Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Every year, she faces the misery of squeezing her head in a big paper heart. I know Tony, Parmesan and Mozzarella can't handle this. She does end up crying to take it off so I never leave it on her for the entire day. Maybe for a few minutes.

That's very nice of you. It does make a great photo.

 

[Grandma The Chicken]

Every year, she faces the misery of squeezing her head in a big paper heart. I know Tony, Parmesan and Mozzarella can't handle this. She does end up crying to take it off so I never leave it on her for the entire day. Maybe for a few minutes.

How is this quote informative, featherhead?

 

[featherhead007]

How is this quote informative, featherhead?

My chooks don’t know how to wear such artworks. I find it interesting that yours do.

 

[RoyalChick]

Here are Mr P and Penelope my old girl (who can crow really well!), sharing a duet:

Wow they sure don't take long to grow up do they? Is that Naked Neck you have there?


FYI - Silkie Roos - you won't know if it's a pullet or Roo until they either crow or lay an egg! So you will have them for around 6 months before you know!


I don't have time to truly catch up - I do a search for people who I know have important items happening IE: chicks, questions about coops, etc...


Actually takes me an hour and a half in the evening to catch up, I am up at 4:30am, work a 12hr day (6 days a week), come home around 6pm, cook supper (when the camp has nothing I want which is most days), then shower and jump into bed by 8pm - many times I am reading in bed to catch up Mostly I am just skimming not truly reading - looking at the photos


Oh Bliss! I could feel it here as you were describing it thanks! I also needed that break! I can't wait to get home this time around - thanks for that lovely little break with the chickies


Thanks for clearing it up! I actually did think it was a fake egg

And finally here is a Lynx out here on the project, chowing down on a deer.

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That Penelope sure does know how to crow. Does she do it in response to Mr.P usually? Or more random?
Love the lynx - it would feel right at home with @BY Bob's cats!

 

[RoyalChick]

Take Phyllis for example. I have spent a lot of time watching her and trying to decide why she reacts as she does. I have determined that those silly head feathers of hers are passing through her skull and impeding brain function. It is not her fault she reacts as she does. So being the “O” focused hen that I am, I am assisting her by trying to pull out her head feathers whenever I can.

Sorry all - I am travelling all week and am on planes and other place without internet connection - but I had to log on for ask Aurora and now I can't stop giggling.
Will keep up as best I can while I am away.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I understand people work but theres still plenty of time while your sitting relaxing
before bed. You dont have to read everything word for word. Just skim it.

I'm afraid my style is to fully engage with people, online or in person. It feels like a waste to skim a post about their chickens that someone has gone to the trouble to write and tell us about and post pictures. I'm interested in quality engagement not a quantity of chit chat.
But that's my personal style, at a party I'd rather speak with a few people at length than flit about the room. Words a person says and how they are said matter to me and tells me a lot about someone. I tried skimming and I missed too much (terrible at skimming I guess). I also tried backwards-reading which I do once in a while but overall feels rather disjointed. This thread for me is not like some random entertainment show to pay half-attention to and fast-forward through. But it may be that it is indeed that now and not the place for me anymore.

Maybe, if you need more reading, you could join multiple threads - that way each thread remains manageable for most of us, but you still get lots of posts between all the threads, so you are happy as well? I already spend far too much time on this thread...and as the daylight increases, will have less time - unless I want to ignore my own chickens, which I don't.

Yes, agree! This was what I was trying to suggest, there are other threads on BYC that are truly just chat rooms. This thread has/had a rule about off-chicken topic tax for each post, lately ignored to a great degree. That was to try to keep the thread chicken-focused and not too chit-chatty. But, I understand things evolve, and it is Bob's thread to host as he wishes.

I have been reading on hatching and chicks. Need to make sure I am doing everything right. I used to greet people alot but I havent lately so thinking about getting back into that.

Greeting is a great way to welcome new folks to BYC, I very much appreciated the greeters when I joined.

It is indeed a massive thread. Perhaps a off topic offshoot? Idk just a thought to ponder. I feel like I am to new to have an opinion.

That's an interesting idea.

Rant tax, from 2021: Queenie (RIP) getting scolded, or instructed, can't tell! EDIT: I think that's Popcorn giving her the what-for!

A fine fluffy butt

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Well she picked up the 4 girls and I gave her some fresh eggs from my flock. Nice lady and wants more I told her March 1st-3rd they will be hatching. She's replacing her daughters flock that got decimated by the neighbors dog. (That won't happen again). The Olive eggers are easy to sex by marking and legs. The silkies I can vent sex when they are a day old. I'm thinking I may just start selling fertile eggs.

How much experience do you have with vent sexing, especially on bantams? Everything I have read says that the reasons bantams are sold straight run is because they are too small to vent sex, that it risks injury to the bird. Maybe some people can do it, just wanted to make sure you didn’t try and accidentally hurt one unless you have a lot of experience with it.

Oh My Gosh!!!! Of I am soooooooo eggcited and happy for you! Oh you are getting around really well - oh that is so wonderful


Oh that must feel so wonderful to be able to get out and about - I am so thrilled for you

Im so glad for you and to see you are getting around now. Chicken time is the best thing when you dont feel good i bet it felt great to be out with your flock.

Well I wouldn’t say I am getting around well. I can barely use the crutches at all, I have to take really short steps. But there was definitely no way I could use my knee walker in the coop. Will still be spending most of my time in my recliner for the next four weeks.

Crutch tax

 

[Ponypoor]

Ask Aurora

Today’s letter comes from @ManueB rooster Theo.

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And he writes……..

