Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Took this for your bedtime pleasure.

And how the heck do they get up there!??

 

[featherhead007]

Took this for your bedtime pleasure.

Sure your bird is not snoring? Or maybe choir practice?

 

[featherhead007]

I rolled my own sushi today! Yum
The chooks got some rice, avocado and cucumber. I used up all the crab I had. I also had salmon . The price of crab legs is skyrocketing.

I don’t use seaweed in my sushi, I roll it very carefully. (There’s plenty of leftovers for the chooks tomorrow)

 

[featherhead007]

Done with the day. Full list of chores for tomorrow! (Exciting stuff)
1. To town to file a complaint and restraining order
2. DMV for duplicate pink slip
3. Head north to check on the property
4. Finish up my paperwork for taxes
5. Shopping for groceries
6. Clean out the chickens coop and run
7. Try to remember what else I needed to do!
Off topic tax

 

[rural mouse]

Do you think it’s the sound of the chainsaw causing him to chortle so? I haven’t heard my rooster making that noise.

You know I worry about Mr P - is it normal to be so quiet? And I haven’t heard him crowing in a bit? Is it the time of year? Should I be worried?

He purrs almost every evening once he's settled and most of the girls are.

As for Mr. P, every rooster is his own personality. I don't recall hearing either Rusty or Buster purr. Cheetah has taught all the others to purr too. Hector almost sounds like a growly kid making motor-boat noises.

 

[rural mouse]

And how the heck do they get up there!??

Tonight, Cheetah was pacing around and crouching like he was going to jump/fly straight up. Then he'd move and repeat, eyeing the top the whole time. He eventually decided to jump to the lowest one, then jump from there. Some jump up to the various layers of the nest boxes, then over. Lark and Indigo both hopped over later. Cuckoo hopped up between Twirp and Horus, but wanted to be next to Cheetah so pushed Twirp down....the whole line shuffled down, squishing PITA into the wall (she wasn't pleased as pin feathers require more space). Horus didn't want Cuckoo next to him either, so he encouraged her to keep going. Cuckoo kept trying to go UNDER Twirp (who is much smaller). Twirp wound up standing on Cuckoo's back to get over her, flattening Cuckoo to the roost in the process. Both squawked, Cheetah chided, no one fell, and Twirp pushed Horus back the other way. PITA promptly pushed Blanche, who pushed Cheetah, who squawked, being squished between Blanche and Cuckoo who was still going the other way.

In addition to jump/flapping, there's a pallet "ladder" leaning against the wall to the left of the door which they also climb for a shorter jump.

 

[rural mouse]

Sure your bird is not snoring? Or maybe choir practice?

He's not sleeping....yet....but several of the girls are.

 

[BY Bob]

Moult update

View attachment 3296459Poor Storm still looks like she's trying to imitate a naked neck, although it's a mass of pin feathers.
View attachment 3296456Blanche still doesn't seem to be doing much...other than starting to look rumpled (yay, she's finally moulting). Meanwhile PITA has a new tail sprouting and seems to be popping a few more darker patches.

View attachment 3296463Cheetah's tail is down to the long flag feathers and nothing else....
View attachment 3296460Twirp still looks as smooth as ever, but I did notice one wing appears to be missing a feather in the middle, so she's doing something.

View attachment 3296461Pear is the epitome of misery. She came out....briefly, then bolted back into the coop to huddle on top of the nest boxes when the IDIOTS came back to check on things. She's moving very carefully, so I suspect pins on her belly/around her legs. Will not add to the misery by checking.

View attachment 3296473
Nellie is still growing feathers but seems back to normal, dodging the camera to the right behind Lark. Indigo is the feet to the left behind the fine, stylish Lark.

I've had a couple of white eggs show up, so I think Nellie and Thing have started laying again. Nothing small enough for Lark or Indigo, but based upon Lark's color, any day is likely.

Cuckoo is the only one who still doesn't seem to be moulting.
View attachment 3296457Discovered a few lingering flowers (lows 28-32F, with highs upper 70s), but rain/snow in the forecast for the weekend.View attachment 3296462Color has climbed up the slopes. Not the spectacular color New England is known for (no maples) but the aspens contrasting with the evergreens makes for some nice displays.

Looks like all the molts are pretty reasonable. I suspect they will weather things pretty well.

 

[BY Bob]

Well, it looks like I'm going to have to regroup and try again next year to hatch off another silkie pullet. I will admit to not being the best at sexing them young, but, Hoppy is starting to show tell-tale signs that he is a boy darn it. The biggest indicator for a boy is a ratty tail instead of a round pom-pom and early bumps on their comb. Well, we had a photo-shoot inside this morning and guess who has both.View attachment 3296622View attachment 3296624View attachment 3296625View attachment 3296626View attachment 3296627View attachment 3296628

In sorry. I just cannot believe the luck you are having.

 

[BY Bob]

Wow I have heard it said people start looking like their dogs! But you sure look a lot like Phyllis there

Well now that’s looks fun! That’s an awesome soirée - were you able to bring Mrs Bob?

Not this trip. She was on my last business trip. Someone had to take care of the animals.