Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Reminds me of that time that Misty was missing... I thought she had somehow got out of the barn and was picked off by some predator. And all day there was Blanche sitting on top of my hay pile chortling and talking..... I thought she was sick or something.

I was resigned to the fact that Misty was toast. Then I kept looking at Blanche sitting on top of that hay... talking and walking back and forth on the bales. And she would LOOK my way! chortle, walk, look.... repeat...

Well finally I was curious as to what she was doing and when I went over I just happened to see grey tail feathers sticking out from the bales! I hauled away a bale and there was Misty wedged in between the bales - she had tried to get in there, got stuck, AND laid an egg there. Meanwhile Blanche hopped off the bales and ran over to the feed and stuffed herself hahahaha! Guess she was starving after trying to get my attention all day. It was at that moment I knew chickens were actually fairly intelligent!

I do have a video of that somewhere....

True friends are priceless!

 

[BY Bob]

Definitely going to bed with a full crop!

View attachment 3419889

That's impressive!

 

[BY Bob]

Yeah. Cooked shrimp. Once a week I treat myself to Pad Thai takeout with shrimp and I give the tails to the Princesses with a generous amount of shrimp still attached.

Mine love leftover lobster tail shells. They get them once or twice a year at most but they go crazy for them.

The funniest thing is the look on the waiter's face when Mrs BY Bob asks for a doggie bag for lobster shells.

 

[BY Bob]

I had to laugh at what my mum told me today - she gave the gang left over spaghetti, fries, and scratch grain, must tell her to not give them so much junk food!

Mine had sushi and pasta today.

 

[featherhead007]

Good boy. I hope he got some steak as a reward.

I’m Out of steak

 

[BY Bob]

Breaking News
Two chickens on the roost at the Chicken Palace.
Lots of grumbling about this.
View attachment 3419948

Shocking!

What brought this on?

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh sorry! They looked slate in that photo - but I do seem to recall now that you mentioned them as being green 'snakeskin' legs - love them no matter!

Oh I would think a black Ameraucana would be a wonderful addition - do you have a photo? do you know what colour eggs ?

Very egg-cited! Are you serious?!

Yes I am serious. I absolutely need more chickens (or give up keeping chickens entirely) - I feel a flock of three just isn't stable or secure enough.
So I really want to get chicks this spring and have been connecting breeders in my area (broadly defined) about what they have available.

 

[Ponypoor]

This is what happened. My side gate was open for the meter reader to check the box. I couldn’t find Hen-Rietta, Dakota or coco, after he left. I found Dakota hiding behind the feed box in the coop. I found Coco across the yard in the willow tree. Frantically trying to find Hen-Rietta, I panicky went to Jaffar and asked him to find her. He went to the woodpile and started crowing. She came out from under the pile as if to say “what’s up?”!!
Now that’s an incredible rooster! He saved me from a heart attack today for sure!
(Jaffar.. SUPER HERO!)

So - I really hope that you gave Jaffar a hug, kiss and lots of treats!

Did buddy leave the gate open? or was it just an 'uh-oh' moment for you and a frantic search (had some of those!), you must have been beside yourself! what a scare!

Well, after yesterday and today's egg haul it is time to start advertising the eggs on some of the local facebook groups again. Except for maybe a week total since last fall I was getting either 5 to 6 eggs a day. That kept myself, my sister and grandpa in eggs and left me with enough to sell on average about 2 dozen a week. Since February the girls that took a winter break or were broody have came back into production and numbers were picking up. Still mostly topping out at 8 or so a day. Tuesday I got 11, yesterday I got a dozen and today 14. Is it coincidence that about 3 weeks ago I switched from tractor supply feeds to one that is milled locally and is a gamebird feed or did that really have something to do with it. I think just coincidence as days are simply getting longer. Either way, I love the new feed, it smells fresher, has whole grains in it not just pellets and all the chickens love it and do not waste any. It has 18% protein so is good for growing chicks and anyone who wants to molt. The girls have access to oyster shells for calcium if needed as it only has 3% calcium so it is also better for my boys. Egg shells are still super strong I might add. The only downside to the new feed is that it is a little more pricer then what I was getting from Tractor Supply. I was using their Producers Pride Layer pellets and getting 40lb bags for on average 12 to 14 a bag depending on the day. This new feed is sold in 50lb bags for 21 a bag including tax. Seeing as how a bag almost lasted 3 weeks I just need to sell 5 dozen eggs every 3 weeks to cover their feed. The girls have already paid for both the first bag and the 2nd bag since I switched over, good girls.

I was thinking of switching feed but there isn't really all that much choice were I am. And my gals are good with the stuff I use so I am good with staying with the brand I have.

Breaking News
Two chickens on the roost at the Chicken Palace.
Lots of grumbling about this.
View attachment 3419948

Poor Bernie hahaha - she thought she had it all to herself I bet!

Good boy. I hope he got some steak as a reward.

Agree with Bob - good boy!

They are so good at acting quickly I miss a lot of things. Just today I wish I had been filming them.

We had some leftover sushi so I gave it to the ladies. Lady Featherington barged right in, stabbed with her beak, and took the whole center out of a piece of a spicy tuna roll. She turned to run with it and it started to slip out of her beak. Rather than keep running, she stopped and started to swallow it. I have no idea how, but she worked it around until she swallowed it all without dropping any of it. It was truly impressive.

hahaha - AWESOME! I could just picture it - and her glutching it back - like a gull I bet! Good LF! That is truly the Way of the Chicken!

I’m going with a sloughing-off, because part of it looks membranous. Did it smell bad?
Hope she’s okay. No way I can “read ahead” I’m 40 pages behind. I’ll try to search…

Today she had a better poop apparently, and she stole a shrimp and scarfed it back

RC is teasing me asking if I thought a black Ameraucana would be a nice addition to her group.. ? Well YA!

I'll catch you up - Queen Aurora's statement is up I will send you a link; Rebecca's marshmallows are ~6weeks old and adorable (she posted videos)! There was a lengthy, heavy discussion surrounding chicken welfare. Bob's ladies continue to have interesting bedtime 'discussions'. Valarie put a dozen eggs in the incubator. GregnLety have a gazillion baby chicks (oh so cute!).

OK all have a splendid evening! I am pooped (pun intended curtesy of RC ).

 

[BY Bob]

I’m Out of steak

How is that even possible? What is happening out there in California?

 

[RoyalChick]

They are so good at acting quickly I miss a lot of things. Just today I wish I had been filming them.

We had some leftover sushi so I gave it to the ladies. Lady Featherington barged right in, stabbed with her beak, and took the whole center out of a piece of a spicy tuna roll. She turned to run with it and it started to slip out of her beak. Rather than keep running, she stopped and started to swallow it. I have no idea how, but she worked it around until she swallowed it all without dropping any of it. It was truly impressive.

I don't need video - with that description I can see it as large as life!