Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LhickenChicken]

Central Ontario Canada, it's a mix of boreal and Carolinian forest and farmland.

But the big thing is the freeze thaw - the temps will go above zero durimg the day, and make the snow wet and then drop like a rock at night and freeze it solid.

It's hilarious walking in the backyard as I keep forgetting about the clothes line and as I am walking along will hit the line the snow raises me above the ground a couple feet.

Cant stand snow / winter...

Weather Whining Tax
(I pay alot of whining tax haha)

Fluffy McNugget
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I read the Fba primer twice already. I like the Polish chickens Sylvie and Legertha.
As for winter, I like it a lot. Especially when you wake up in the morning and you see that frost on the trees.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I didnt get it why everyone was laughing at my post. Now I get it.

That’s why I changed mine to just after posting it, but I’m behind….
@BY Bob and others have great pictures of their chickens using BeakBook!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I sure hope more than 2 hatch or that ladies getting a nasty message. And they have 5 toes

But she’s a young layer, or maybe I don’t remember it right? Or were these eggs you ordered and put under a broody?

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I think it is not quite that straightforward. Virulence in Marek's is governed by numerous genes and they could not pinpoint all of them but some they could. And they observed (fascinating) that it got more virulent in Europe and the US but from different genes - so the virulent strains evolved independently in the two geographies.
Your point about whether the strain pre-existed or evolved for the first time in the last 50 years is I think exactly what they mean by saying in their paper that they would like to see more work to go back further, look at Jungle Fowl etc.


I still only partially understand this. There is another paper that all sources cite that sounds like it might address this topic but I didn't read it yet. I might tackle that tomorrow (though I also want to look into hormone treatments for Eli so will prioritize that).
And seriously, though I have some education in these areas, we are really close to the edge of my ability to understand the science!

And for tax I will share this very cute moment from earlier in the week. Eli got mashed potato over her face (the piece of beef leftover from dinner out came with mashed potato and onion). Bernie very gently cleaned it off Eli’s face.

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I don't know if some one already said this but...
I don't think that chickens are supposed to have onions!
Maybe I misunderstood what you said, but I don't know...

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Naughty Pastel, it’s very painful to remove the spurs, you an keep them filed down.

It’s Spring and Roo are getting frisky. Try to give more free range time of possible to distract them. Also if you can put seas for them to hide and get away from each other.

Cont remember who on here, but they put a coffee table in the run so they can run under or hop up onto.

It might be @bgmathteach who has the very handy coffee table.

 

[bgmathteach]

It might be @bgmathteach who has the very handy coffee table.

Yes, @Ponypoor and @ChicoryBlue I have the coffee table that the chooks can run under. Rectangular, and was perfect size to drape an opened grain bag over & put roosts on top. The 'sides' (which are the grain bag) give them a bit of privacy if they are low in the pecking order and want to hide for a bit and/or get away from the roos!

I recently picked up another wooden coffee table that will be going out in the chook's run once I get it urethaned. This one, however, is round. I don't think I like it as much as you can't make a 'chunnel' (a chunnel is a chicken tunnel)out of it as easily, but it will still be a place they can run under to get away from the roos, and something to hop on top of, too.

I have 'things' in their runs for enrichment, but I think I need to add more. Once I get the run expanded, the compost will be inside the run, and with the little bit of extra space, I think I would like to build a stick gazebo like @MaryJanet did, only have a few cross sticks for them to hop up onto going up the gazebo, so they can get sort of high. That said, the extending of the run, putting in of metal fencing along the road like @BY Bob has around his garden, and building another coop will keep my busy for a while once the ground thaws. (the coop will be big & heavy, needs to be built in place. - and need the run expanded - at least on that end - first.)

Pictures of the wooden coffee table 'chunnel', please excuse it's obvious dirtiness, I've had/used it for 5 or 6 years now. I need to remove the wooden runners along the top and replace the bag this spring. That said, 'I've got my money's worth' from it as it was free on the side of the road! The runners were left over scraps, the roosts are, as you can see, branches. And, I put 2x4 base (the long way) under the legs for more stability (and to keep the small leg ends from rotting). Those were also left over pieces. I find my chickens don't 'roost' per se up there, but they hop up on it often, occasionally will preen for a bit, but usually just hop up for a few minutes ... then go on their way. They do run under it frequently - especially in the spring with the Roo's hormones running high, and occasionally a chicken or a duck will think it is a good spot to make a nest (a couple of times a year.) When I picked it up, I was earlier in my chicken keeping and wasn't sure about it, but it has been one of the best additions to my run in terms of use by the chooks. (second only to my raised dirt-bath with roosts behind it!)

It is second to this:

Which only cost $5 and a few branches and screw!

 

[RoyalChick]

I don't know if some one already said this but...
I don't think that chickens are supposed to have onions!
Maybe I misunderstood what you said, but I don't know...

I think not a lot of onion may be good advice. Generally mine don't like onion and leave it be, but these were caramelized and they seemed to enjoy them.
It was a tiny amount - just the scrapings off my friend's plate after we ate out together. Good to share the concern but I don't think this tiny amount will do them any harm.

 

[ValarieF]

I think that one is a frizzle like Curly

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One is a frizzle and one is a silkie.

 

[featherhead007]

So, that means they aren't true silkies - more likely a silkie cross?
I thought the white one's 'feathers' looked different, not quite the same fuzzball as the other. It looked like they has some longer, 'silken threads', which I thought odd for a just hatched baby. Thoughts on that?

(P.S. @ValarieF - even if 'she' isn't full on silkie ...the 'blonde one' is adorable at this stage none-the-less!)

Fake silkies? Like my fake Rocks! Right mathteach?

 

[featherhead007]

Oh no! That just sucks so sorry to hear this, but better to get over it now before the nice summer weather arrives.

Here is a fluffy butt to make you smile
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Fluffy butt over achievers