at our place before here. Gaston, the old farmer who had just given us Théo, showed up two days later without warning in his old tractor and he was holding her in one hand, poor thing, he had tied her leg's together with a piece of string. He handed her to me saying it was to keep Théo company until he grew up and the bigger hens accepted him. She was the prettiest, daintiest chicken I'd ever seen... and also the wildest one !
Théo and Chipie their first week here in quarantine.
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@Lexicon I'm seeing your Isabella has pretty much the same colour and some similarities, do you know what the colour is called, and what kind of chicken she is ?

You and ponypoor enjoy funny hairdos .

Isabella is a Buff Brahma. I have been meaning to tell you about her as a chick as she was much like little Piou Piou. Isabella was so tiny and didn't seem to grow as a chick. When the others were stretching and showing off their luxurious wing feathers, Isi didn't have signs of any feathers at all, she was still covered in down. Soon the others were twice her size and I thought perhaps she wouldn't survive. I decided to just give her a wonderful chicken life for as long as she lived. As you can see, she is still here and turned two this summer! She is the shortest hen in the flock, but otherwise completely normal, so hopefully it will be the same with your sweet Piou Piou.

 

[Lexicon]

Happy Friday

Annie exploring the baby spruce thicket:

 

[BY Bob]

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

This is what I grew up with. I raised chickens for 2 reasons, eggs and meat. Every year at the first snowfall we would cull the roosters. They would be the food that sustained and fed our family throughout the year. It us a tough process and something I don't ever want to do again but I totally get the emotion involved in what you do.

I truly respect the way in which you manage your chickens. You are absolutely correct that your chickens have the best life they could have when destined for the table. Understanding where our food comes from is something that is totally lost on most in our society. At least you know and appreciate the sacrifice made so you can enjoy a great meal.

I have the utmost appreciation for your process.

 

[ValarieF]

They also LOVE kombucha tea. And tomatoes.

Yummy.....Im home gave myself injection its a once a month injection for migraine medicine.

 

[BY Bob]

It's Friday

 

[BY Bob]

Made it back home and let the Princesses out into their yard. Bribed my way back into their good books by providing some leftovers from the weekend - Hamburgers mainly. They love the burger and the bun but are not so keen on the lettuce or the tomato slices!
Now they have chowed down it is time for sunbathing.

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That's funny, mine go in this order when eating a hamburger.....

1. Meat
2. Cheese
3. Tomato
4. Lettuce
5. Bun

 

[BY Bob]

This is sad


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Oh no.

 

[BY Bob]

That’s why I diffused the whole situation. I packed up all eight of my birds, and they are at a ranch, other side of town. And after a very long conversation with my brother, I’m flying up to see him in Seattle for a few days. Linda from church, is watching over my house for now.

I'm glad to hear that you protected them in this manner. Is this long term or temporary?

 

[BY Bob]

I missed this years one tail feather photo. Alinta woke up a few days ago with a tail, and a couple hours later it was gone. Otherwise you can't tell looking at her that she is molting, but stand back when the coop is opened!

Earlier this week
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Yesterday

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She really is molting gracefully.