Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

Please let us Out

We will be good. We promise. View attachment 3454480

It's so nice out today. PLEASE!

What did we do Aurora? Why can't we go out and play like Hattie?

Poor sweet babies.

 

[BY Bob]

So, it was a tough decision, but I like the middle/second one best. She still has that very lady-like look, but has a wonderful profile shot of her head/face.!

I prefer that one as well.

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, so since y’all liked one of my pics so much, need your advice. Which of these three do you like the best to submit to POW?

1
View attachment 3454727

2
View attachment 3454728

3
View attachment 3454729

OMG, these are great!

 

[BY Bob]

Once again I've missed way too many pages. I can't thank @Ponypoor enough for that synopsis. It's awesome!

Have a question for you folks. Our rather eccentric (to be charitable) neighbor has 11 cats. He leaves a window (and often his door) open year round for them and complains about his electric bill. (Insert eye roll) My question is...should I actually worry about domestic, but half wild, cats as predators? I'm pretty sure that Manny is bigger than any of them. We are starting to get a bit of a mouse problem and so I really wouldn't mind them hanging around and cutting down on the rodents. Our run isn't predator proof, but the coop is. We lock them in at night.

Here's Manny behind bars...View attachment 3454617
And snack time of fried Okra. Only Sheba refused to take one from my hand.

My 3 lb hen Glynda pushes around my 20 lb Maine Coon cat. Your chickens should be fine. I've seen many a barn cat pushed around by chickens. Now chicks are something different. If momma hen doesn't pay attention a cat could get a chick.

 

[Kris5902]

There is a brick paver 10x10 area in front of the barn doors, I need to haul them all up and reset them.

Once I get the chickens squared away (if I don’t get on this project for work) I will tear up the pavers. Ugh

That’s a big job… makes the prospect of another project out west seem even more appealing?

 

[micstrachan]

Flash and Little Mill

Overall, my tribe is doing well. Bridge, the alpha and oldest at age seven, continues to amaze me with how robust she is. Here she is this past weekend:

The girls are laying up a storm. I think even poor Buttercup, who barely fits in a nest box and rarely lays anymore, laid an egg:

Now here’s the not-so-great news. While Little Mill eats and poops well, her limp is as bad as ever, she has a swollen belly, she occasionally sounds like she has stridor, and she sometimes breathes heavily. Often she sits while the others are foraging, but sometimes joins in the fun:

And then there is Flash. Flash started laying an egg every day right out of the gate this season. Lately, I’ve noticed seeing fewer blue eggs. And then yesterday morning, I found this in the poop under the roost and she was acting a little funny, waiting for nest box. She went into the box, but did not produce an egg. She’s not produced an egg today, either. Except for yesterday morning for just a little while, she’s behaving. Totally normal.

I do not have a current photo of Flash, as she is the hardest to catch on camera, or in the hands, but this one is from a couple weeks ago, I think.

The rest of the tribe seems to be doing well. We’re having a wonderful break in the rain… it was sunny and clear today, but quite cool for April in California.

Thanks for letting me share an update.

 

[BY Bob]

Flash and Little Mill

Overall, my tribe is doing well. Bridge, the alpha and oldest at age seven, continues to amaze me with how robust she is. Here she is this past weekend:

View attachment 3454749

View attachment 3454751

The girls are laying up a storm. I think even poor Buttercup, who barely fits in a nest box and rarely lays anymore, laid an egg:
View attachment 3454753

Now here’s the not-so-great news. While Little Mill eats and poops well, her limp is as bad as ever, she has a swollen belly, she occasionally sounds like she has stridor, and she sometimes breathes heavily. Often she sits while the others are foraging, but sometimes joins in the fun:
View attachment 3454758
View attachment 3454759

And then there is Flash. Flash started laying an egg every day right out of the gate this season. Lately, I’ve noticed seeing fewer blue eggs. And then yesterday morning, I found this in the poop under the roost and she was acting a little funny, waiting for nest box. She went into the box, but did not produce an egg. She’s not produced an egg today, either. Except for yesterday morning for just a little while, she’s behaving. Totally normal.
View attachment 3454761

I do not have a current photo of Flash, as she is the hardest to catch on camera, or in the hands, but this one is from a couple weeks ago, I think.
View attachment 3454765

The rest of the tribe seems to be doing well. We’re having a wonderful break in the rain… it was sunny and clear today, but quite cool for April in California.

Thanks for letting me share an update.

So great to hear about your ladies. I especially love the good news on Bridge. I love seeing a 7 year old hen still going strong.

 

[Kris5902]

Once again I've missed way too many pages. I can't thank @Ponypoor enough for that synopsis. It's awesome!

Have a question for you folks. Our rather eccentric (to be charitable) neighbor has 11 cats. He leaves a window (and often his door) open year round for them and complains about his electric bill. (Insert eye roll) My question is...should I actually worry about domestic, but half wild, cats as predators? I'm pretty sure that Manny is bigger than any of them. We are starting to get a bit of a mouse problem and so I really wouldn't mind them hanging around and cutting down on the rodents. Our run isn't predator proof, but the coop is. We lock them in at night.

Here's Manny behind bars...View attachment 3454617
And snack time of fried Okra. Only Sheba refused to take one from my hand.

generally speaking I agree with @rural mouse and @BY Bob on this one… most Cats generally won’t bother, or might only try something once before learning who the real “predator” is (vicious little feathered dinosaurs! )

However there are always going to be the occasional cats that will break with common sense… when I was about 5 or 6 I distinctly remember our cat caught a Crow and was trying desperately to drag it in the window while being bombarded by the rest of the Murder. My mom slammed the window shut in him then had to go out and save him and the crow. It was one of those things I will never forget seeing and part of why I love and respect corvids so much.

Then there was my Papa (Grandfather). He caught a feral kitten, who lived to 16/17. Gizmo was good with people, but would pick fights with raccoons and large dogs. As in he would charge and attack poor innocent little pit bulls that were being walked down the sidewalk. He also went after a German Shepherd. He was also a crazy deadly birder, and also like to bring in and release mice in the living room in his later years, causing my Nan great distress.

So I wouldn’t particularly stress about the cats, but I would pay close attention for a while until you know how it will go. Chances are your Crazy Neighbor’s Cat Colony will just be thankful for any additional Rodents your chickens draw in… but there could be a George or Gizmo somewhere in the ranks.

 

[RoyalChick]

Now that is enabling. I think that is how @RoyalChick got her first chooks, from a school project. Right RC?

Yup. Well remembered.
It was a case of “you can totally say no to this, but you do have some space and it would be a big help”

 

[RoyalChick]

Riunite on ice.....That's Nice!

Old Ad Tax
View attachment 3454285

And yes that is poo on her foot. She looks so dignified otherwise.

Only a very dignified chicken can successfully carry the ‘poo on foot’ look.