Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I fixed him! Brought him inside and let him snuggle up with me. I put “ROOSTER” by Alice In Chains on the stereo. He calmed right down.

Some times I have to turn the volume up loud, so the neighbors can enjoy my music too!

 

[Ponypoor]

Beautiful boys, I hope their brains return soon. They are very close in age to Twig. He celebrates his first birthday May 25th. I'm so thankful Twig has not done something so stupid I have threatened to wring his neck over. My biggest issue with him has been being afraid of Branch and Bubba and not standing up for himself. He is starting to overcome that and staying where he is supposed to now. He did get a little rough with the girls when he first started trying to breed them. This led to beatings from the hens and from the boys so he is trying to be gentler. Thankfully he is a fast learner, he does not seem to make the same mistakes more then 2 or 3 times. With more practice and willing hens he is also learning to be gentle with them, for the most part. Sadly first thing in the mornings and before bed if Twig looses is mind over a hen, it is then. Thanks to my constantly broody girls, and staged hatchings Twigs has been around broodies and their chicks his whole life so far. Neither he nor Bubba actually are allowed the privilege's of being around and close to the chicks the first 2 weeks like Branch is. The hens and Branch will not allow it. I've saw some interest in the younger chicks, but, never felt it was in a malicious way. When they are allowed to mingle, he will let them steal food, but not call them to him to feed them. He also very very quickly learned that a broody hen was off limits breeding wise in all stages of the process. Thank you Momma Hen for that one, she delivered a smack down when she came off the eggs in December and he tried to breed her. He ended up limping for a day or two after but got the message crystal clear. Twig is a pro on escort duties and nest building. He actually chose the spot Gryffyn is brooding in and made the initial nest.

Sounds like he is becoming a really nice Roo.

Maybe he can tell Mr P how not to fall off the hens he is breeding hahahaha! I have seen him do this twice now

 

[Ponypoor]

And leghorns have yellow legs!

View attachment 3459824View attachment 3459825

Ooo la la sexy legs! I love their long legs and how they seem to strut.

 

[Ponypoor]

Mine love raisins! But then, they also like broccoli and love walnuts!


Oh, okay....puny oops, punny, tax:

A study of contrasts
View attachment 3459973


Son:View attachment 3459978
And father:View attachment 3459980

Stripes and wattles

Handsome boys

 

[Ponypoor]

The Chicken news from the week that was at FBA
(hope I got all the links correct - apologies if there is some misdirection - I may have lost track!)

Lots of news this week from Fluffy Butt Acres. @BY Bob had some difficult decisions to make when some members of his flock showed signs of respiratory illness. Fearing the worst, but hoping for the best the chicken servant did everything he could to help their chances of survival. Ultimately a happy ending, but many of us, and of course particularly poor Bob, spent the first half of the week very anxious indeed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26686627
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26701353
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26707613
We were also treated to an amazing video of Phyllis flying. You have to watch this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26702908
Poor Betty has been having a hard time as the pecking order at FBA is getting adjusted: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26710529; https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26712282
And finally, Spring has sprung at FBA: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26710476

@GregnLety shared the news that his hen with a broken leg, now called Goldie (I will personally always think of her as Hopalong) laid an egg - with her leg splinted by the vet she is expected to make a full recovery.

@RebeccaBoyd has a dozen eggs, I mean adorable little fluff balls. Get your babies fix here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26687247
And of course she has MARSHMALLOWS!! .. .. .. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26698469; https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26706783

@featherhead007's lovely Leghorn - Hen-Rietta has been laying two eggs a day - we are all hoping things are just temporarily messed up as she approaches retirement as a laying hen. Alex thought she might be going broody, but apparently when the golf ball didn't hatch she gave up: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26696093; https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26696138
And the wonderful Jaffar has had a really tough week as a result of being attacked by a neighbor's rooster - possibly thrown over the fence specifically to harass him. He sustained some serious injuries to his comb but is thankfully healing now: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26716956

@Firsttimehens1234 shared pictures of her chicks enjoying the sunshine. Get your next babies fix here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26692939

@rural mouse had a scary moment with two missing chickens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26696725

@Ponypoor has a huge plan that she explains here, which as far as I can see is simply designed to ensure that she has babies all over the place. Lots and lots of babies. Read the details here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26698170; https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26698959
And you can read her member interview here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26702987

@lightm's hen Wendy has been poorly but antibiotics seem to have helped her get better: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26711778

@micstrachan checked in with an update on her lovely flock: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26701755
And so did @ManueB: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26719005

