Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

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.

Don't watch. Let them sort it out. Give them more space and more obstacles.

 

[rural mouse]

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


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?


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).

Dunno on the duckwing. That's why it's hard. He's also a Bitsa which doesn't help.

The new breeds don't have standards, so ignore those other than as color examples. Twirp's breed was named after Whiting who developed it. They lay blue eggs. There's also a true green that lays green eggs.

Hector: australorp....

 

[Ponypoor]

Love that picture of Mr.P in consultation with his ladies. That is a POW-worthy one for sure!

They are grooming him! He definitely has his favourite ladies - Marty is his hands down favourite but he also likes Curly, Penelope, Rose and Dorothy.

He doesn’t like Blanches much or Sophia, and I have only seen him with the Grey Ladies once. Not sure about Henny Penny, I know he has tried to boss her around - she steers clear of him mostly...

It was a wheezing noise. I put her down when she stopped. She was not making the noise when I went to say goodnight (it was the same trip)

OK - it's good she stopped making the noise. Is she the one with the beak issue? Maybe try a wet mash feed for her, dry feed might be hard for her to manage.

 

[bgmathteach]

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How are they doing out with the bigs? They went out a day or two ago, yes?

 

[Ponypoor]

I thought that too. On my second batch of pullet chicks, I realized that they are cute and curious the whole time they are growing up. And then they become beautiful. And lay eggs.

Yep there is that! Not sure how the chicken feels but it's eggciting with that first egg of theirs

The barred is a coocoo marans rooster named hades

Darn! Yes you told me that before (old lady here) - ok well beautiful still

Got home bout 830 last night and slept till noon. Picked up a cold from the damp weather but I am feeling better after a good night's rest. It's sunny and warm here and the chooks are out

Glad you're home - darn bad luck picking up something up though.

I can't wait to see those wee babies - though they are likely getting big now

 

[rural mouse]

I wonder what I would get if I bred Mr P (Polish) to Curly (Frizzle Silkie)

I bet it would be cute (and with my luck a Roo )

More frizzle birds. Just don't breed frizzle to frizzle. The feathers get incredibly fragile and break over nothing more than the bird moving.

 

[Ponypoor]

I thought that too. On my second batch of pullet chicks, I realized that they are cute and curious the whole time they are growing up. And then they become beautiful. And lay eggs.

Yep there is that! Not sure how the chicken feels but it's eggciting with that first egg of theirs

The barred is a coocoo marans rooster named hades

Darn! Yes you told me that before (old lady here) - ok well beautiful still

Thanks RC, jet lag is kicking my butt but I'm fixing to get outside and enjoy the sunshine

OK you need to rest and get better! Make sure you are out there laying in the warm sunshine, keep your camera handy for any action photos of flying chickens! (or babies.... just saying...)

 

[Ponypoor]

How are they doing out with the bigs? They went out a day or two ago, yes?

That's right! I haven't seen an update on them - I sure hope they are all getting along.

 

[rural mouse]

Yes Yes! That is what I want - a breed of chicken that is all different colours so I can easily tell them apart yet lay blue or green eggs

Can the chicks be sexed prior so that you get all hens? Oh too bad I am up here and they are down there

They're available at www.mcmurrayhatchery.com

They do have info on shipping to Canada. They also have a 90% accuracy guarantee on sexing chicks.

 

[Ponypoor]

More frizzle birds. Just don't breed frizzle to frizzle. The feathers get incredibly fragile and break over nothing more than the bird moving.

Yes I read that somewhere - the things we humans do to animals for vanity - maybe I will just get more barnyard mix hens....

Oh Brother! Can you hear me?! talking about more babies and more hens - sheesh! You guys are terrible enablers hahahaha

It's all @RebeccaBoyd and @GregnLety (and @ValarieF !) fault - all this talk of baby chicks, and posting photos of cute adorable balls of fluff