Dear Aurora,
Let me introduce myself. I am the most beautiful, most angry, and most proud little rooster in the world.
My name is Théo and I live in France in the mountains.

Here is my problem. I have four hens who should honour and worship my beautiful self. Unfortunately, I happen to be half bantam. Can you believe that those french humans have the cheeks to call us bantams "dwarves", by the way? Anyway, my hens are bigger than me and since I live on a very steep slope, I never manage to mount and mate them properly. Because I need to maintain some balance, I must grab their feathers as I would fall otherwise, and this displease them so much that they run away from their duty to my gorgeous self.

Would you have any advice on dealing with this shameful problem? I trust your discretion not to mention this to any of your beak book friends.

Cocorico from your beautiful Théo.


Dear Théo,

You are the second rooster to write to me requesting advice. Most of my knowledge of roosters has come from stories told by Lilly and Hattie so I am relying on them some to answer your question. So don’t blame me if I miss something somehow.

Despite this, it is wise of you to seek council so that you can better understand the hen’s point of view. This speaks well of your character. So many chickens are unwilling to admit they need help and seek out creative ways to learn. In fact, the world would be a much better place if everyone took the time to understand why others are reacting to situations in the manner they may be. It is only by trying to understand the motivations of others that we can better relate to them and avoid conflict.

Too much of the world is focused on themselves and what is happening to them. This Self or “S” focus leads to a point of view that is more “I can’t believe they are doing this to me” instead of “I wonder why they would react in that fashion”. Things are always happening to these S individuals and they take no responsibility for their own environment.

Individuals who are Other or “O” focused spend their time trying to understand why others react as they do. By understanding the motivations of others you can modify your behaviors and approach and create an environment suited to a better life for you and everyone around you.

Take Phyllis for example. I have spent a lot of time watching her and trying to decide why she reacts as she does. I have determined that those silly head feathers of hers are passing through her skull and impeding brain function. It is not her fault she reacts as she does. So being the “O” focused hen that I am, I am assisting her by trying to pull out her head feathers whenever I can. One of these days I will get enough out, or get the correct one, to fix her. I even have Sydney helping her as well. It is not easy, but it is my way of being O Focused and concerned about others.

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Let me now discuss your concern over the use of the term “Dwarves” to describe bantams. If you solely focus on those goofy dwarves from Disney’s Snow White, I could see why you would be so offended. But that is hardly the definitive imagine of dwarves. Did you know that JRR Tolkien was so offended by Disney’s portrayal of dwarves in that film that he put in his will that Disney could never have the rights to any of his materials. My suggestion is to accept this term as a compliment and picture yourself as one of Tolkien’s brave dwarves, maybe Gimli.

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Now on to your main question. Clearly you are doing some things right as your ladies are willing to have relations with you. That speaks well of you. You must bring them food and keep them safe. Great work! So what you are really asking me is why the ladies get upset when you grab some feathers to balance yourself.

You must agree that now that I have broken this down to the crux of the problem, your questions seems silly. Do you like it when someone grabs and pulls your feathers? You don’t have to be a leghorn to figure out why they might be upset.

Do try to remember that not only Roosters are proud of their feathers; hens are too. One of the most prized possessions we ladies have is our feathers. We spend a lot of time fluffing and grooming as well. Even more important is the amount of harassment a bald hen would take from the other ladies. You are doing her no favor if you pull some out.

What to do? Well, I am going to suggest you work on your balance more. Try to become more agile. Jump onto a branch and practice your motions with nothing to hold onto. Maybe even try that French training methodology, parkour.

Barring your ability to be able to complete the process without grabbing on I am going to suggest that you petition your human servant to bring in some dwarf hens for you. I fear what might happen if a full-sized rooster shows up. You could lose all your hens. At least those that wish to have babies someday.

Aurora

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Good evening Ma’am;

Your advice is well and truly solid in practicality, but I can’t help but wonder at he execution of you thought process for removing feathers to aid in thought process.

Are you sure that it is indeed the head feathers somehow growing into the brain causing the issue? Maybe there is no issue…?

I wonder if you have truly given that hypothesis it true due diligence?

As for your advice to the Eye Candy Theo, maybe suggesting he face down hill while doing his roosterly duties!

Your cordially;

Human Kelly

 

[Ponypoor]

How much experience don you have with vent sexing, especially on bantams? Everything I have read says that the reasons bantams are sold straight run is because they are too small to vent sex, that it risks injury to the bird. Maybe some people can do it, just wanted ti make sure you didn’t try and accidentally hurt one unless you have a lot of experience with it.





Well I wouldn’t say I am getting around well. I can barely use the crutches at all, I have to take really short steps. But there was definitely no way I could use my knee walker in the coop. Will still be spending most of my time in my recliner for the next four weeks.

Crutch tax
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You are correct, bantams cannot be vent sexed. I wish there was a gene test developed that could test for males using poop as a biological material!!!

Oh my goodness look at this lovely wattles! Wow I love them!!!

 

[BY Bob]

How much experience do you have with vent sexing, especially on bantams? Everything I have read says that the reasons bantams are sold straight run is because they are too small to vent sex, that it risks injury to the bird. Maybe some people can do it, just wanted to make sure you didn’t try and accidentally hurt one unless you have a lot of experience with it.





Well I wouldn’t say I am getting around well. I can barely use the crutches at all, I have to take really short steps. But there was definitely no way I could use my knee walker in the coop. Will still be spending most of my time in my recliner for the next four weeks.

Crutch tax
View attachment 3406546

Any mobility is better than none. Baby steps.