@RoyalChick is finding the roosting order of things has been shifting at the Chicken Palace: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26709545
And there appears to be a concerted campaign to help @RoyalChick's Princesses, in particular Bernadette, to go broody. @Kris5902 shared this video which is supposed to make RC more comfortable with handling a broody Bernadette! https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26711276
The campaign kicked into high gear at the end of the week with an attempt to get RC to adopt baby Hatties from Bob as incubated by Phyllis using a Lavender Orpington roo borrowed from GrennLetty. I think I got that right. There is soooo much wrong with this plan I cannot even begin to list the problems, but it does mean that the end of the week has had us benefit from endless baby Hattie pictures. Baby Hattie!!! Here is just one example of the cuteness overload: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26714608

@TX Chick Noob has also had some chicks hatch. These chicks are not quite like the other chicks. I am not sure they are exactly cute, but they sure are cool! See the babies here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26712766

INFORMATIONAL CORNER
There has been some discussion about how to stop our hens laying when they get into reproductive tract issues. As well as the implant that is often talked about in these circumstances several folk have posted links to useful articles suggesting that progesterone oral contraceptive pills can be used. Here are the links to the articles and big thanks to @Ponypoor and @bgmathteach for finding them
http://www.poultrydvm.com/drugs/medroxyprogesterone-acetate; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3273612/

And we got two videos of the nesting and egg-laying process that are quite interesting if your hens have privacy during their process:
- From @lightm we have the lovely chirping: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26693314
- From @RoyalChick we have the egg thief: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-26710559

***
That is it for this week - and don't forget, we are always keen to have volunteers to write a weekly synopsis - hopefully it is helpful for a number of long time members of the FBA global tribe.

That was awesome RC - thanks! Even I was able to catch up on a few things I missed - thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

[Ponypoor]

 

[bgmathteach]

Yesterday I went out for a long, boozey lunch with some friends. The booze part is to blame if I messed up any of the synopsis links!
When we were finally done I asked the waitress to scrape all our plates into a container for me to take home to the chickens.
It is truly a feast: Steak, sweet potato fries, blue cheese, raisins, hamburger buns, salami, and chopped veggies.
I froze it overnight so this morning I could cut through it all to make bite sized chunks.
I have only given them a little bit because I am sure there is stuff in there that isn’t good for them. But they are enjoying it a lot.
They are also getting a lot of exercise chasing each other for the tastiest mouthfuls.
More tomorrow!

Thank you so much for the video!!! Not only was it entertaining, but educational, too! I've been toying with the idea of getting bamboo....and after your video played, the one that came up as the next one to view was an interview with a homesteader regarding bamboo!!!! It allayed some of my fears about spreading, and I will be definitely planting a small grove in what will be the second 'pasture' I build!!!Shade for the summer, 'greens' for them, and young shoots are edible! The ones I had in mind for them were the shorter ones, but now I am interested in a small grove of larger ones for small building/utility projects (like garden stakes, chicken platforms for higher perching and shade under, etc. I'm going to get the first book he recommended so I can find appropriate varieties for use and climate. (I want to establish a small planting in their 'permanent/soon to be winter only' run, too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

 

[bgmathteach]

Babs has a bald patch on her head.
I don’t see blood. I will try to get a better picture but she doesn’t stand still.
Could this be due to Bernadette’s activities?
Who needs a roo when you have Bernadette?

View attachment 3460248

Yes, that looks exactly like the bald spots on my hens from over mating. It doesn't look bloody/bad to me, but, it does mean you need more chickens (and a Roo! If she is going to deal with that much 'mating behavior' to cause the bald patch, she should at least get fertile eggs for her troubles!)

 

[bgmathteach]

Sorry for my very long absence... I was grounded. I'm gonna try to catch up. Everyone at my place is fine.

Wow, I didn't know you had a plane/pilot's license! Hope it wasn't a medical issue!
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Shame on you for misbehaving! Glad to have you back!

Tax for off topic:

This makes my dog howl - the only time he has ever howled!

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you so much for the video!!! Not only was it entertaining, but educational, too! I've been toying with the idea of getting bamboo....and after your video played, the one that came up as the next one to view was an interview with a homesteader regarding bamboo!!!! It allayed some of my fears about spreading, and I will be definitely planting a small grove in what will be the second 'pasture' I build!!!Shade for the summer, 'greens' for them, and young shoots are edible! The ones I had in mind for them were the shorter ones, but now I am interested in a small grove of larger ones for small building/utility projects (like garden stakes, chicken platforms for higher perching and shade under, etc. I'm going to get the first book he recommended so I can find appropriate varieties for use and climate. (I want to establish a small planting in their 'permanent/soon to be winter only' run, too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I always learned it was invasive and hard to get rid of so I have avoided it but haven't really looked into it.