Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[TX Chick Noob]

It is called Know Your Chickens by Jack Byard.
But it really is for folk like me who struggle with understanding even the basics. It has been a long running joke on this thread that I barely know what a breed is (vs a color). They are all chickens to me - meaning I see them as individuals not breeds.

Well I am not much better, and having roosters look so much different than the hens is confusing too.

Thanks.

 

[ValarieF]

Well I am not much better, and having roosters look so much different than the hens is confusing too.

Thanks.

Same here

 

[rural mouse]

Well I am not much better, and having roosters look so much different than the hens is confusing too.

Thanks.

Just to add to the confusion, some breeds they look VERY different, and some breeds they look very similar. Mostly the hackle/saddle feathers are the easy identifiers. Roos feathers are long and pointy, hens are shorter, wider, and rounded.....except for breeds like Campines where the roos are "hen-feathered". Roos also typically have longer/curving tail feathers while the hens are short and mostly straight (Cochins being an exception).

Silver is a good example to start with as there is such a contrast with her feathers. Note the width of her white edged tail feathers and the short length of the ones around her neck.

Storm's show nicely too with the darker edge.

To contrast, the cascade around the neck and between the wing and tail, not to mention the curve of the tail feathers even though they aren't reaching past the shorter support tail feathers. @RoyalChick looking at this pic of Kren, I realized he's got duckwing.

Horus demonstrates the pointiness well, too. Also the rusty red shoulders doesn't usually show up on hens.

A few more to peruse

I know Nellie was moulting, but it does magnify the shape of the feathers VERY well.

 

[ValarieF]

Ok this morning I went out to feed the chickens and there are a few feathers everywhere. This morning Hades is jumping Autumn to mate but she aint having it. Shes not even laying. Zeus has been trying to mount Summer who is laying. My question is do you all have an advice this is my first time going through this and its stressing me out watching them.

 

[lightm]

Oh no. Prayers that he stays not so severe and try and talk to him as much as possible. It's hard when dads are sick my father in law is my onlly dad and he has cancer all over. UPDATE: he is starting chemo and radiation in 2 weeks.

I am sorry about your father in law.

Thank you!

I am assuming that since he is in a hospital, he is getting decent care?? I will keep him in my thoughts!

Yes you are correct. Hospitals are completely full right now. He was lucky to have a bed. He did not want to go to the hospital. He thought he could tough it out. China changed their covid policy 180 in December. Everyone I know in China have ALL got covid within last two weeks. Young people are recovering just fine. Old people + people with preexisting conditions may having a hard time. In my hometown, I believe covid has just peaked and things have started to be normal.

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this thinking good thoughts for sure

Thank you.

 

[ValarieF]

 

[ManueB]

Ok this morning I went out to feed the chickens and there are a few feathers everywhere. This morning Hades is jumping Autumn to mate but she aint having it. Shes not even laying. Zeus has been trying to mount Summer who is laying. My question is do you all have an advice this is my first time going through this and its stressing me out watching them.

I only have two roosters so I'm not an expert and others will certainly give more useful advice. First, this is unfortunately totally normal, and labelled as the hormonal phase- meaning from around six months to somewhere from 12 to 18 months, most male chickens will have a jerk phase. I went through it with Théo (he is still on the mean side) and here is what helped me out. I noticed that he had phases during the day when it was really worse, in the morning when opening the coop, and in the evening one hour before roosting. So for a few days I separated him for an hour from the flock at those times. However he went completely mad, so after a while what I did was separate him but not alone, with a hen that liked him or on the opposite that he would not try to mate. I've read about other people feeding while separating so as to keep their mind busy.
Now you have several roosters so it will be hard to do exactly the same, but you can eventually separate at some time in a day the hens from the cockerels if it gets too hard. When you do it for a whole week, it starts becoming a habit and they don't dislike it as much.

It is said that cockerels, unlike roosters, will mate pullets that don't lay. My second cockerel, Gaston, did that but only with the pullet that was very near laying point- in fact it was a telling sign.

Also, you can read many articles on BYC about handling roosters, and some have different points of view. This one gives links to some of the most useful : https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/methods-for-dealing-with-roosters.75979/

 

[ManueB]

I am sorry about your father in law.

Thank you!

Yes you are correct. Hospitals are completely full right now. He was lucky to have a bed. He did not want to go to the hospital. He thought he could tough it out. China changed their covid policy 180 in December. Everyone I know in China have ALL got covid within last two weeks. Young people are recovering just fine. Old people + people with preexisting conditions may having a hard time. In my hometown, I believe covid has just peaked and things have started to be normal.

Thank you.

Sending good thoughts for him and for you. These are times where it's very hard being so far from your family .

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick looking at this pic of Kren, I realized he's got duckwing.

Oh that is very clear what duckwing means - but that is neither silver nor gold duckwing.... Blue duckwing? Black duckwing?

Twirp (for @RoyalChick Whiting True Blue, new breed, not in standards yet)

I think this may be too advanced for me - particularly as it is a new breed - but there is nothing either white or blue about that gorgeous chicken - so how come that is the name?

Hector (black australorp)

I think I got Black Australorp nailed - that is @MaryJanet's lovely Mary - they have big black eyes! BUT the guide says they come in both blue and white. So that means the breed cannot be = Black Australorp. It is the RIR problem.
It must be: Breed = Australorp; Color = Black (or blue, or white).

 

[Marie2020]

We had a lovely day today
View attachment 3364745View attachment 3364746

Today is soggy wet and miserable. I'm sad having to shut up the coop I don't want them outside in this.

One of those ducks was naughty and bullied the children so I told them to calm down and surprisingly they listened